Open storage - I have never lusted for dusty dishes that must be kept looking organized.
Backsplash to the ceiling - really hope this doesn't become an overused trend because I do want this.
Fridge off the back porch - LOL I actually remember this
Lacquered - not my thing (not into contemporary or modern)
Dark floors - didn't like expresso even when it was at its peak. Mine are dark, but not that dark. I do like deeper warm tones in a floor.

I think granite may be a little less used now that there are some cheaper alternatives, but don't worry - those that can't afford them will still swoon over the kitchens that have them.

Interesting - thanks for posting.

Here are "Five kitchen trends from Apartment Therapy":
1. White and wood
2. Subway tile
3. Marble counter tops
4. Two-tone cabinets
5. Open shelving

Except for the last two, this is definitely what's trending in my area in the "upper brackets."

In the more trendy market, i.e. downtown condos, there's also:
1. Quartz counters
2. Still lacquer but also salvaged or more unusual wood cabinets (rough oak is coming back!) -- and yes, often combined, so there's the two-tone
3. Induction cook tops
4. Light wood floors

I think we also need to consider what people aspire to or think is desirable and what actual kitchens will look like.
For instance, there are probably a lot more people who'd like to drive a Mercedes than actually do. But that doesn't mean that the less expensive designs won't try to emulate these desirable designs. So, in the past, many less expensive cars started to look like mini-Mercedeses (the boxy look years ago). That's why you see pseudo commercial ranges for residential use, or SS for very inexpensive appliances.

So, with respect to granite, I'd expect that the granites with less movement and/or that look like other materials (soapstone, marble) may be considered more desirable down the road.

Here is a link that might be useful: Five kitchen trends

On uppers:

âÂÂPeople are hanging out in their kitchens. They want to put a piece of art in there.âÂÂ

Actually, what I want "in there" is kitchen stuff like olive oil, oregano, casserole dishes, and way up top-stored Christmas tins. I'm not sure how large a kitchen "people" have, but mine isn't nearly large enough to give away space to "art." Have a look at the shelves with the yellow and white plates. Tell me those plates aren't going to cascade to the floor the minute you touch one and it bumps its neighbor. The glasses on the top shelf? First you have to go get the step stool, then you need to wash the glass before you can use it. You should probably dust the entire shelf while you're up there. Oh, please. And let's not even talk about those of us who live in earthquake country.

Granite is also easy to chip and damage, making it a less popular choice among homeowners with kids.

I'm a big fan of lots of material choices for countertops from formica to marble, all of which have their pluses and minuses, but "easy to chip" just isn't among the minuses of granite. Consider, though, that this is the guy who considers granite to be "unpredictable" because he needed 4 (4!) matching slabs and the only available 4th (really?) had a pink line that made the whole project a bust. Really?

And let's talk about floors. I, too, have never been a big fan of expresso-dark floors. That's why I didn't choose them for our house. At no point, however, did I ever feel that I was choosing something that was "out" because dark-dark was "in." (What we chose that was truly "out" was a travertine backsplash, and we knew it at the time and didn't care about its outness.) Judging from choices made here on GW, dark floors were/are a popular choice, but so are medium and light tones - probably medium being the most popular. And don't forget non-wood choices, which are currently less popular, but still hanging in there and "the" choice for many.

What I really like about GW is the thoughfulness of members' choices. Some people LOVE an element like white cabinets, but also consider if white works for their family in their space. Aesthetics get balanced by function. Articles like this strike me as a good platform for discussion, but in and of themselves are just glib end-of-the-year space fillers. Speaking of which

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

where i live granite is king and will remain for lots of years to come. most people who buy here have no idea what cesarstone is and just rank it in the "not granite" category.
most kitchens in the expensive homes here would make you all cry! i know i am continuously shocked at how terrible the kitchens are in the $500k price point but they have granite!

I think that the article makes a lot of sense. It basically says many people are tired of high maintenance (or perceived high maintenance) issues in the kitchen. So, there might be a bit of open storage (like a plate rack or a few shelves) but too much of that would be high maintenance, too.

Counter tops that don't chip and won't have to be sealed are just perceived as much easier...and granite has been around long enough that younger people (who've grown up with it) want something 'new'. Also a good point about randomness of color and pattern in natural stone. Some people like that...but much easier for designers to bring in a uniform material.

Honestly...how many posts have we seen about my ceasarstone just cracked....or do I have to seal my formica? Just saying :)

Whether we like it or not, materials and styles are constantly in flex. When we install something it seems as if it should be seem in style forever, but it never does. I used to love the Tuscany look but now it seems very heavy to me. The simple designs of today may look boring and cold in 10+ years.

If I've learned one thing from this forum (I've learned much more), it is to get items that you love and you will enjoy them for much longer. I mentioned to someone when we were talking about kitchens that oak is considered dated. I wish I hadn't said anything because she was surprised (and sadly I think she felt sad) because to this she said she loves her kitchen cabinets. My reply was it's great that she was still enjoying them and that having them in her kitchen was a good choice for her as she's enjoyed them for 15+ years now.

I guess I've also learned to stay true to the house unless you want to end up doing a gut of the entire house. My DS has a home from the 60's with most of the original features. It's great because of the cohesiveness throughout. It was all well kept and is still looking fine.

I'm trying to select items that I know I will enjoy for many years to come. Elements like extra windows, opening up the area, single bowl sink, drawers, and wall ovens.

My cabinets (that I have yet to pick out) will likely go out of style in 10 years (assuming they are "in") so I need to be careful to find something I believe I can love in years to come. I really like modern and think it would look great in my kitchen. The problem is I can see tiring of that look. We are going to opt for what I hear as transitional but IMO is really what is the newest traditional, just tweaks throughout the years. I will likely go with a cherryish stain as I've used this often in my furniture and still use it in pieces of furniture in my home.

I have lusted after marble for decades and have finally found what I think will work for us. It looks just like Carerra marble IRL, with unsurpassed durability and ease of maintainence. I'm hoping I don't get turned in for promoting products but I LOVE this stuff (I have no financial gain in this product).

Here is a link that might be useful: Neolith Countertops

Lavender Lass - I forgot about plate racks (been on my wish list for awhile). I would love to have my plates stored horizontally. I just can't see taking away all my upper cabinets.

Arabesque tile must be out. I just opened a new package of Cottonelle TP and it's embossed with arabesque shapes.

Uh oh, I think I am guilty of everything mentioned above somewhere in my home (to some degree). There are still a lot of faux Tuscan or espresso floors going into new builds in the burbs, though.

There is a similar thread on the Home Dec forum regarding a WSJ article on Design Trends. It declares the "all white kitchen" as over.

Here is a link that might be useful: Home Decorating Forum Thread

Aloha, thanks for the link to Neolith. I have some questions, will start a separate thread.

It's hard to be 'out' if you have never been 'in', yes? That is my story and I am sticking to it!

4 slabs - really? That has to be a HUGE kitchen.

I think as others have said if you get something YOU love it will last much longer. What is difficult is when you are browsing and there are tons and tons of photos that you see a new common element over and over that it can easily sway you. It takes a step back to see if you truly love it or if it's just what is everywhere right now.

Fun thread. Happy New Year!

I found the thread interesting but for years, they just keep saying Stainless Steel and Granite are on the way out but people are still buying it.

That's true, but to me "on the way out" doesn't mean they disappear immediately, just that they have peaked. If that peak took a long time to build, it could take a long time to decline. Still means millions of units with SS, counters with granite being installed. Just means it isn't considered the "latest" thing. For better or worse. People are wired to like novelty, I think. Or at least to pay attention to it.

I am a fabricator.

We do several brands of quartz and a variety of natural stones. We also have a clientele that ranges from inexpensive (not low ball) smaller kitchens to multi million dollar lake homes.

Granite is actually quite popular in the low end because it still has a perceived level of panache and entry level granites are the same as or lower priced per sq. ft than inexpensive quartz and considerably less expensive than the so called premium quartz brands.

In more expensive homes granite is still the preferred choice by far because of the distinctive look possible with exotic stones including labrodite and quartzite. The designer in the linked article actually sounded foolish and rather ignorant when he complained about a natural feature in one of four slabs.

Theres a reason why the most popular quartz colors are attempts to mimic a natural stone. Cambria's "Parys" color which has been so successful its in short supply is a knock off of blue pearl granite. A recent customer came into our shop certain she wanted Parys until we put a Parys tile next to one of Blue Pearl GT. One look and she was done considering the Cambria.

As far as I can tell granite will continue to have the largest overall market share. The manufacturers of "engineered stone" will continue to bring new finishes and colors that mimic natural stone to market and more and more low cost suppliers will eventually bring the cost of quartz tops to a price point at or below entry level granites. The most promising engineered stone I have seen is the new product (can't remember the name at the moment) that very closely matches the look of polished marble without all the negative material properties of actual marble.

I think that you have to keep in mind that these articles are conversations and they are not really very scientific. Also because something is "on trend" doesn't mean that it supersedes everything else or means that what came before it is strictly "out". It doesn't mean that it's "new" either just that some designer somewhere is noticing more people asking for it. It also doesn't mean that it's particularly practical for most people, whatever it is, either..

Olyryder, I think what you were referring to about the product that looks like polished marble is the Neolith. I just learned tonight that HD will be carrying a similar product called Dekton. I saw another manufactures imitation of carerra marble and it looks EXTREMELY authentic...no other imitation I've seen before even comes close. To have the durability and and the look of marble, I'm sold. As a fabricator, I'm sure you'll be getting inquiries soon.

I included a link above to a "demonstration" of the Neolith. You've got to see it to believe it!

So, yeah...I'm "out".

"Saying goodbye to granite" - at least at this point, I love granite. Truth is, I love marble...but, my DH could never live with it's qualities...and because of that, neither could I. But, I like natural products - I like that no other slab is going to look exactly like ours. Can it chip? Sure. But, really, there's no countertop material that I know of that is completely bulletproof. Each has it's advantages and disadvantages. I think that there will come a point where granite will have become commonplace and so buyers will be looking for something different. I'm curious about the whole Neolith buzz that has been starting on here. Too late for us - our slabs are waiting for us to be ready for them.

"Opening up closed cabinets " - not a chance that we would have open cabinets. Totally impractical and messy look to me. I see others who have done it and manage to pull it off. But, not me. Give me doors.

"Reimagining the work triangle" - Okay, I sort of followed this thanks to Gardenweb. Zones make sense. I can't say that ours is completely the way I would have loved. But, not getting stuck with the triangle mentality and thinking of HOW I would work in the new kitchen helped tremendously.

"Lacquered cabinetry is losing its luster" - Okay, I'm "in" again. ;-) We didn't go with a lacquered cabinetry. Whew...dodged a bullet there!

"Lightening up dark floors - Well, couldn't wind up being too with it. We're going with dark hardwood. Phone call was just made this evening, in fact, to our hardwood guys...we decided on Jacobean. It's beautiful - it brings out the grain of our red oak floors..and we will murder anyone who comes into our house with their shoes on. I think that I may need to take up the Asian tradition of having slippers of various sizes at the door to greet people with.