Kitchen trends 2008

S@H: Customizing the kitchen is not a new concept. But how are people beginning to really personalize their kitchens?
DM: When I was growing up there were definite phases in kitchen fashions. I vividly remember the avocado green and harvest yellow years when everyone (and I mean everyone!) had the same colour appliances. Then there was the black glass and oak era. Today kitchen fashion is much more diverse. There are many 'right' ways to create a stylish kitchen through colour choices for cabinetry and appliances, through size and shape of appliances and this freedom is allowing people to create spaces that they really like and that reflect their personalities and cooking habits.

S@H: How close are we to "smart" kitchens? (And can you name a few items that are currently available to consumers)
DM: The next wave of technology promises to truly make kitchens personal spaces with wall panels that can be changed to reflect your mood and appliances that will interact with your personal health and help you to choose foods to meet caloric and other nutrient goals. It's not quite a Star Trek replicator but it's pretty edgy, cool stuff!

S@H: What was the last thing you did to -- or incorporated into -- your own kitchen that greatly improved it?
DM: I've just added a bar height island to the space where my architect had planned for there to be an eating area. I think having this feature will help my family to use the kitchen more effectively both for cooking and for entertaining. As well as adding an acre of horizontal workspace that I'll enjoy, the height of the counter will be ideal for my husband Chef Martin Kouprie who is tall. My island will also house an under counter beverage center which will take pressure off the space in my main refrigerator and make entertaining easier. At my test kitchen we recently installed a Brizo tap that is a 'smart' tap to decrease our risk of cross contamination. The tap is motion sensitive and can be used without having to touch the handle or any other part of the tap with dirty hands. We love it!

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