The latest fashions in kitchen remodeling

When it comes to kitchen design, one must consider everything. Plus the kitchen sink. This once small, behind-the-scenes cooking cranny has encroached upon, if not surpassed, the living room as the warmest, most social spot in the American house. And as the room’s role has expanded, so has its size.

Kitchens are now larger and more openly connected to family rooms than ever before, with grander floor plans and fewer walls partitioning them from other rooms. If home is where the heart is, the heart is in the kitchen—and so are all of the guests when it comes to party time.

“People are gravitating toward what’s clean and fashionable, but still warm and cozy; the kitchen continues to be the hub of the home,” said Peg Fruin, owner of Hampton Design in East Hampton.

In an uncertain economy, entertaining at home and throwing potluck meals have surged in popularity. It seems that the area once relegated to only food preparation has become the front and center choice for entertaining.

“Let’s face it. Your kitchen is really your living room,” said Scott Smith, owner of Smith River Kitchens in East Hampton. “Kitchens make living rooms obsolete.”

With the need to cook, mingle and dine thus intertwined, homeowners are investing a lot to renovate their kitchen décor. Local professionals in the industry say an average kitchen remodel/renovation project costs approximately $50,000, with great variances depending on features, materials and styles.

Here on the East End, kitchens are not only blending into the rest of the house, but they also often reflect the sandy, surf-washed seaside outdoors. Where a liberal selection of white from the color palette is a perennial favorite, splashes of aqua and other soft blues or shades of turquoise are evocative of the wind and waves, and, therefore, always in vogue.

“White cabinets definitely have that beachy feel, explained Ms. Fruin about this most classic of Hamptons hues. “You’re here to be restful and peaceful. It’s lighter and summery year-round, not wintery.”

In addition to a tranquil color scheme, homeowners often desire kitchens that are airy and brimming with light. These attributes are often attainable through strategic window placement to maximize natural lighting and the use of certain light bulbs and fixtures.

A “less is more” ethos defines most East End kitchens today, noted Ms. Fruin. There are few embellishments, but rather an abundance of clean, sleek lines.

Kitchen styles, Ms. Fruin added, are often inspired by clothing fashions. After a few runway seasons of relatively unadorned clothes, kitchens have followed suit. Shaker doors and new woods with rustic finishes are very chic, as are rift oak cabinets with a cerused (or washed) finish or modern cabinets in a lacquer finish. Subway tiles in white ceramic are quietly elegant, according to Ms. Fruin.

“Simplicity with texture” is how Sandy Rementer, a designer at Perimeters, which has locations in Water Mill and East Hampton, described the latest fashions in kitchen design. Painted murals, such as those with chicken or grape motifs are gradually fading out of style while small, rectangular backsplashes sans pictures are shifting in.

According to Mr. Smith of Smith River Kitchens, the latest trends in kitchen design as “transitional,” combining elements from traditional and contemporary styles, or even ultra-modern design.

Cabinetry, whether it is in the mission or shaker style, is growing taller, with a trend of reaching all the way to the ceiling, Mr. Smith said, adding that inset cabinetry (in which a door almost disappears when shut) contributes to clean lines, as do recessed panels. And glass is an excellent choice for those who wish to display and admire the beauty of their dishes.

As far as the stainless steel trend goes, that which was once favored for the aura of a professional chef’s kitchen is now more likely to appear simply in accent pieces.

Ms. Rementer from Perimeters described the choice of woods for kitchens today as more of a neutral, milk chocolately-tone than a dark chocolate. Woods with interesting grains also hold appeal. While the heyday of oak cabinetry has passed, today’s top wood selections include maple, cherry painted or quarter-sawn oak. Though swirls and knots may add a touch of whimsy, clean, vertical lines top the charts in wood selections these days, she reported.

Meanwhile, countertop choices are trending toward quartzite options such as CaesarStone, silestone and marble. Granite, a longtime favorite, has slipped behind these toppers.

For edges, the graceful ogee and eased edges remain local classics, according to Lawrence Citarelli Jr., president and owner of the Westhampton Beach-based Lawrence III Corporation.

Experts agree that the most popular appliances trend toward signature brands like General Electric Monogram, Sub-Zero, Wolf (a subsidiary of Sub-Zero) and Miele. And for those who entertain frequently, two dishwashers have become the norm. Additionally, the installation of two sinks allow one to be used for food preparation, while reserving the other for cleaning. But farm sinks are also enjoying a return to the limelight.

If there is one staple of new kitchens these days, it is likely the island. Cementing itself as a fun gathering place for family and friends, as well as usable workspace, the kitchen island has become de rigueur, according to Ms. Fruin. “Everybody wants an island,” she said, adding that space is sometimes an issue in older homes. “It’s ‘can I fit it in there?’”

Of course, there is also a menu of environmentally-friendly features and materials for eco-minded customers, noted Mr. Citarelli.

Glass countertops are a sustainable choice, as are countertops made of other recycled materials. Bamboo holds potential as a green floor material. Energy Star-approved appliances and lighting fixtures are also stylish choices to reduce one’s carbon footprint.

In all, the choices for kitchen renovation and remodeling are almost as limitless as the ways one can entertain in this multipurpose room.