New Developments in Kitchen Design Style
by Jami J. Rodgers

Popular Materials in Contemporary Kitchen Design
Your kitchen should be functional and reflect your own style as well. According to Urban Home Magazine, the following materials are popular in contemporary kitchen designs right now.

•Kitchen hardware. Contemporary kitchen design boasts a wide variety of metallic finishes, including brushed nickel, polished chrome, and stainless steel. You will also find hand-rubbed finishes such as bronze, pewter, and antique brass. Hinges on contemporary kitchen cabinets are typically hidden.
•Kitchen Appliances. Contemporary kitchen appliances integrate with cabinetry. Stainless steel is by far the most popular designer kitchen appliance. You will find many kitchen designers using commercial grade appliances, but scaled down for residential use. Specialty appliances such as wine caves and trash compactors are popular as well.
•Kitchen Cabinetry. The contemporary kitchen focuses on functionality, and stacking of wall cabinets to increase storage space. You can mix-and-match finishes, and most kitchen designers feel European styling is here to stay in the U.S.
•Kitchen Countertops. Popular selections in the contemporary kitchen include granite, marble, soapstone, and concrete. Laminates are increasing in durability, and provide you with a wide variety of colors and styles.

Contemporary Kitchen Design Layout
Contemporary kitchen design puts an increasing emphasis on how we live in our kitchens. The kitchen has become a focal point of the home, where people prepare food, eat, and socialize. Your kitchen designer should sit down with you and determine how you want your kitchen to function and how you want work to flow. The new contemporary kitchen often includes an island with its own sink for food preparation, separate from the main sink to avoid cross contamination. Regardless of how you choose to structure your new kitchen, be sure to consider the wide array of options available to make your new kitchen uniquely yours.

Sources
http://www.hgtv.com
http://www.doityourself.com
http://www.countertop.com
The Latest Trends in Kitchen Design," Urban Home Magazine

About the Author
Jami J. Rodgers is a freelance writer with a B.S. in Spanish with a business option and an international studies minor from The Pennsylvania State University.