Interesting that the majority of the kitchens are either white, or substantially white. Wood seems to be an element, either in the floor, ceiling or countertop. My KD said a few years ago that a completely white kitchen needs some wood element to soften the effect.

A couple of those kitchen islands would require getting on top of them and crawling around them to clean. There is a point where they just get too big for practicality.

TIme for a wood comeback! The exposure of Houzz and HGTV brings style and design to the masses but maybe it is also making homeowners and designers a little less creative.

the most compelling feature is the open kitchen style....whether islands or not...the taking down of walls...integrating kitchens fully into living spaces and ditching the formal dining room is a theme that is not going away. these are lovely spaces to draw people in ...... the use of white/wood or two tones is less the issue than opening up and recreating the space one lives in. We are getting used to seeing it displayed so it doesn't even seem jarring or bold...but many people grapple with whether or not to remove walls in their renovation...I would say it's a positive move.

Analyzing -- I'm ignoring the one that's a pantry only; it's an outsider in that it doesn't show the whole kitchen:

- Yes, wood is an accent in every one of them -- sometimes on the ceiling, sometimes on the floor or counter, but somewhere.

- At the same time, white makes a prominent statement somewhere in every one of the kitchens

- Shaker cabinets must be the only thing sold these days; only one of these kitchens is non-shaker, and it's traditional -- not too different from shaker. And lots of full overlay.

- Islands are still very popular -- probably always will be -- but I agree with HomeChef that two of these islands are too wide to possibly be practical

- The small-open-shelves-instead-of-uppers must've trended and disappeared because the majority of these kitchens include practical old-fashioned uppers

- Similarly, white subways must be disappearing because only one kitchen here uses them

- I think every countertop was either wood or marble

- Apron sinks are used in 5 of the 9 sinks

- I see no patterns in the hardware

Why/how did we chase all color out of our lives?

Right, I do agree that the open style is going to be around for a long time and it reflects the way many families live (although of course some people do still desire some separation). Compared to 40 years ago we now have quieter appliances, good ventilation, and engineered wood that make it easier to construct open spaces which has opened up design options that would have been impractical. I think most of the remodeling decisions we see here about removing walls are cost trade offs. I usually recommend that people get a quote rather than assuming taking down a load bearing wall or opening up a doorway is too expensive.

@practigal I think some of it is the resale-focused neutral color palate.

The exposure of Houzz and HGTV brings style and design to the masses but maybe it is also making homeowners and designers a little less creative.

StanZ that was the reason for my asking in my thread about becoming slaves to kitchen design. You make an interesting point.

Great analysis mrspete. Especially about the white being somewhere in each kitchen and about how the majority are using farmhouse sinks.

As for the sinks, are they using them because they prefer the look, because they are in style or because they are more functional? I had one in my last kitchen and will be adding one in my new kitchen because I love the look (always have) and because with my short frame, I find them easier to work at.

Why/how did we chase all color out of our lives?

Practigal, this is a question I am constantly asking. Kitchens used to be so much more colorful, even if they had white cabinets.

And honestly in my last kitchen I was guilty too in that I chose a neutral tan color to work with my cherry cabinets, since I was concerned as Stan says about resale. While we hadn't planned on moving when we bought the condo 6 years ago, I always kept it in the back of my mind.(Our buyer didn't like our pale green guest bedroom or our brick red second bathroom, LOL)

I find the all white and grey kitchens very cold - more like formal entertaining spaces. Even just accessorizing with a little color would help. I want some color/warmth in my kitchen to make it feel welcoming.

I still love my separate eat in kitchen - since not all of us can have a huge island it would be nice to see at least one great example of a separate or not ginormous kitchen...

Practigal - We redid our kitchen 6 years and yes, we fell into the trap of having that neutral, soothing palate. Had I honestly analyzed our previous kitchen which was full of colour, I would have included colour in the new one. I don't mean bringing colour in through accessories, I mean being committed to colour through permanent fixtures. I've been fighting to bring it back ever since. We're about to recover our kitchen chairs and the fabric is going to be a riot of colour.

I completely agree, Sophie! There is really no point in looking at all the features of a Maybach when ones budget is a Ford Focus. I've always believed in looking at the best and then imitating it when possible, but there is a point when it become ridiculous, and most of these kitchens are. And those islands! Imagine trying to wipe one down! One would need roller skates to work in some of those kitchens, but then the owners do NOT cook and a fleet of caterers works there. Never could understand why one would want open concept when caterers are there...

CP, I'm curious... Is the apron front sink easier because the front edge sticks into the kitchen a couple inches and the bowl is closer? I've never really thought about that at all... But as we design our kitchen with no uppers at all because we are both short, this seems like a must have. :) Thanks!

Sophie, I also agree with you 100%. And one doesn't need a humongous kitchen to cook a great meal in. My best kitchen was 10' x 13' and included a small round table. The work space was L shaped and had fridge, DW, sink and stove on the other part of the L. It was my smallest kitchen, but my most efficient.

CP, I'm curious... Is the apron front sink easier because the front edge sticks into the kitchen a couple inches and the bowl is closer?

Yes, I can lean right up against the edge of the sink. No reaching over a ledge.

I am also short and love my apron front sink. Just like cpartist, I can lean right up and everything seems close. Mine is the Whitehaven and it sticks out a little more than some. I like the way it protects my lower cabinets - usually the first cabinets to get worn from water and getting dripped on. My present kitchen is L shaped like cpartist best - a little bit bigger as I've got room for a small island, but no table. I was making pot roast and apple pie today and glad that everything was handy. Just enough room to work, but everything within a reasonable distance. (It is a modest kitchen and is in my "my pics" idea book.)

No matter how quiet appliances get, I still don't want to hear Barney:) My kids are older now and well past the Barney days, but I was glad that Barney and Mario were not in the same room I was cooking in:)

I agree that these kitchens are beyond the means of most. However, someone with a good eye can grab an idea. I have always liked the primarily wood rustic kitchen shown - minus the overblown faucet. I have a skirted sink in my basement kitchenette and I've considered the tea towels instead. I do have a plate rail - but much smaller in scale. There are some examples of mixing different colors of cabinetry, and different colors of hardware, so some ideas can be taken from the examples. I go to Parade Homes to get ideas, but never to try for the whole concept.

Houzz should divide up "best of" into different groups - perhaps a "best of the midsize" and a "best of the humble" kitchen would be more relatable to more people.

I still remember when we did our first kitchen remodel and I found GW (maybe 11 years ago?). Most of the pics posted were of stained wood kitchens. Then one day someone posted their finished white shaker kitchen. It wasn't high budget or very large, but was amazingly well done and the comments showed that most were blown away by it. That, to me, was when the tide started to shift to white kitchens. Really wish I could remember whose kitchen that was ...

ETA: It was Deanna's kitchen! Now how is it that I can pull up that bit of obscure info, but not manage to remember where I left my car keys on a daily basis? Unfortunately, I can't find any pics.

I've not checked the link yet, because after reading so much white and no beaded inset (mostly full overlay) I'm not particularly interested. My question, though, is how many of these kitchens are HOUZZ kitchens, vs. advertisers? A HOUZZ kitchen, i.e. Gardenweb Houzz kitchen, would be one designed and brought to life with input and education here. IMHO.

So if we can't link these kitchens to one of the participating boards? Pffffft. Who cares? Those are not Houzz kitchens. They're advertisers' kitchens.

In forty years I've re done 4 kitchens in homes we've owned and every one has been a white kitchen. I guess I've always liked white clean lines. Floors have been timber different colours. Blue has been my contrast colour with yellow in some. Always some timber included either in island or hutches. Styles change yes, sizes varied, however never huge in size. Still, my personal taste was white.

Quick pros and cons for each of these kitchens.

10:
Pro: Love the wood ceiling beams and pendant
lights. Breakfast nook looks great.
Con: That’s no island, it’s a sheer continent!

9:
Pro: Neat pendant lights!
Con: Too starkly, coldly
white. Brrrr!

8:
Pro: Nice lower cabinetry and farmhouse sink.
Con: Dust-collecting upper shelving.

7:
Pro: Floor is great.
Con: Can’t really tell, but kitchen layout looks
to be mediocre.

6:
Pro: Great floors, island countertop; outdoors looks inviting.
Con: Totally open concept is a total non-starter. That ceiling looks dumb.

5:
Pro: Wonderful ceiling beams.
Con: Those chairs look like they’d be comfortable
for all of about minus five seconds.

4:
Pro: Nice countertops and floor.
Con: Backsplash everywhere? And it really doesn’t go with.

3: Not really a kitchen, but that pantry
is nicely organized.

2:
Pro: The brass is done to nice effect with all
elements of the room.
Con: More dust collecting open shelves.

1:
Pro: Great floor tile, nice view, like the art
above the windows
Con: Trying to figure out purpose of sink in
island since it is not near ovens nor presumably the cooktop.