AIA Report Names Outdoor Cooking Spaces the Top Kitchen Trend

Sunshine, fresh air, and open space seem to describe the perfect warm-weather getaway. They also describe this year’s top kitchen trend. Today, an annual survey by the American Institute of Architects revealed that outdoor kitchens top the trend list for the most wanted cooking space for the second year in a row, with 49 percent of participants reporting client popularity in Q4 of 2018, up from 45 percent in Q4 of 2017. Running a close second are kitchens that open onto a living area, proving that open-plan layouts still dominate kitchens’ interior architecture.

A drawing by Yongjin Han and an Henri Cartier–Bresson photograph decorate the airy, open kitchen in AD100 Monique Gibson’s New York City home. Pebble desk by Gal Gaon with Axel Einar Hjorth chair; custom metalwork by Mike Reid Weeks with reclaimed-wood shelving from Hudson Co.; range by Wolf.

“Homeowners want to utilize all the space on their property,” explained Kermit Baker, chief economist of the AIA. The organization led research for the Home Design Trends Survey, culling results from a panel of more than 500 architecture firms that specialize in residential design. The number of kitchen facilities on a property is also increasing, the survey shows, as more residential clients are interested in secondary food storage, food prep areas, or messy kitchen–style spaces (those with a pantry that’s separate and closed off from the rest of cooking area). This year’s homeowners also favor concealed lighting in the kitchen.

In other news, technology is on the upswing, with the popularity of wine refrigerators increasing 10 percent and smart kitchen requests up 5 percent from last year. Additionally, the survey shows that walk-in or tub-free showers are the leading features requested in bathroom designs, which reveals that styles are trending contemporary throughout the home.

These trends may have an added benefit for clients keeping an eye on the real-estate market. According to Baker, “Investing in outdoor cooking areas and maximizing the livable space on one’s property usually bodes well for resale, too.”

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