A new year lets you press the reset button. What better place to begin than in one of the hardest working areas of your home – your kitchen. While following kitchen trends too closely can seem fleeting, smart usage of the right kitchen design trends lets them often outlast their time in the spotlight. From cabinetry, to color palettes, and backsplashes, we asked our designers to weigh in on what they are seeing on the home front this year!

Grays are warming up – The cooler color palettes that dominated for years are starting to take a step back. Even the dominant grays of the past five years are starting to take on a hint of beige.

Clean lines – The preference for simple lines, rather than the ornate, has been trending for a while and shows no signs of stopping. Even traditional style homes are becoming more minimalist as people embrace a more simplified aesthetic.

Granite is fading – More people are either opting for lower maintenance options like manmade Quartz, or choosing a more exotic look like natural Quartzite. The naturally remarkable look of Quartzite is getting a further boost with speciality treatments like leathered, flamed or honed finishes.

All about islands – Islands are continuing their domination of the kitchen and are bigger than ever. Large islands can seat 6+ people and still leave plenty of prep space. When space permits, double islands are on the rise, allowing for the full separation of the work space from the casual seating space.

Hardware that shines – Gold is here to stay, but so is the trend toward mixing metals. Almost anything goes from dark grays with a gunmetal look, to rose gold, and brushed nickel.

Blue and White – White kitchens really never go out of style, but these days more white kitchens are getting a strong pop of color to go along with them. Blue has become the go-to accent color, whether it’s a neutral friendly Navy, a bold Royal or a Dusty blue, the pairing is an undeniable hit.

Kitchen desk revival – Kitchen desks went the way of the Dodo years ago, but let’s face it, the bills, paperwork and clutter didn’t. Rather than taking over part of the kitchen counter, more people are opting to corral it in a new version of the kitchen desk. It’s part message center/ part family command center.

Elongated subway tile – Subway tile has evolved, and the now classic rectangular shape is longer and slimmer. These longer tiles look great in an offset, brick lay or herringbone pattern, and give a fresh update to the classic subway tile.

There are plenty of today’s kitchen trends that have long term staying power; it all depends on how you use them in your home. Set up a time to talk with a designer about what’s possible for your kitchen. You can also register to attend an upcoming workshop or follow Normandy Remodeling on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more inspiration and insights.