More AI, More Personalization Define the Modern Kitchen

Home kitchens are not immune to the reach of artificial intelligence.

 

AI’s kitchen potential is vast and still largely untapped, said Sydni Wells, appliance expert at Metro Appliances & More in North Little Rock.

 

“AI is becoming more popular in appliances as customers look for technology that makes everyday life easier and more convenient,” she said. “GE’s smart refrigerator, for example, offers a scanner option that can help create shopping lists and assist with meal planning. Induction technology continues to advance, with more precise temperature control and preset cooking modes and temperatures, while assisted cooking features can recognize foods and help determine the appropriate cooking times and temperatures.”

 

 

Technology is becoming the new “look” of appliances, she added, providing functionality and personalization while continuing to help customers save time and simplify everyday tasks.

 

“Customers are increasingly looking for appliances that can do more for them automatically, especially smarter AI, better food tracking and more personalized cooking,” Wells said. “Some of the features they want are still ahead of what’s widely available. As this technology continues to develop, I think we’ll see appliances become more like personal kitchen assistants, helping customers save time, reduce waste and make everyday cooking much easier.”

 

For Susan and Charlie Johnson, owners of the Kitchen Tune-Up franchise in Maumelle, all projects begin with an on-site consultation.

 

 

After all, what better way to get to know prospective customers than to see and experience where they live?

 

“The initial home consultation tells us so much about the customer’s style, utilization of space and how to best achieve their goals,” Susan Johnson said.

 

The Johnsons, who bought the franchise in 2008, specialize in all things kitchen, and initial consultations are free.

 

“Whether the update desired is a total reconfiguration of the kitchen with all new cabinets, a simple facelift to change the door style and/or color, or make the kitchen function better with new drawers, rollouts or accessory items, we can accommodate the plan,” she said. “We can review budget and priorities with the homeowner to assist with the best service to meet their objectives.”

 

Johnson said homeowners are now focusing on function as much as style.

 

“We are designing spaces with accessories which assist in daily conveniences, as well as aging in place,” she said. “We are also seeing more requests for wood and warmer tones paired with deep gold/bronze fixtures.”

 

 

The team at Kitchen Tune-Up serves the entire central Arkansas market, and that means some unique projects, in addition to bread-and-butter projects such as cabinet redooring, painting and refacing; custom cabinets; and kitchen accessories and organizers.

 

“We recently added upper cabinets to existing cabinet boxes to take the cabinets to the ceiling,” Johnson said. “Retrofitting cabinets in older homes can be challenging with uneven walls and settling floors. We achieved the look that the homeowner envisioned and provided an illusion of height.”

 

Customization is an emerging trend with kitchen appliances for Mark Dolven, Wells’ appliance-expert colleague at Metro.

 

 

“Many customers are choosing panel-ready dishwashers and refrigerators that blend seamlessly with custom cabinetry,” he said. “Stainless steel is still king, but brass or bronze handles and knobs are becoming a popular way to add a personalized touch to the kitchen.”

 

Stainless steel indeed remains king, but Wells said she is seeing more colors gaining popularity, particularly white, matte black and shades of green.

 

 

“Green is definitely different and may be more of a short-term trend, but it’s interesting to see customers showing more interest in it,” she said. “White and black, on the other hand, seem to be more cyclical and will probably continue to come and go in popularity over time.”

 

The GE Café line available at Metro offers a great selection of white and matte black appliances many customers use to help create and style the overall look of their kitchen, she added.

 

“They also offer different knob color options, which makes it easy to coordinate with cabinet hardware and other finishes,” Wells said. “KitchenAid has also embraced the green look, which can give a kitchen a completely different perspective and add a unique pop of personality. Overall, there are some great colors and brands available right now that allow customers to make their kitchen feel much more personalized.”

 

The kitchen is not immune from technology’s pervasive seep into all aspects of everyday life. Homeowners are looking to incorporate tech into the kitchen, said David McDougall, owner of family-owned Countertop World in Alexander.

 

 

His team now offers embedded, wireless countertop tech — which he calls “free power” and “one of the coolest things we’ve seen.”

 

“It’s the same technology used with charging zones in cars,” he said. “You can charge anything with a wireless charge.”

 

McDougall has two showrooms — the flagship location just outside Bryant in Alexander and a new 18,700-square-foot facility in Rogers — where his team cuts, finishes, and ultimately installs granite, quartz, marble and quartzite countertops.

 

Every slab is cut, finished and installed by Countertop World crews, McDougall said.

 

While tech is big, Dolven said he has seen many homeowners wanting to keep things simple.

 

“While smart technology continues to evolve, there’s also a growing demand for simplicity,” he said. “Many customers simply want appliances that are dependable, easy to use and built to last without all the extra frills.”

 

Many new appliances have more electronic controls and circuit boards. Thus, surge protection is more valuable than ever, he added.

 

“The best protection is a whole-home surge protector installed at your electrical panel,” he said. “It helps protect all of your appliances, including refrigerators, ranges, dishwashers, washers and dryers, from voltage spikes before they reach the appliance.”

 

Kitchen renovation projects, of course, vary in scale, cost and the amount of disruption experienced by homeowners.

 

“It really depends on the service,” Johnson said. “If we are working on updating existing cabinets, it’s four or five days. During this time, the appliances remain operable, and the kitchen can still be somewhat utilized. If we are replacing cabinets, start to finish can take four to five weeks. It depends somewhat on the extensive work of other factors, such as countertops, flooring, plumbing and electricity.”

 

Johnson said her teams do not demo existing cabinets until the new cabinets are ready to install.

 

“Our goal, no matter how large or small a project, is to be respectful of the homeowner’s home with the least amount of disruption as possible,” she said.

 

SEE THE FEATURE BELOW AND IN OUR SEPTEMBER 2026 ISSUE OF AY MAGAZINE

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