Top Five Kitchen Design Trends For Toronto Homes

Sometimes new kitchen ideas don’t make sense but other times, new features and looks make perfect sense, and complete what might be missing in your home. Take a look at these ideas, and put together your new kitchen checklist!

1. Open Kitchens With A Partial Screen!
Homebuyers want kitchens that have visibility to living spaces, but not ones that bare it all. A half wall with an island that can serve a number of purposes is the perfect compromise.

Cooking spaces are somewhat out of sight, but the cook can join in the conversation easily with guests or family members.

Busy family times can be spent together in these comfortable kitchen designs.

2. Mixing Colours & Cabinetry Styles In The Kitchen

Multiple finishes with dark and light colours provide contrast and draw the eye.

Use contrasting materials for decorative range hoods or other parts of the kitchen.

Islands will often be given a darker finish and upper cabinets the lighter colour.

The countertops can play a part in this too… either matching or contrasting.

3. Built in Banquettes
A built in seating area near the kitchen can maximize space and storage.

Built in seats are flush against the wall, which allows more open space, and also reduces the need to clean under and around pesky chair legs.

Banquettes can be large or small, and storage can be built into the bench areas.

4. Central Islands
Having a central island can be handy in a number of ways. We added drawers for dishes and cutlery – very handy for setting the dining table or eating on the other side of the island.

Depending on your needs, you could devote a section of the centre island as a desk area. Or use one complete side as a seating area – either the same height as the rest of the counter or raised slightly.

Some families have installed built-in cooking units while others have located the sink, dishwasher and food prep areas here.

5. Built in Storage – Maximize your space!
When Sally and I built our cottage last year, we decided to take advantage of every storage opportunity possible.

We took the kitchen cabinets right up to the ceiling (9 feet high) and, even though we haven’t needed them yet, I’m sure the time will come. At least no dust is collecting on the top .

Bookcases and storage systems can be incorporated into every room of the home. We added built-ins to our library for books and U-shaped shelving in the pantry for coats plus kitchen overflow items.

Even use neutral or colorful storage bins, neatly labeled for easy clutter solutions.

Kitchen Design

If you’re considering a kitchen renovation, the best way to start is to have a scale drawing done of your existing kitchen (the room itself) showing all windows and doors. Then take this drawing to a kitchen manufacturing company and start getting some design suggestions.

We chose to work with Home Depot (we wanted a secure company and a fixed delivery date) and decided on one of their high-end kitchen models. The Home Depot kitchen consultant was excellent, providing us with several design layouts for us to play with and choose from.

Once we’d finalized the design, their installer came to the cottage site, measured up exactly what the room dimensions were and then the order was placed. Six weeks later our kitchen appeared on a large truck.

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