The Kitchen Trend Designers Say To Avoid For A Luxury Look

Luxury kitchens need to be practical and functional as well as visually appealing. A luxury design or remodel can have a massive impact on your home's value, adding an extra $20,000 to $80,000, depending on the extent of the job and the materials you choose. With so many options to choose from, the design phase can feel overwhelming, especially with so many rules to follow when designing a new kitchen to ensure you stay on budget and cover all bases. Features like open shelving, under-cabinet drawers, lighting, and colors all need to have an exceptional flow to achieve the look of sophistication. But there are also certain design elements that can make your space feel dated or less luxurious no matter how you incorporate them. One example is fluted features, which designers say to avoid when going for a luxury look due to the potential for an outdated appearance.

Fluted features have been a popular way to add texture and patterning to kitchens of all styles. However, the look is feeling more outdated and too common, so it's no longer keeping up with the luxury feel. Before you decide to add fluted detailing into your design, consider the downsides to the fluted kitchen island trend and other features. Take your cue from the designers, and opt for more timeless ideas.

Even though you want your luxury kitchen to look expensive, it doesn't actually need to cost a lot of money. That's another reason why you might want to skip fluting — many fluted features are costly. But the trend goes in and out — reeded kitchen features can start out feeling modern but end up falling flat in your design. That means you could spend a lot of money on a design that doesn't live up to the luxury you expect. 

The biggest disadvantage of incorporating fluted kitchen details is that the textures and grooves within the reeds make it extremely difficult when cleaning. Little pieces of food or dust could settle into the gaps in the fluting. Add grease into the mix, and it's difficult to clean it off each section. That is not something you need in a space where cleaning occurs almost daily.

There are many other ideas for your kitchen remodel to go with that help create a gorgeous, luxurious space. They won't look outdated or pose challenges when cleaning. For instance, rather than fluted cabinets or island surrounds, go for slim or classic shaker style cabinets or a monochrome island to help expand the space and bring a touch of luxury. Finally, rather than fluted lighting features, include integrated lighting like undermount cabinet lights and bold, simple fixtures to create an upscale aesthetic.