Flex Spaces

Having the most accommodating space in your home might not be as obvious as you think, but that’s ok, a solution is there! Yes, the best-case scenario in most instances would be a dedicated office space with a window and a closed-door for the ultimate room to concentrate in, but since that’s not always the case you have to think outside the box and get creative with the space you have! We’re talking about flex spaces!

Flex spaces, also known as satellite locations, are areas within a space that are multi-functional to fit the needs of you and/or your family. This breathtaking kitchen design is the perfect example of a multipurpose room as it lends well as an office space during the day, and a buffet table or homework area in the evenings. It’s bright and airy with a large bay window and is convenient for lunch and snack breaks during the day. Other rooms to consider space sharing are basements, dining rooms, guest rooms/master bedroom, or small unused nooks. These rooms can be personalized to fit your needs and aren’t dedicated to just one function.

Dedicated Spaces

Remember when home offices were a staple must-have in new builds just like a separate dining room off the kitchen? That trend is re-emerging as most people’s careers are now needing a more dedicated space when working remotely. It creates a separate space that provides the opportunity for a healthy work-life balance and it will eliminate distractions. It’s important to keep work separate from family or self-care time as it maintains healthy relationships and also creates a space where you can “leave” at the end of the day. If your floor plan doesn’t already have a dedicated home office, think about converting your attic space or basement or unused guest bedroom into the space of your dreams!

Office Storage

Now that we’ve found a perfect spot for your home office, let’s talk about storage! A Drawer Bank, File Drawer, Open Bookcase, Waste Bin, and a Knee Drawer are among the top five storage items requested by designers as these items are perfect for keeping you organized. Get creative with your space to fit your storage needs and don’t be afraid to use common kitchen storage to fit your office needs as well. The examples below utilize a cutlery divider, power in drawer, and an appliance garage to upgrade this home office!

Office Trends

As you are dreaming up your new office space and how to decorate, you want to ensure that the space makes you feel motivated, inspired, and comfortable! We recommended using blues or greens within your space as they are conducive to concentration and focus and will give you a sense of calmness throughout the day. You’ll also want to consider adding natural elements such as plants as they provide benefits to your health and creates a healthy indoor climate. With all these elements taken into consideration, you are sure to have a safe and healthy work from home experience!

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The Working Kitchen Pantry

Primarily seen in luxury homes, the covert kitchen or working kitchen is a fully dressed second food prep space that takes on multiple functions. Anything from additional refrigeration, baking and washing up to household management and pet stations are located in this newly imagined space. This keeps the clutter and mess out of site of the primary kitchen where design and aesthetic play a huge part in the overall impression of the living space which is now fully merged with most modern kitchens.

The Built-in Kitchen Pantry

A more mainstream solution is simply the built-in pantry. Not necessarily as all-inclusive as the covert kitchen, but the built-in pantry is making a come back. The primary solution for food storage in the majority of homes is still a pantry cabinet, but renovations and new construction alike are opting to carve out a space to include an enhanced version of a food pantry and elevate their lifestyle with a multi-functioning organization center for food, small appliances, work and even crafts and laundry as some of these spaces opt to include windows making them ideal for any life phase.

Open floor plans are a big debate coming out of 2020. Will they last or won’t they, and if the home continues to evolve, what will the next design evolution be? One thing is for sure, trends around versatility, flexibility and transitional spaces that can change and grow with the homeowner are the ones with staying power. So look for more on this emerging trend and the evolution of the covert kitchen, a messy work space that can stay behind closed doors while you entertain in your primary kitchen-living space.

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The perfect pastel.

In the world of predominately all white kitchens, integrating cabinet color can be a challenge. We love white cabinetry and the classic, easy elegance that comes from that look, but don’t shy away from this trend of subtle color infusion, particularly when it comes to green kitchen cabinets. Neutrals are always a safe bet for longevity, but even neutral trends evolve and eventually become outdated spaces. Pastels are the current trend for neutral yet colorful, allowing for some tonal influence from colors like green, blue and even blush beiges, yet without the dominate color theme that can sometimes restrict the complimentary palette.

This kitchen is a perfect example of a ‘colored neutral’ paint that moves the kitchen beyond plain white and into a fresh, subtle green color but at the same time, retains the bright, airy softness of an almost white space. Many of these colored neutrals still mix well with other colors giving them the longevity and flexibility many homeowners want with their new kitchens.

Even as a full color kitchen in Fleeting Green, this palette is primed for ocean-influenced or dark blue accents. Color pops could also range in popular terra cotta tones, retro black accessories or warmer earthen reds or browns. But no one says you have to go color crazy, sticking with the basic of pastel green, ash-blonde wood tones and layered neutrals has a casual and can quite simply be embellished through textural elements as seen in this inspirational kitchen through natural wood grain accents and a multi-paneled door accent, creating plenty of visual appeal on these mono-toned cabinets.

Often the most well thought out kitchen designs are the ones that look beautiful from the outside, but also meet functional needs on the inside. This kitchen tells a story of a small family who loves the idea of color being the new neutral to brighten and inspire them daily. This application provides the perfect opportunity for their personality to shine through and maximize trends around kitchen cabinet colors.

Also within this space, there is a perfect, well-lit, and functional workplace integrated into this high function home hub. Current trends in adding workspaces into common areas yet away from the working island provide families with options as we see some lifestyles transition to hybrid home/ work environments. Having this additional dedicated space adds flexibility for a work from home parent and can double as a place to do homework in the evenings or even an additional place to set up entertaining on the weekends. These multi-functional spaces really provide the flexibility the future demands of families at home.

Speaking of functionality, a perfectly placed drop zone is ideal for school children to hang their backpacks and sanitize before digging into the kids beverage center for a cool drink and a snack. These enhanced functional features can evolve in use or serve multiple purposes for cleaning supplies and broom storage for not just the kitchen but the whole home. So keep zone functionality in mind when creating your dream kitchen and let your cabinets do the work!

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