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A kitchen that reflects the times

In these economically stressed times, kitchen design trends focus on clean lines and functionality.

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A view of Mike Smith and Diane Renfroe’s recently renovated home in the Harbour Square development. With home prices stalled or worse in recent years, the kitchen remodel has taken on a more streamlined approach to reflect the era.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

Mike Smith, a retired IBM executive, and Diane Renfroe, a retired lawyer, recently renovated their home in the Harbour Square development in Southwest Washington.

Mike Smith, a retired IBM executive, and Diane Renfroe, a retired lawyer, recently renovated their home in the Harbour Square development in Southwest Washington.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

The couple went with a contemporary look in remodeling their home overlooking the Washington Channel in Southwest Washington.

The couple went with a contemporary look in remodeling their home overlooking the Washington Channel in Southwest Washington.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

“One of the first things I did was to knock down the walls around the kitchen,” owner Mike Smith says. “Because it is open to the living and dining areas, we wanted the cabinets and appliances to look like furniture.”

“One of the first things I did was to knock down the walls around the kitchen,” owner Mike Smith says. “Because it is open to the living and dining areas, we wanted the cabinets and appliances to look like furniture.”

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

Mike Smith and Diane Renfroe went with an induction cooktop in their kitchen renovation. Many gourmet cooks still prefer gas ranges, but induction cooktops are becoming a popular alternative.

Mike Smith and Diane Renfroe went with an induction cooktop in their kitchen renovation. Many gourmet cooks still prefer gas ranges, but induction cooktops are becoming a popular alternative.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

The induction cooktop in Mike Smith and Diane Renfroe's recently renovated home. This method works through a high-frequency electromagnet within the “burner” that transfers energy into a metal cooking vessel to make it hot.

The induction cooktop in Mike Smith and Diane Renfroe's recently renovated home. This method works through a high-frequency electromagnet within the “burner” that transfers energy into a metal cooking vessel to make it hot.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

Mike Smith and Diane Renfroe included a 'speed' oven in their kitchen renovation. Speed ovens work as both a convection oven and a microwave to save space.

Mike Smith and Diane Renfroe included a "speed" oven in their kitchen renovation. Speed ovens work as both a convection oven and a microwave to save space.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

A view of Mike Smith and Diane Renfroe’s recently renovated home in the Harbour Square development. Their renovation budget was about $100,000 -- $35,000 of which was for cabinets.

A view of Mike Smith and Diane Renfroe’s recently renovated home in the Harbour Square development. Their renovation budget was about $100,000 -- $35,000 of which was for cabinets.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

The 'speed' oven in Mike Smith and Diane Renfroe’s recently renovated home in the Harbour Square development.

The "speed" oven in Mike Smith and Diane Renfroe’s recently renovated home in the Harbour Square development.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

The dining area adjacent to the kitchen of Mike Smith and Diane Renfroe's co-op apartment includes glass shelving. Open shelving has grown in popularity because it is less expensive than cabinets and supports an open, contemporary design.

The dining area adjacent to the kitchen of Mike Smith and Diane Renfroe's co-op apartment includes glass shelving. Open shelving has grown in popularity because it is less expensive than cabinets and supports an open, contemporary design.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

Don't see the fridge? Rift-cut oak panels cover the dishwasher and refrigerator to match the cabinets and sideboard in the adjacent dining area in Mike Smith and Diane Renfroe's co-op.

Don't see the fridge? Rift-cut oak panels cover the dishwasher and refrigerator to match the cabinets and sideboard in the adjacent dining area in Mike Smith and Diane Renfroe's co-op.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

Designer Davida Rodriguez focused most of the renovation budget on cabinetry for Mike Smith and Diane Renfroe's kitchen. 'You can always replace the stove or refrigerator, but have to get these absolutely right since they can make or break the space,” Rodriguez says.

Designer Davida Rodriguez focused most of the renovation budget on cabinetry for Mike Smith and Diane Renfroe's kitchen. "You can always replace the stove or refrigerator, but have to get these absolutely right since they can make or break the space,” Rodriguez says.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

As the economy has pinched homeowners, a kitchen renovation no longer automatically means a kitchen expansion. Instead, homeowners are finding better ways to use existing space.

As the economy has pinched homeowners, a kitchen renovation no longer automatically means a kitchen expansion. Instead, homeowners are finding better ways to use existing space.

Sarah L. Voisin / The Washington Post

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