Inner Beauty

When it comes to cabinet interiors, storage products, kitchen accessories and even closet systems, designers aren’t looking for just “another pretty face.”

“Organization of the interiors is talked about more than ever today by designers and consumers,” says Philip Martin, kitchen business development manager at Häfele, in Archdale, NC. “The consumer has realized that the inside of the cabinet is an opportunity to improve the kitchen and have better access to stored items,” he adds.

The frantic pace of many people’s lives makes good storage and easy access to items vital. After all, no one wants to waste time searching for items needed to work in the kitchen. And whether it’s a pantry or a cabinet, pull-downs, roll-outs and drawer systems with dividers provide plenty of accessible storage options for designers to work with.

But if storage is good, clever storage is even better. So says Dennis Poteat, marketing services for Blum, Inc. in Stanley, NC, who notes, “Designers want more originality in their kitchens. They are looking for good functionality in everything with a new, exciting look.”

This is the case in everything from the sink station – where built-in cutting boards, sink grids and other accessories keep things neat and organized – to pot fillers and other kitchen accessories to cabinet interiors, pantries and the like.

Of course appearance matters, but in addition to aesthetics, designers and their clients see the flexibility of the organization system as a high priority. “Consumers are looking for anything that allows them to create spaces specific to their needs,” says Poteat.

Jan Fitzpatrick, advertising manager for Grass America Inc., based in Kernersville, NC, agrees: “Consumers are much more aware of the interior of the drawer. They like the options of designing their interiors to meet their specific needs.”

Rob Jenkins, director of marketing/consumer sales for Rev-A-Shelf, LLC, in Jeffersontown, KY, says, “Interior fittings have come a long way over the years and I would say the biggest trend has been how they continue to evolve in function, aesthetics and quality. In addition to the cabinetry and limited accessories of the past, kitchen designers can continue their design inside the cabinets to provide a ‘total package’ for the customer.”

The idea of having a fully coordinated kitchen is carrying over to the inside of cabinets and drawers. “Interior fittings are coordinated throughout, from pantry pull-outs, base roll-outs and spice racks to cabinet pull-outs and corner solutions. Now it’s possible to have all of the interior elements be of the same harmonious design throughout,” says Martin.

Driving the Trends

Trends with regard to other elements in the kitchen – from faucet finishes to appliances and accessories – help to drive the trends in interior fittings as designers are coordinating from the outside in.

“More and more interior fittings are being designed to complement the design of the kitchen and hardware used,” says Jenkins. “There have been several products developed to match with the ‘stainless’ trend, as well as many wood products to go with the seemingly timeless ‘natural wood’ trend.”

He adds that, as a result, Rev-a-Shelf’s accessories in chrome/brushed aluminum, and its Wood Classics line, are very popular at this time.

Poteat agrees that the finish of other appliances has an effect on what goes inside the cabinets and drawers. “The popularity of stainless steel appliances seems to be spreading to other parts of the kitchen.” He cites Blum’s TANDEMBOX stainless steel drawer system as appealing to designers as a visual accent to these appliances.

Responding to this desire for coordination in the kitchen, Grass America, Inc. has introduced the Nova Pro drawer system with a champagne color, says Fitzpatrick. “It has a warmer tone than the metallic or stainless steel color. The champagne color blends well with the various finishes of hard woods.”