Kitchen moves past ‘heart,’ takes on ‘brain’ of home duties

"Tis not knowing much but what is useful, that makes a wise man." Thomas Fuller (1608-1661), M.D., English churchman and historian, "Gnomologia" (1732).

Q: Could you give us a little advice about the latest in kitchen trends and design? I realize that each designer or publication has its own take on what's in, but I think you also can appreciate how hard it is for us as homeowners. Thank you for your consideration.

A: You are absolutely correct in that everybody has a different spin on the latest and greatest. Since kitchen design is its own separate discipline in interior design, for my money, I would tend to go with a kitchen specialist when it comes to trends. And, actually, I wouldn't say trends as much as the most up-to-date information.

The KBIS, or Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, was in town recently and was, as always, a wealth of information. As you can imagine, the products were mind-bending, with each manufacturer claming the best of the best: dark woods, lots of chrome, stainless, glass sinks, a multitude of surfaces -- all present in abundance.

When you see this much, as I have said before after a trade show, it becomes a beauty contest and the consumer will eventually just have to decide what they like.

One of the most interesting and informative events I found at the show was a presentation by a renowned kitchen designer, Ellen Cheever.

She presented "The High-Touch of High-Tech Kitchens." Focusing on six trends in today's kitchens, she talked more about the spirit of the kitchen, rather than the actual components.

With one trend, she spoke of how much choice we have, and how rooms must reflect lifestyle and life preference.

She continued with, "In all age groups and income segments, consumers are suffering from the paralysis of choice." They search for simplicity, clarity and guarantee."

I particularly appreciated the "paralysis of choice" comment, and I totally agree. There are so many products vying for our attention, it's a wonder we can make a decision at all.

The kitchen has become far more than a cooking space, and Cheever made reference to it, as well.

The kitchen is now a meeting place with multi-generational families sharing the same space. It is a gathering place and requires perching places for friends and family to sit, while one or more people cook. And more and more of us are incorporating sitting areas, if not part of the kitchen, adjoining it so no one feels left out.

Cheever also believes that cooking has a new face -- cooking is now seen as a hobby, not a chore, with many family members pitching in. This trend is evidenced by the never-ending cooking shows on television, showing cooks with an audience of dinner guests.

There was a time when kitchens were totally off limits to guests, and no one was allowed to see the cooking part of a dinner party. Now, the focus is being with friends during the whole thing -- cooking, serving, pouring wine, eating and even cleaning up.

According to Cheever, technology will have the biggest impact on dramatic equipment changes over the next five years. She believes that the most interesting thing about technological improvements will be that the complexity of technological innovation will provide much simpler systems of control. Think about that one.

And lastly, what we all knew was coming, the kitchen will not only be the heart of the home, it will become the brain. This, of course, refers to smart-house technology, allowing us to control the entire house from a screen that can be located in the kitchen.

So, this was a very long explanation of trends in the kitchen. Products you can see in every home store, on-line and in specialty stores. What you as a consumer and homeowner must decide is just how trendy you wish to be and, more importantly, how you want to use your kitchen. Make it what you want it to be and not necessarily what it has been in the past. Tailor your space to your needs and desires. That makes for a much happier and more useful space.

Carolyn Muse Grant is the editor of Southern Nevada Home & Garden magazine. Her Inside Spaces column appears weekly in the Home & Garden section of the Review-Journal. Check out other decorating tips in Southern Nevada Home & Garden magazine, which is published the first Saturday of each month. Send questions to cgrant@reviewjournal.com.