Is It Really Possible to Hide Kitchen Appliances?** The kitchen has long been viewed as the warm center of family life. But two recent trends, the move toward high-end, luxury appliances and the trend toward appliances that are integrated into the design of the kitchen, are making kitchens the showplace of many new and remodeled homes. But many homeowners are asking, “Is it really possible to hide kitchen appliances?”
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For many years it was simply impossible to hide kitchen appliances. In recent years, however, appliance designers have been making many appliances with changeable front panels that can match the cabinetry in a kitchen. This began with appliances, such as dishwashers, with front panels that could be easily changed from white to black by the homeowner. More recently, refrigerators and dishwashers, ovens and trash compactors, are made with the ability to install panels that match cabinetry. Further, many of these appliances are becoming more affordable.
As the trend toward fully integrated appliances continues to grow, manufacturers will undoubtedly respond with more designs and with custom designs that are more affordable. Custom cabinets are already being used to conceal ventilation hoods and more.
A number of kitchens with custom cabinets are built with specialized cabinets for small appliances, as well. For example, a drop door on the front of a cabinet might provide adequate work space and ventilation for a coffee station. Other cabinets might be made with sliding surfaces that can be pulled out when the  appliance is in use. When not in use, these cabinets enclose small appliances, hiding them from view, and create an exterior appearance that is part of the cabinetry of the room.
The first decision a homeowner must make about hiding kitchen appliances is if they really want to hide all appliances. The decision will likely be based on your decision about what you want to have as the design-defining element of the room. Either you will design around your major appliances, or you will design your appliances to fit into the room. If you are planning to invest in professional or professional-quality appliances, you must decide if you really want to hide them. This, after all, is a significant expense and responds to another growing trend.
It is, of course, possible to conceal some appliances, leaving others visible. For example, if you are investing in a professional six-burner cook top, you might not want to hide it. If you have decided to use copper or another metal as part of your design, you might want to install appliances fronted with that metal. It is certainly possible to conceal all small appliances and to use the customized cabinets that will conceal those appliances to place these small appliances closer to the areas where they will be used. Copper might then be used for a range ventilation hood and other accents, and the front of other major appliances can be made with panels that match your cabinetry.
As you design your new kitchen, you should know that it really is possible to hide kitchen appliances. Whether you want to hide all or just some of your appliances, you will be able to accomplish your goals. But you might want to balance this trend with a little attention to the other important trend in kitchen design – showing off your high-end professional appliances.
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