Here is an article that was published by the Richmond Times-Dispatch by Alys Matthews on March 24, 2017. Our Main Street Homes design studio manager, Janet Hart, was interviewed for the article.   Once considered off-limits to guests, the modern kitchen has come a long way from its historical identity as an alcove reserved for cooking. Now this multifunctional room is frequently open to the living and dining area, a place where family and friends alike can gather – and arguably the single most important room of the home, design-wise. Janet Hart, design studio manager of Main Street Homes, a Midlothian-based homebuilder, agrees. “The kitchen sets the style of the interior of the rest of the home,” she said. “I think it’s the first interior feature homebuyers look at.” Whether you’re building, buying, selling or remodeling, pay attention: Her trends to watch can add value in every nook and cranny. Gray stain. While white continues to be strong in kitchens, gray is a formidable runner-up. In particular, gray stain for cabinets exudes the combination of sophistication and warmth so desirable in kitchens. It is a match made in heaven with many homeowners’ stainless steel appliances. “It starts with the island and goes from there,” Hart said. “The adventurous are doing the whole kitchen in a gray stain.” Clean features. Think sparkling quartz countertops, solid color backsplashes and sleek cabinet hardware with long, thin bar pulls. Busy patterns and grainy surfaces are out as homeowners go for more streamlined designs to accommodate their fast-paced lives. Smart storage. “The baby boomers’ kids want less stuff on the countertop,” Hart said. “They don’t want to see a wastebasket. They don’t want the toaster out, nor the flour, sugar or coffee canisters of old. They want organization to maximize efficiency in the kitchen, which has become a place for everything.” Pull-out pantries and appliance garages are trendy ways to hide those extra space-suckers, from your tried-and-true French press to that clunky waffle iron you never use. Island magnificence. Gone are the days when the kitchen island was an optional extra countertop. Today’s islands are massive and multifunctional, the hub of the activity in the kitchen and, by proxy, the household. Islands with extra seating and storage are in high demand. The island’s stand-alone structure gives homeowners a chance to jazz things up with different colors, countertops or cabinetry than the rest of the room and appoint it the “accent piece of the kitchen,” Hart said. Focus on chill-ability. Above all, homeowners want their kitchens to be places where they can kick back and be themselves. That means more space to breathe – and more features to cultivate the good life. “Many customers are sectioning part of their cabinetry off, whether in the butler’s pantry or an end run of cabinets, for wine storage. We’re seeing X-cubes for bottle storage, open shelving for glasses, even mini wine fridges,” Hart said. Not a huge surprise for a market that loves to eat, drink and be cozy. “The kitchen should make you say, ‘I want to hang out here. I feel at home.’” Link to article