Our changing behavior this year has revealed that open floor plans need some remastering, says Drees Homes Architecture Designer, Paige Foss. And this includes the classic kitchen; homebuyers have become increasingly interested in outfitting this space to achieve greater livability. Drees homeowners are designing kitchens with pocket offices, butler’s pantries and larger, more functional mud rooms, which Drees calls the family ready room. And they’re not sticking with classic white or natural colors when it comes to cabinets, backsplashes and islands.
Kitchens are not just for cooking anymore
The modern kitchen is versatile because it must fit our lifestyles. Homebuyers aren’t just designing kitchens perfect for cooking and dining — they’re designing kitchens where they can prepare, cook, eat, organize the family and work from home. Today’s kitchen must be able to do it all.
The pocket office
Drees homeowners who work from home are optimizing their kitchen space by adding a nearby pocket office. Often tucked off the kitchen, pocket offices are designed to provide a seamless transition from work to play, offering the unique ability to knock out work while still maintaining a pulse on the rest of the house.
The butler’s pantry
The modern kitchen doesn’t just have the standard pantry anymore. The butler’s pantry makes for a perfect pop of transitional space between the kitchen and the dining room. Use this extra counter space for serving food, extra storage or for housing a wine or coffee bar.
The family ready room
Say goodbye to the mud room – busy families need more than a drop-zone. The options for this must-have space, the family ready room, are virtually endless. Many homeowners equip their family ready room with a sink, spare refrigerator and plenty of counter space so meals can be prepped on the side, gifts can be wrapped, and clothes can be folded away from the visible zones of the home. Cabinets provide countless opportunities for storage, and an island can offer an extra pop of working space.
The family ready room isn’t just for laundry and meal prep. Outfit this space with a small pocket office, create a designated spot for crafts and add a bath for the dog while you’re at it! These types of multi-functional spaces, usually located just off the kitchen, are among the home design philosophies that are expected to become increasingly popular.
Out with the classic and in with the bold
Bold colors are dominating kitchen design, especially when it comes to cabinets. In lieu of the traditional natural or white colored cabinets, homebuyers are going with colors like grey and blue – or they are mixing colors..
Cabinet colors aren’t the only thing changing; homebuyers are gravitating toward unique shapes, textures and patterns when selecting a backsplash.
When it comes to island design, homebuyers are going big
Islands are no longer a wish list item – they’re a must-have, and the bigger the better! These extra pops of counter space, which usually house a sink, are perfect for prepping, serving and eating. Talk about versatility, right? Islands are perfect for the day-to-day and for hosting parties. You can prep meals on this extra stretch of counter space on a Monday and display beautiful spreads of fruit and veggie trays, charcuterie boards and all of the fixings on a Friday. Not to mention, bold islands give backsplashes a run for their money when it comes to the focal point of the kitchen.
No matter if you want to keep your kitchen more traditional, or if you want to go bold and modern, we’re committed to making your kitchen beautiful and functional, so that you can focus on making it a space full of love, comfort and (of course) good eatin’.
To see our kitchen idea galleries, floor plans, or just to learn more about building a Drees home, visit dreeshomes.com and select your location.
