Kitchen remodeling projects, such as modernizing the decor, improving the layout, and adding storage may call for a good amount of investment which is why most homeowners hope to end up with a finished product that looks fresh and remains efficient and comfortable for as long as possible. What’s contemporary and swank today may be out of vogue in a year, making your kitchen look passé, even before you’ve had a chance to get things rolling in it!

While no one can say for sure which kitchen features will stand the test of time, here are eight trends you may want to avoid to keep your remodeling efforts looking appropriate for years to come:

1. Appliance garages

Keeping small appliances behind closed doors is a thing of the past. Unfortunately, these garages eat up a lot of valuable counter space. Today’s homeowners choose to keep often-used appliances right on the counter, and pull-out drawers are fantastic hideaways for blenders, mixers and other small appliances.

2. Kitchen niches

A decade ago, kitchens had built-in nooks for the phone, mixer and a desk – that was mainly used as a landing spot for papers, keys and bills. Most homes no longer have land phone lines, so phone niches become completely unnecessary. A more modern approach: a drawer for notepads and pens and a charging station for the family’s electronics.

3. Apron-Front Kitchen Sinks

Apron-front kitchen sinks have been a rage over the last two years. But it is only a fading trend. For a sink that will always be in style, it’s got to be something stainless.

4. 4-inch backsplash

Gone are the ‘4-inch backsplash’ days. Today’s homeowners are opting for backsplashes in the kitchen that reach all the way up to the bottom of upper cabinets. This is a far more useful option than just a bare painted wall, not to mention the decorative value. With colors, pattern or textures (tile, ceramic, glass, beaded board, brick etc), backsplashes improve the visual appeal of the kitchen, without difficulty and at a reasonable price.

5. Trash compactors

These appliances were particularly popular in the 1970s and ‘80s but not so much anymore. It is a tedious task to clean them up and they also stink up the kitchen as they fill up with garbage.

6. Countertop Microwaves

A countertop microwave eats up valuable workspace. Modern kitchens have under-counter microwave drawers that align effortlessly with the rest of the kitchen cabinets. The ultimate space-savers, under-counter microwaves also look quite stylish. Marketed toward families on the go, they are installed at an accessible height good enough even for children and fitted with safety locks for homes with toddlers. Under-counter microwaves are convenient, functional and stylish, and definitely here to stay.

7. Range hoods or pot racks as focal points

Quite a rage over the last few years, the popularity of decorative range hoods and pot racks is now going downhill. Today’s homeowners usually favor storing their pot collections in deep drawers that roll out for accessibility.

8. Colorful appliances

Appliance companies will tell you that the color white or arctic is the new stainless, but there is absolutely no doubt that stainless is still the king. It fits in effortlessly with both, contemporary and traditional décor in the kitchen and has global appeal. If you want to stay contemporary for as long a period as possible, ditch the colorful appliances and go with stainless – eternal style!

Author Bio :  Martin Cowell is a property expert in Mexico. When he is not buying, selling homes and condos, he loves traveling, cooking and blogging about real estate reforms in Mexico. You can reach him through his website www.iownakumal.com.

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