Way back in 1949, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, responding to "hundreds of requests," researched ways to make a kitchen more efficient. Applying World War II principles of work simplification to kitchen design resulted in "A Step-Saving Kitchen" where every task related to meal preparation had been analyzed and optimized.
A short color film documented the innovations in the U-shaped kitchen, where natural light floods the space from thoughtfully placed windows over the sink. And when the researchers couldn't find adequate supplemental light fixtures to adequately light the space, they built their own, placing fluorescent tubes in handcrafted wooden "troughs."
Food and equipment storage was arrayed within arm's reach in each of the kitchen's carefully considered zones for baking, cooking and dishwashing.
The movie ends as a family sits down to dinner and the narrator concludes, "In this kitchen that has made her task of food preparation so much lighter, the housewife can share her family's enjoyment at mealtime."
The USDA's Bureau of Human Nutrition and Home Economics, which had offered support to homemakers through the Great Depression and World War II, was decommissioned in 1962.
Much has changed since then — and yes, we can all agree that the prep and presentation of meals need not be referred to as "her" task. But it's worth appreciating the sincere desire to make a homemaker's life easier through applying research and innovation to seemingly mundane daily activities.
And in different ways, that's still happening today. Read on to learn how kitchen design and materials are being adapted to our modern lifestyles.
CABINETRY
Storing dishes and glassware in cabinets has been standard kitchen protocol for many years. But what if there was a better way?
"I would say there's a huge shift toward drawer storage over cabinet storage," Jessica Hodgson, in-house designer and project manager at Schaff Homes says. Drawers offer a win-win: allowing easy viewing of their contents as well as improved accessibility — for shorter people, for those without a lot of upper body strength and for people using wheelchairs.
Large pullout drawers with strategically placed pegs can accommodate stacks of various sizes of plates and bowls and even cups or mugs, as well as pots, pans and lids. Slim rollout cabinets on either side of the range are also popular, taking full advantage of an often awkward space and offering handy storage for spices and everyday cooking ingredients like oils and vinegars.
Incorporating storage drawers is also allowing designers to reduce or even eliminate upper cabinets, something Hodgson says is, "A huge, huge thing, too." Instead of cabinets, the above counter space can be used for open shelving.
Establishing clean symmetry in cabinetry and keeping countertop clutter to a minimum is paramount for many clients. Hodgson says she's concealed drawers of different sizes behind what appears to be two equal-sized drawer fronts that open to reveal a "drawer within a drawer," with the smaller space holding utensils while larger items are stored below. "Mostly I have done that in more modern applications because it just looks so clean," she notes.
The notion that metal finishes need to be consistent throughout the kitchen – meaning the faucet has to match the cabinet knobs and light fixtures – is giving way to more relaxed design. "There's a lot more layering happening, and it makes it feel more creative," Hodgson says.
Cabinetry surfaces are also undergoing an evolution. While painted cabinetry remains popular, natural wood finishes are now a top choice. White oak dominated for the last few years, but Hodgson says preferences now seem to be moderating toward slightly darker, mid-tone woods. "People still like white (cabinets) – that's a classic timeless look," Hodgson says, "but people are getting a little more bold with what they want to do."
APPLIANCES
One of the most notable appliance trends is induction ranges. Though similar in appearance to electric glass-top ranges, induction cooktops use electromagnetic waves to directly heat cookware, resulting in a cooler, safer cooktop surface, better energy efficiency and, when compared to gas ranges, improved indoor air quality. Professional chefs also praise induction's rapid, smooth heat. "I got one because we remodeled our kitchen a few years ago, and now I can't go back. [The heat] is just so consistent," Hodgson says.
Steam ovens, long standard in commercial kitchens, are now making their way into the residential market. Touted for their ability to help retain nutrients and flavor, as well as cooking faster and without added fat, steam ovens also save energy.
If space permits, double dishwashers are helpful for those with frequent hosting duties or larger families. On the other hand, single dishwashers with two separate drawers offer the option of running either a large or small load. Cooling drawers offer additional refrigerated space, and can be tucked under the counter, providing optimal temps for specific storages, such as for vegetables or fruit. Built-in coffee stations are another popular luxury.
As for lighting, Hodgson says she's seeing clients moving away from one of the recent-past's must-haves: can lights and pendants. "I've seen a trend toward more flush-mount fixtures versus cans. I don't think I see as many pendants anymore," she says. "On an island, I see a large chandelier or multiple surface mounts."
Counters
Kitchen counters have to stand up to rugged use over many years – decades even – and also, as one of the main contributors to a kitchen's aesthetic appeal, they need to look good.
Natural stone options include granite and marble. Every slab is unique, and options range from stones with minimal pattern and veining to more dramatic and opulent options.
Granite and quartzite are similar natural stones. Granite is distinguished by small flecks or grains that are distributed fairly evenly across the surface, while quartzite often has more of a grain. Both are durable, though they can stain or chip and require occasional resealing. Each slab is one-of-a-kind.
Similarly, marble is a natural material, known for its beautiful veining, though it is a softer material than granite and prone to developing a patina reflecting its use over time, which can be a plus or minus.
"Some people enjoy it," says Sabrina Melzer, showroom associate at Stratus Surfaces in Spokane Valley. "It's like, 'Oh, do you remember when that happened?' It can be memory-related, but a lot of people want something that's not going to have those things."
Manmade countertop materials at Stratus Surfaces include quartz and porcelain. These surfaces resist staining while offering a variety of looks. Porcelain slabs are made to mimic granite, marble or quartz by fusing exquisitely detailed images of various surfaces to a giant porcelain tile. Matte and polished finishes offer both durability and predictability: Customers know exactly what their counters will look like.
To form quartz countertop material, naturally occurring quartzite stone is crushed and blended with resins and pigments. Designs can be veined or solid, and in various color and texture combinations, with some variation among slabs.
Melzer is ready to help customers confronted with what can be the dazzling number of choices at the Spokane location, where entire slabs of porcelain and quartz are on display, or with Stratus' online inventory of natural stone.
She starts with the basics: "Do you like bolder patterns? Do you like contrasting colors? Thinner veinings? Thicker veinings?" She notes that looking at a slab that's displayed vertically is not the same as seeing it installed on a horizontal plane. And lighting matters a lot, so Melzer encourages customers who see a material they like in the store to try it out on the company's visualizer app, and to take a sample home.
Laminates are another form of manmade countertop, and they're crafted from an unexpected material: paper.
"The decorative part of laminate is actually decorative paper," says Lacey Crawford, Wilsonart Engineered Surfaces regional sales representative for the Pacific Northwest. To produce a laminate countertop, the decorative paper is topped with a layer of melamine, and then backed with sheets of Kraft paper.
For Wilsonart's ThinScape line, dozens of layers of Kraft paper are stacked beneath the decorative paper layer. After adding phenolic resin and dye, the stack of paper is heated and pressed to create a solid wood substrate with a decorative top. For consumers, the result is a ½-inch thick product that doesn't require a plywood backing, is impact- and heat-resistant, and offers durability that Crawford says is comparable to other manmade and natural stone options, at a lower price point.
But if midcentury design is what you're after, Crawford points to the Retro line, which features cheerful patterns including boomerangs and readily recognizable starbursts from the 1950s and 1960s. "I've had a lot of people install these recently," Crawford says. "You don't always have to have a stone look! You can have a 1950s look if you want to."
