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Originally Posted On: https://www.germankitchens.com/features-in-german-kitchens-youll-absolutely-love/

 

Kitchen renovations remain the most popular home project, and it’s easy to see why. If you live in an older house, you’re likely frustrated with old appliances, outdated cabinets, or an inefficient layout. We spend a lot of time cooking and prepping food each day, so you want to ensure you can enjoy it.

If you’re tired of your current design and looking for inspiration, why not find it in one of the latest trends? German kitchens are full of beautiful designs, clean lines, and features that you’ll love.

Here are some of the top kitchen features to try for yourself.

Combining Style and Functionality

Germany is well-known for its high-quality materials, precision engineering, and innovation. It’s these traits that give German kitchens their clean look.

Imagine a minimalistic look with clean lines that makes you want to step into the kitchen and start cooking. Each component serves a purpose and even the tiniest mechanism helps to create a more pleasant experience. When you invest in a design that seamlessly combines style and functionality, everything from your cabinets to your faucet work to make your life easier.

Embracing Minimalist Design

A common feature shared across different German kitchen styles is the minimalist design. They have a clean, contemporary look featuring a neutral color palette and simple shapes.

Modern kitchen cabinets usually have a flat panel or slab design to add to this aesthetic. There are several benefits to having this style in your kitchen.

For one, they’re easy to clean. It’s simple to wipe down the smooth surface to remove dust, fingerprints, and grime. The problem with raised panel cabinets and other types frequently seen in traditional kitchens is that food and dust can get stuck in the small crevices.

The kitchen is one of the dirtiest rooms in the house. High-touch surfaces like cabinet pulls often contain harmful bacteria like E. Coli. Having cabinets that are simple to wipe down and sanitize benefits you and your family by keeping everyone healthier.

Another advantage of the minimalist look is that it’s pleasing to the eye. There are no unnecessary details or distractions. That’s part of what makes contemporary design so popular.

Stone and Natural Countertops

It’s crucial to talk about the quality of the materials you use in a kitchen remodel. After all, you want those upgrades to last you for decades.

Your kitchen sees a lot of wear and tear and needs to hold up against it. Parts of the kitchen you should think about the most include your cabinets, appliances, and countertops.

Cheap laminate is prone to scratching, denting, burning, and staining. While affordable, it’s far from being beautiful or durable.

Marble is indisputably a luxury material, but it’s quite fragile and prone to staining. You need to take very good care of marble countertops as they’re considered high maintenance.

Dekton by Cosentino is a beautiful combination of quartz, porcelain, and glass. It’s highly scratch, stain, and heat resistant, making it perfect for meal prep even in the busiest kitchen.

This stunning stone countertop is made of a sophisticated mixture of natural materials. It makes a timeless and durable surface that you’ll love.

Another popular option is Neolith, a leading brand in Sintered Stone. These revolutionary countertops feature premium technical features that make them strong, stain-resistant, and non-porous. Neolith surfaces are made of natural materials and come in a wide range of colors and patterns.

Floor-to-Ceiling Cabinetry

Does it always feel as if you don’t have enough space in your kitchen? Floor-to-ceiling cabinets solve that problem by offering ample room for all your dishes, cookware, appliances, etc.

Blenders, coffee makers, popcorn machines, food processors, toasters, air fryersthe average homeowner has an excess of small appliances and cooking gadgets. You may not use that fondue pot every day, but you don’t have to get rid of it.

The answer is to build upwards and make use of every square inch of space you have. Floor-to-ceiling cabinets are a common design element in German kitchens.

Instead of storing clutter on top of cabinets, which looks unsightly and can quickly get dusty, storing items inside is a much better solution. That’s why this is one trend you need to try at home.

Plus, ample storage space means that everything has a designated location, making cleaning simple. You’ll never have to wonder where you left the waffle maker either.

LED Lighting

Having the right amount of light is crucial in the kitchen, not only for ambiance but for safety. When handling sharp tools, you need to be able to see clearly. Plus, bright light allows you to see every crack and corner so you can keep the kitchen spotlessly clean.

So, what are some of the latest lighting trends you can implement in your dream kitchen?

LED isn’t new, but it is a must-have element in kitchen designs. Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) create longer-lasting and more durable options compared to incandescent bulbs.

In fact, you can use 75% less energy when you opt for LED lighting. It also lasts up to twenty-five times longer!

Layering your light sources in the kitchen by combining task, ambient, and accent lights is key to achieving a magazine-worthy room. For instance, recessed downlights are popular in kitchens due to their non-intrusive design and brightness.

In German kitchens, it’s common to see cabinet lighting as well, which provides a nice soft glow and can highlight certain features in the space. For instance, you might use these types of lights to showcase your crystal stemware.

Statement lights add a point of interest to the room. They’re often placed over kitchen islands, especially when the area doubles as extra seating. The key is to remember clean lines and geometric shapes, to continue the minimalist look.

Neutral and Bright Colors

A commonality among this type of design is the neutral color palette, which results in the clean look of a contemporary German kitchen. For instance, you’ll often see combinations of colors such as:

• Gray
• Black
• White
• Silver
• Gold
• White
• Beige
• Cream

However, that isn’t to say you won’t see pops of color in certain designs. If you want your kitchen to have a little color, don’t be afraid to experiment or look into different options.

Working with a professional designer is the best way to get the most out of your kitchen, so you can incorporate all the elements you want.

Adding Contrast With Mixed Materials

You’ve probably seen kitchens before that were too much of one color. All-white kitchens have a certain appeal, but they can also feel cold. Plus, depending on how much natural light you have in the room, they may be too bright.

One of the trends for the year that you also see in German-style kitchens is the use of contrast.

Mixed materials are very popular right now. You might see a beautiful stone kitchen island paired with natural wood bar stools, giving the space a bit of warmth.

You can also mix colors, adding a contrasting shade with your neutral color palette for visual interest. Dark grays and blacks work well with small pops of gold, for example.

The key is to achieve balance in the design.

More Texture With Creative Cabinetry

Unexpected but complementary sections of texture add more interest to a room, and they can make a cold space look more inviting.

An interesting tile backsplash can turn a plain kitchen into a unique work of art. Combining different cabinet materials adds instant appeal by breaking up the design in a calculated and aesthetically appealing way. For instance, you might want to add wood or a wood-look slab.

Creative cabinetry makes for one-of-a-kind kitchens that you’ll love to use and show off.

One trend that you may see in the latest designs is reeded cabinetry or islands. This unique look adds instant texture and also maintains the clean straight lines common in German kitchen cabinets.

Don’t forget about the countertops. Natural materials with dramatic “movement” or veining also add contrast and texture. It works well with a neutral color palette and a streamlined cabinet design.

Dramatic Stone

Speaking of patterns and veining, dramatic stone is a popular trend that you also see frequently in German designs. For instance, you might want to consider adding a waterfall kitchen island with a striking pattern and pair it with neutral cabinetry. This look highlights the beauty of the material.

Countertops are frequently the stars of the show in kitchen design. It’s one area where you want to invest well, as this surface sees a lot of wear and tear.

Thankfully, you have plenty of options for stone countertops that are both stunning and strong.

You might also see unique patterns and stone materials used as the backsplash, giving the room a little visual contrast.

Experience the Beauty of German Kitchens

There are many features of German kitchens that we know you’ll love, from the clean lines to the precision engineering. Details like neutral color palettes and floor-to-ceiling cabinets come together to create a beautiful and functional space.

Are you looking for German kitchens for your home? Take a look at our many categories and stunning designs and then call us to get started today.