Important Kitchen Design Trends for Builders from Whirlpool

Whirlpool Corporation shares consumer-focused design insights with builders

Today’s consumer is paying more attention to home design than ever before. Additionally, as Millennials begin to take over the home buying market, their desire for personalization will create a catalyst for change in the industry. Therefore, builders should pay attention to evolving design trends. Two of the top trends we’re seeing revolve around new finishes in the kitchen and the necessity of seamless technology within the home.

Builders already know that today’s kitchen is the hub of the home, likely also serving as dining room, living room and office. Therefore, it’s important to ensure appliances, cabinets and other kitchen elements are harmonious with the rest of the home. Satin and matte finishes in the kitchen blend seamlessly, creating continuity from surface to surface. The days of high gloss and reflectivity are over. Instead of strictly brushed stainless, kitchen hardware is now also rose gold, copper, champagne, or even matte black.  Builders and designers can make customization part of the design from the beginning by creating the softest possible transition between appliances and cabinets. For example, new kitchen suites such as the Whirlpool® Fingerprint Resistant Sunset Bronze Kitchen Suite and the Whirlpool® Fingerprint Resistant Black Stainless Steel Kitchen Suite blend seamlessly with other materials and finishes in the kitchen.

Builders should also consider practical connected products. According to a Smart Home Survey Whirlpool brand conducted late last year, two-thirds of homeowners say their next appliance purchase will likely be a smart appliance. Consumers want features, such as smart locks, connected appliances and thermostats they can access remotely that will make their lives easier. The new Whirlpool® Smart Kitchen Suite offers the best of both worlds, helping consumers make cooking and cleaning more intuitive in unexpected finishes such as fingerprint resistant stainless steel and black stainless steel. As more products become connected, it’s important for builders and designers to be aware of other smart home products and become part of that ecosystem.

Due to both design trends and emerging technology, appliances are more integrated into the rest of the home, with built-in technology that is subtle to the eye. Contemporary looks will continue to dominate consumer preferences, according to a recent National Kitchen & Bath Association survey. The kitchen will continue to evolve as the hub of the home; rather than just a functional area for food preparation and cooking, the entire family will continue to gather there. Purposeful design can make an enormous impact to buyers, and builders can take advantage of the opportunity we see in creating appliances to fit into the environment of a home.

For more information on Whirlpool Corporation, visit InsideAdvantage.com.

About Whirlpool Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation, the number one major appliance manufacturer in the world, markets Amana, Whirlpool, KitchenAid, Maytag, Jenn-Air, and other major brand names in nearly every country throughout the world. Additional information about the company can be found at WhirlpoolCorp.com, or on Twitter at @WhirlpoolCorp.