• Sinks that are topped by cutting boards, including ones from Blanco and Elkay, that can serve as additional prep space or hide dirty dishes.

• No-touch faucets and ones that indicate with LEDs lights the water temperature, including products from KWC and Franke that are sensible for families with kids, Foresman said.

What’s Not Hot–at Least for Now

• Prep islands that, with the flick of a button, pop up out of the floor or that drop down or rise up from behind cabinets.

• Work islands that can be wheeled from room to room.

• Cabinet doors that rise up and down with remote controls.

• Adjustable pieces on stationary frameworks that can be lowered or raised depending on the height of the home’s cooks.

• Ultra-quiet vent hoods, like those from Dyson and DeDietrich.

• Refrigerators that contain all drawers and no shelves, like models from Neff.

• Fully integrated cabinets and appliances.

• Induction cooktops that have integrated woks so cooks can prepare a meal without pots and pans.

• Countertops that feature rich textures, including sand-blasted stone, or very shiny materials, like stainless steel or metal-look laminates.

• Faucets with ultra flexible spouts or ones in high-fashion colors.

Although many trends originate in Europe, the U.S. kitchen’s role as the gathering place for the family and for entertaining is influencing homeowners overseas. “The kitchen was only used for food prep, not for social gathering,” said Foresman, “but now Europeans say they are being inspired by American kitchens.”
Jean Dimeo is editorial director for Building Products and ebuild.com.