Kitchen trends point to warmer, more personal rooms, designer says
Amanda Aerin says homeowners are bringing wood, stone and layered textures into the heart of the home, and appliance colour and hardware now help set the tone.
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KitchenAid's redesigned major appliance line, launched earlier this year, includes Juniper, a shade between green and blue, and Black Ore, a warm matte black. Designer Amanda Aerin, founder and principal of Amanda Aerin Design in Toronto, says those finishes reflect a wider shift: homeowners are moving away from all-white or grey kitchens toward wood, stone, layered textures and colours inspired by nature.
Aerin says appliances now belong to that conversation. A refrigerator or range has a large visual presence, so its colour, finish and handles can set the tone for the whole room.
KitchenAid also sells hardware accessory kits in brass, bronze, stainless steel and black ore, so a homeowner can mix handles and knobs to match. The kits fit specific compatible appliance models and come with installation guidance. The price depends on the appliance and kit.
Aerin's suggested approach is to start with one focal-point appliance, such as a counter-depth French door refrigerator or a 5.3 cubic-foot slide-in electric range, then pick a compatible hardware kit that relates to another finish already in the room. She would repeat that tone in small details such as cabinet pulls or a light fixture. She says the update can make a kitchen feel more considered without replacing cabinetry or countertops, and calls hardware kits among the most cost-effective ways to refresh a kitchen.
