There was a time in most upscale homes when the kitchen was placed at the back of the house.  Meals were prepared there and the dirty dishes cleaned. No longer! 

Today, in most every home, the kitchen has the focal point of the house, and a place where everyone comes together at least once in the day.  Just watch a few hours of the house-hunting and home remodeling programs on TV and you'll begin to notice the immediate focus on the kitchens. 

The Changing Look of the Kitchen

Planning for your kitchen remodel is very important. Because of the advances in technology and the distinct changes in style tastes, what was upscale and "avant garde" just a decade ago is seen as hopelessly dated and out of style today.

The challenge is in balancing both your own style preferences, but with an eye towards some longevity – should you decide to sell someday soon – and balancing your budget with what you would really like to have in your kitchen. And the first order of business is knowing what the design trends are. 

According to some of the country's top design experts, here are the five of the top trends in design ideas for kitchen remodelers in 2018. 

From High Tech to Stone 

Trends come and go, and what seems to be hot today may be forgetten by next year. However, certain trends have shown themselves to be growing and gaining in popularity of the last few years or so.

Smart Kitchens 

Technology has always been part of the kitchen, but now we're talking AI and the Internet-of-Things (IOT). Whereas there was once a cool coffee maker with digital display, memory, and an auto-brew function. Today, advanced technology has been integrated into almost every function and every appliance.

Welcome to the smart kitchen.

Some kitchens are evolving over time as homeowners add new smart appliances. Others, perhaps yours, are being built smart – either as new construction or through remodels. There are now motion-activated kitchen faucets and refrigerators that let you know what groceries you need. A word of caution here: don't fall prey to the temptation to overdo it with tech until you know what items will hold their value. 

Open Concept Kitchens 

The trend towards having large and easy access between the kitchen and other rooms in the house is a growing one. This can allow for easier entertaining and interacting with family and guests. 

If you are remodeling your kitchen and want to open up its floor plan, however, you may need to remove some walls. It's estimated that this will add $3,000-5,000 or more to your budget. While you may not be able to create the fully open concept kitchen you'd like, there may be some significant changes possible that will make for an acceptable compromise. 

Some options such as larger windows, skylights or open-beam ceilings can add a sense of openness. If you have a door to the kitchen, consider removing it and widening the opening in that wall. 

Painted Kitchen Cabinets 

A modern look for kitchens is also a growing trend going into 2018. This means that natural wood cabinets are going out of favor with many homeowners (and buyers!) Shades of white for cabinets is still a top choice, because it looks good in most any type of kitchen and tends to brighten the room. 

However, dark colors for cabinets are becoming fashionable now. Black, dark gray and even navy blue can create a luxurious and contemporary look and feel. Keep in mind that cabinet colors must complement your floor, countertops and other fixtures in your kitchen.   

If you still prefer the look of wood, consider two-tone cabinets with contrasting colors, or shades. This can be done with two types of wood incorporated in the cabinetry, or contrasting stains and finishes. 

Color and Patterned Appliances 

A quickly growing trend in kitchen remodeling is colorful appliances. White gave way to, well, some avocado, but then quickly replaced by stainless steel. Now we have black stainless and colors!  And there are plenty of bold bright colors to choose from. The most popular is navy blue, but bright red, emerald green and canary yellow have found new homes. 

Many of these appliances make generous use of chrome handles and trim, or faux wrought iron to set off the colors and add a slight retro feel to some units. Another growing trend is the addition of printed patterns across the face appliances. 

Quartz Countertops 

When it comes to high-end kitchen countertops, quartz reigns supreme. Quartz is extremely hardy, has a long life, is easy to maintain and is anti-microbial. Granite, what everyone seemed to want for years now, requires a bit more maintenance and tends to be pricier. Along with quartz, there is a noticeable increase in the use of concrete, laminate, and nano-tech countertops, as well. 

It used to that quartz countertops suffered from a lack of variety with colors and finishes. Today, however, technology has allowed manufacturers to produce a wide range of colors as well as realistic stone patterns.  In fact, a hot trend now is quartz finished with swirls and large veining that imitates other materials such as natural stone. 

Multi-Purpose Kitchen Islands 

Along with the open concept kitchen, another kitchen design trend that is increasing in popularity is the large kitchen island that serves multiple functions. The kitchen island is no longer limited to being merely an additional food prep station, but is becoming the center of the kitchen. 

Today, the kitchen island often has storage cabinets, a full range cook-top, and a full oven. And, if the kitchen is large enough to accommodate it, a bar and dining-style seating along with a variety of under-counter appliances. The island has gotten larger, much more prominent, and a much sought-after feature in the kitchen. 

If you are looking to add one to your remodeling plan, be sure to allow for plenty of room between the island and other appliances and fixtures on the walls. An open refrigerator door that blocks your path past the island is a poor design choice!

When You Need Junk Hauling When Remodeling

When the time comesfor hauling away the debris and old appliance removal, you can make the call to Junk King to schedule an appointment that works best for your schedule. If your project is creating large amounts of trash that get in the way, you can schedule a pickup midway through the project and again at the end.

Or just wait until you’ve hammered the last nail — and we’ll show up on-time and ready to haul everything. It’s as simple as 1, 2, 3. You make an appointment by booking online above or by calling 1.888.888.JUNK (5865).