It's not enough for a kitchen to be pretty. As a member of the LaMantia design team, certified kitchen and bath designer Gina Mazzone helps homeowners create spaces that are as functional as they are beautiful. (Jim Slonoff photo)
What are the 2021 trends for kitchen remodels?
Gina Mazzone's career as a kitchen and bath designer was born of a desire to create her own dream kitchen. After taking a class at College of DuPage and completing her kitchen transformation, she knew there were more kitchens out there that could benefit from her newfound love of interior design.
"That's when I decided to get into that specific field," said Mazzone, who went on to become a certified kitchen and bath designer.
Mazzone has been part of the design team at LaMantia Design and Remodeling in Hinsdale since 2003. From updating fixtures to creating a whole new floor plan, Mazzone's job is to help homeowners tap the potential in their kitchens and bathrooms.
Mazzone said space planning is her specialty. She can help a homeowner see how moving a doorway or removing a wall can often create the space they've been looking for.
When creating a new look for a kitchen, Mazzone often encourages homeowners to stick to the basics for counters and cabinets. White and wood tones will stand the test of time and help the homeowner avoid the need for another update down the road.
"I wouldn't get crazy with your major investment," Mazzone said.
Color and style can be added with light fixtures, faucets and backsplashes, which can be updated more easily when styles and tastes change. An island in a darker tone or accent color also can add style and interest without requiring a major investment.
Faucets and cabinet hardware in gold tones are popular now and a relatively easy and inexpensive way to give a kitchen a modern look. As for backsplashes, Mazzone said she's seeing a trend toward continuing the countertop material up the wall to create a clean and uniform look.
Appliances are the workhorses of any kitchen and are central to any kitchen design. Sometimes, a homeowner's desire for a particular appliance, such as an oversized refrigerator or a double oven, must be considered in the kitchen's overall plan. More homeowners than ever are choosing to add smart appliances to their new kitchens. Ovens that can be controlled with a phone and refrigerators that keep track of the shopping list are gaining popularity.
"That's definitely a trend," Mazzone said.
Her job is to incorporate the homeowner's needs and wants into a space that is both beautiful and functional. Unlike some rooms that just need to look pretty, kitchens are work spaces as well as gathering spaces. Mazzone said she begins every design consultation with questions to help determine how the space will be used and who will be using it.
Done correctly, a kitchen remodel can last for decades. In fact, Mazzone said she knows of kitchens she designed early in her career that are still beautiful and functional today.
Mazzone's designs have earned many regional and national awards. Most importantly, they've created many happy homeowners.
"It's still fun," Mazzone said of her job as a designer. Every job and every homeowner is unique, she said, but done correctly, the end result is always a homeowner who loves their new kitchen.
- by Sandy Illian Bosch
