Article by Anita Shaw in Kitchen and Bath Design News makes great observations.
Two years ago the national kitchen design industry publication Kitchen and Bath Design News published an article by Anita Shaw. Her observations from local kitchen designers resonate even more today then they did then. Read the first part of Anita’s article below. To read the entire article click the link at the bottom of the page.
MidAtlantic Kitchens Open Up
Clean and bright is the order of the day for kitchens in the MidAtlantic states, with open concept and functionality topping the must-have lists.
written by Anita Shaw June 17, 2022
Design in the Mid-Atlantic region of the U.S. is almost as diverse as the area itself. Encompassing Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Virginia, homes range from 19th century Victorians to urban sleek to coastal cottages.
“We work on a bit of everything,” reports Katherine Dashiell, designer, Reico Kitchen & Bath in Annapolis, MD, “and I think what my clients are interested in depends on their lifestyle.”
Clients in their 30s and 40s who are in the middle of raising their families, are bulk shopping and entertaining their friends and their kids’ friends are looking for things like big pantries and bulk storage, she observes. “For them, the kitchen is a multi-purpose room that needs to have a place and a space for things outside of cooking.”
She also notes that there are a lot of 55 and older communities going up in her area, and the clients moving into those spaces “are typically downsizing. They have turned large family get togethers over to their children,” she explains. “People are concerned with entertaining, but typically with smaller groups. They are more concerned with aging in place and ease of use – most things within easy reach, roll-out trays in base cabinets and pantry cabinets, etc.”
Paul McAlary, president, Main Line Kitchen Design in Bala Cynwyd, PA, agrees that how the kitchen functions is key.
“We try to design the space to be attractive and functional first, and then adapt the style to the customer’s taste and specific needs,” he offers.
“While design styles change from person to person, most people look for the same sort of functionality,” remarks Dashiell. “Functionality seems to be the driving force.” She notes that, while some people come to Reico for a new kitchen because they think their kitchen looks dated, “most are finally pushed into taking the plunge because the kitchen no longer functions for them or their family,” she stresses.
McAlary observes that clients often have preconceived notions about function that are not accurate. “Functionality is a very universal concept in kitchen design. Usually, the theories explain why they need what they have now and are used to,” he comments, adding that customers will adapt quickly to good design once they can be convinced to be more open minded.
Read the entire article below with several photos and comments from different local kitchen designers:
Read another article on a similar topic:
