There was a time when a modern kitchen featured sleek blue metal cabinetry...state of the art built in ovens and electric range top stoves. Flooring was impressive "cushion" flooring and every high end home sported a Formica counter top, adorned with a 4 slice toaster, corning ware "electric" coffee percolator and a blender. It was definitely a sign of prestige. Floors were covered with plush carpeting....and hardwood was banished from eyesight. That was the 60's....very Jacki O....

When the Hippie movement of the 70's hit....there was an earthquake in the sleek style look. Sleek and tailored went flying out the window and in came bold new colours...avocado green, harvest gold, burnt orange, huge floral prints, psychedelic patterns...shag carpeting and anything crazy!

It almost seems that by the time we turned the calender into the 80's...that we realized that there had to be a happy medium. Enter decorating sanity...the Earthtones.

People started to gravitate to the warmth and charm of anything earthy. As rooms were being shed of their 2 inch shags, gorgeous hardwood floors were being exposed. As people stripped walls of floral and flocked foil papers, they became aware of the beauty in the natural woodwork framing the windows and doors. Kitchens became clean and sleek with a European design or gained a customized furniture look with oak. Appliances turned white or tan and home decor took on a more timeless neutral look, with a natural blending of colours.

Since that huge flip in the 80's, where sophistication clashed with rebel...life in home decor has been relatively calm with all styles taking their own corners.

The kitchen trend over the past year and into next year is really one of the biggest shifts we've seen in 30 years. Customized raised panel wood cabinetry is being ousted in favour of the sleek European look. Style changes are interesting. First you see a picture or two in a decorating magazine...then you see a lot of pictures...then you see them on TV shows...then you see some in your local Home Improvement Centre and then all the model homes have them and before you know it, you're going home to contemplate ripping out your own "old" kitchen because your Realtor is telling you it's out of style!

It will be interesting to see what happens to the beautiful raised panel solid wood kitchen cabinet that we have grown to love....only time will tell what the makers of style have in store for us! But...as long as we keep our love affair with the earthtones...I think we'll be OK!