The latest looks for kitchens: cherry wood is trending down, glass trending up and grey is coming on strong.  Cherry woods, granite worktops and stainless-steel appliances have been the holy trinity of upscale kitchen materials for at least a decade.  But now there are signs we’re ready to move on, according to B&Q, who have complied the up-and-coming kitchen design trends for 2013.

Modern kitchen design trends for 2013 will reflect the growing popularity of cooking and eating at home, says the retailer.

Saving money, improving health, having more fun entertaining and love for homemade meals, make cooking a hobby that requires professional, attractive and functional kitchen designs.  Cherry wood is in decline, while other solid woods, such as birch, oak, walnut and bamboo and rustic finishes will be the new norms for cabinetry in 2013, creating a luxurious modern kitchen.  To spice it up for 2013, add a crystal chandelier.

Mixing it up

A collected, eclectic look is all the rage in design right now.  Mixing kitchen finishes is a great way to get that collective look – combining dark and lighter finishes will be even trendier next year.  Many homeowners will opt for light lower cabinets and dark upper cabinets, or dark cabinets used on an island.

50 shades of grey

Shades of grey are the new neutral, anything you put with it works.  But 2013’s grey is not your mother’s cool 80s grey; it is a warmer grey, like taupe.  Grey is a comfort color, and doesn’t have the upkeep of white.

Textured walls

Another big trend for next year will be wall murals, like a tiled or textured wall, which work great as small focuses between cabinets and behind breakfast nooks.  Designers will also be replacing white and cream with green.  You heard it right, you can use green as a new neutral on walls, or a beautiful tiled mural, then gradually build a palette of colors around it.

Solid glass splash backs are going up, creating a very contemporary look.  No seams, no grout, easy to clean – what more could we want?  How about luminous, reflective colors?  Colored glass splash backs win on all counts.

Polished chrome is back for 2013.  Brushed nickel is still the most popular hardware finish, but polished chrome is close behind.  LED lighting is also a real trend taking hold in kitchens across the country; it will be most popular for accent lighting, such as under cabinets.

The combinations of various materials and styles, straight and curvy lines, bold accents with neutral interior decorating colors, textured decorative surfaces and unique lighting fixtures, are stylish ways to bring the eclectic style into kitchen interiors for 2013.


reprinted from Maidenhead Advertiser