12 Kitchen Trends to Try in Your Leawood Home

1. Minimalism

A minimalist approach removes unnecessary decor and details in favor of essentials, clean lines, and contemporary elements. This rejection of unnecessary details in favor of functional ones is the trend of the year. Instead of choosing bright colors and multiple prints, opt for a monochromatic color palette.

Here are some additional minimalist design elements to help your kitchen exude a sense of luxury and class:

Choose rich, deep colors such as royal blue or slate gray instead of white or cream paint for walls. Check out these slay gray and white color schemes for inspiration.
Deep drawers and roll-out cabinets are functional elements that can be tucked away, leaving your kitchen looking fresh and free of clutter.
Since minimalist kitchens follow a linear design layout, you can incorporate that in the kitchen island. In addition to being a beautiful element in a kitchen, kitchen islands provide an excellent food prep station, can include plenty of tucked-away storage, and are fantastic for entertaining.
Clear the clutter by removing items you don’t use daily, such as rice cookers, panini presses, and extra coffee mugs, off your kitchen counter.
Replace typical cabinet knobs with hidden pulls, push latches, and integrated handles. These hardware options are exceptionally stylish.
Switch out your sink faucets for sleek chrome ones.
Re-organize your kitchen so that everything is easy to find. Designate drawers for silverware and cookware, appliances, containers, and plates in cabinets, and less-used appliances and foodstuffs in closets or on shelves.

Credit: @Scripps Network / HGTV

2. French Country Chic

Whether you’re discussing fashion, cuisine, or interior design, French style is always iconic. When it comes to kitchens, French country design offers a seamless air of elegance.

Incorporate these French country design ideas to make you feel as if daily life is like a vacation in the South of France:

Utilize colors like gold, deep red, and olive for your walls and details, like labeled jars on the countertop.
Fill the room with flowers in classic antique vases.
Retro-inspired appliances can make your kitchen feel cozier, make a bold statement, and are a great conversation starter.
Mix-and-match seating creates a homey and casual farmhouse feel.
Instead of an island, design a bonus space that can be used as a prep counter and a dining table. A long wooden table should suffice.
If you’re attached to your kitchen island, choose some plush cushioned stools or high-chairs draped in linen to fit in with the French country theme.
Reclaimed and found objects, large pendants, and antiques add some style and remind us of simpler times.
Exposed beams combined with long pendants can accentuate high ceilings, giving your kitchen a formal yet approachable feel.
Copper pots and pans hanging from a wrought-iron frame help round out the French country chic look.

3. Traditional

If you prefer to keep things classic and timeless, a traditional kitchen will be perfect for you. Traditional kitchens focus on minor details. Everything from hardware and moldings to coordinating backsplashes and paneled cupboard doors are potential details to include, and they can vary immensely.

The primary purpose of designing a traditional kitchen is to create a comfortable, inviting, and elegant environment where family meals and bonding unravel effortlessly. Below are some traditional kitchen design elements you can incorporate for timeless appeal.

Cabinets in traditional kitchens are often decorative and come in various colors, textures, patterns, and lines.
Hardware is often detailed and orate or classic and made with silver or brass. Pair decorative cabinets with understated knobs to let your beautiful cabinetry shine.
Countertops made of quartz or granite are typical, though butcher block or marble are great alternatives.
Modern stainless steel appliances are a favorite among traditional-style enthusiasts.
White and dark brown woods are typical of traditional kitchens.
White tiles, paint, and accents are common for creating a crisp and clean contrast that is visually appealing.
The flooring in a traditional kitchen can tie everything together. Tile and wood flooring are classic options. The flooring should match the room’s other elements.

4. Contemporary

Many homeowners flock to contemporary style for its elegance and casual yet polished approach. While traditional kitchens use classic design elements with ornate details, contemporary kitchens offer a more minimalist and artistic vibe. Contemporary kitchens keep details to a minimum while focusing on the complementary relationship between materials, surfaces, and colors.

Contemporary kitchens are extremely popular these days and for good reason. They’re chic, uncluttered, and highly practical. Consider these design elements if you’re going for a contemporary approach:

Choose neutral shades like brown, taupe, and pure white for your flooring, furnishings, and walls. However, if vibrant colors are more your taste, you could certainly still use them. Utilizing two tones, whether they’re neutral, bright or a combo is an easy way to take a contemporary approach to choosing your kitchen’s color palette.
Cabinets are used solely for function and often hide appliances such as ovens, fridges, microwaves, and coffee machines. Typical contemporary storage elements are deep drawers for pots and pans, upper cabinets with glass doors, and open shelving.
Contemporary kitchens are a welcome home for islands and breakfast bars. These focal points can incorporate splashes of color for a bit of flair.
Vinyl plank, wood, and tile are typical flooring choices in contemporary kitchens.
Under-cabinet lighting is excellent for preparing food, while pendants look beautiful hung above islands. Purchase a modern kitchen chandelier for a more elegant and formal look.
When it comes to decorating a contemporary kitchen, the world is your oyster. There is no standard approach for this style. Instead, the design is defined by a clean aesthetic, minimalist decor, and visually calming components.

In addition to these stylish and varied design styles, there are plenty of kitchen trends to inspire your next kitchen renovation. Whether you prefer minimalism or classic design, you’re bound to find a trend or two that appeals to your preferences.

5. Natural Materials

Sterile, manmade materials are out. Natural stone, cement, and wood are in. These natural elements direct the focus to other kitchen design elements and keep your kitchen looking sharp and polished.

6. Knobless Cabinets

In keeping with the minimalist design approach, cabinet knobs are a thing of the past. Hidden handles and frameless kitchen cabinets enhance this straightforward approach to kitchen cabinetry. Cabinet doors take center stage these days.

7. Layering

Layering is taking the design game by storm. You can layer colors, patterns, textures, and lighting more in your kitchen. To do this, choose a theme and then bring in variations of that theme. For instance, layer lighting by using under-cabinet lighting, overhanging lighting, and accent lighting.

8. Statement Islands

Having a kitchen island is a big point of pride for a lot of people. Why not show it off? There are many ways to make your island a statement piece. It can have different color cabinets from the remainder of the kitchen or feature distinct pendant lights.

Double islands are another up-and-coming trend. Instead of one long island, consider breaking yours up into two smaller sections.

9. Glass Partitions

Though many are still fans of open-plan rooms, many have come to appreciate having a separate space to escape the soundtrack of the entire house. A glass partition is a perfect way to keep an area looking and feeling open while still creating a distinct separation between rooms. Glass partitions are also helpful for keeping kitchen aromas contained.

10. Contrasting Colors

Bold contrasting colors create a lively and inviting space. Pick two shades on opposite sides of the color wheel to achieve this. Pink/green and blue/orange are two examples, though there’s plenty of variation possible depending on the shades you choose.

11. Pops of Color

If a super-bright and bold kitchen is not what you’re after, but you still want to incorporate some color, opt for splashes of color. Try painting one wall a bright color while keeping the others white or off-white, or choose a mineral water blue KitchenAid mixer as opposed to a classic silver one. Whichever color you choose or the way you incorporate it, this decision is 100% customizable to your tastes.

12. Smart Technology

High-tech kitchen gadgets make our lives easier and give our kitchens a more futuristic aesthetic, helping these spaces look modern and extremely practical. Features like recessed sockets, hidden appliances, and built-in dishwashers create a sleek, clean appearance.

See yourself living in Leawood, Kansas? Contact real estate professional Trent Gallagher for unrivaled client service. Trent and his team will give you your undivided attention as they help you look for the Leawood luxury home of your dreams.