2022 Kitchen Trends
Report
Of all the rooms in a house, the kitchen is most often considered its heart. Kitchens are where life happens in the home. They are the place where families gather to cook, eat, entertain, and in recent months also to work and study.
With the importance of this room, it is no wonder that its design and layout have nearly equal importance to the home. You will want to spend more time in a space that looks and functions better.
We asked 64 top interior design experts to uncover the latest trends for kitchens in 2022. Each expert brings a unique look at how they will incorporate each trend, providing insights that can be useful to industry professionals and homeowners alike.
Top Kitchen Trends in 2022 Key Findings
- Incorporating natural elements received 67% of experts’ vote as the top trend for 2022
- Natural wood and green cabinets will be the most popular kitchen cabinet colors
- Experts agreed that mixing materials and mixing vintage with modern designs will be a top kitchen trend in 2022
- Slab, ceiling height, and natural stone backsplashes lead kitchen backsplash design
- Quartz is set to remain as the most popular kitchen countertop material in 2022
Most Popular 2022 Kitchen Trends
Many of the trends uncovered this year show a move toward nature-inspired design and natural materials, as well as a desire to move past the pandemic and unease it caused over the last two years. If you have been looking for a fresh new start for your kitchen, take a look at the following trends predicted to be big in 2022.
Incorporating Natural Elements
Incorporating natural elements into the design is going to be popular in 2022, according to 67% of the experts surveyed. This trend is showing up not only in kitchens right now but in other areas of home design as well. For example, of the various colors of the year selected for 2022, most are green shades, while one is a shade of complementary brown — all shades that can be found in nature.
Over the last two years, many people found solace in nature and the outdoors. For a while, outdoor living was the focus of many people’s renovations, and now, it seems that people are beginning to bring many of those themes and materials inside. For the kitchen, this includes natural wood, stone, and colors like green and ocean blue.
Mixing Materials
Mixing materials in the kitchen is also going to be popular, according to 64% of experts. It is a great way to incorporate natural elements and add depth and texture to the overall kitchen design. This can mean mixing stone countertops with wood floors, having a wooden countertop on the island with stone countertops on the perimeter, or mixing metal finishes for appliances and hardware. By using various coordinating but separate elements in the same design, you can gain additional layers of interest in the kitchen that might have otherwise been overlooked.
One way of achieving this look would be to use wood floors with quartz countertops and backsplashes and sleek laminate cabinets. This kitchen type would cost between $30,000 and $40,000 before adding appliances and lighting. Another method would be to use rustic slate floors with a soapstone countertop and wood cabinets, for costs of between $20,000 and $30,000 before appliances and lighting. You can use many different combinations to achieve these looks, and they do not need to be dramatic or encompass the entire room to work. To put these design options and their costs into perspective, the average cost to remodel a kitchen is around $30,000, but this also includes appliances and lighting.
Statement lighting
Statement lighting will also be one of the biggest trends this year, with 63% of experts agreeing. Lighting is crucial to any design, and most kitchens will use multiple types and sources of lighting to get the desired look and effect. Statement lighting brings an additional layer to design. It not only provides important illumination to the room, but it also brings color, design, and a focal point for the space. Statement lights can include pendants or chandeliers above an island, peninsula, or table, accent lights that illuminate a backsplash or countertop, or sconces and other unusual lighting that draw the eye.
Statement lights come in many different types and sizes. You can hang some glass pendants for $100 to $450 each or invest in a large statement light above a kitchen table for $2,000. There are many statement light types to choose from, which can enhance your overall design.
Mixing in Vintage and Antiques With Modern Designs
Another trend that 39% of experts feel will be popular in 2022 is mixing vintage or antique elements with modern designs. Modern designs are quite common in kitchens right now because people want the latest technology to help make their lives easier. However, antique and vintage elements can add a layer of nostalgia to a room that can bring feelings of happiness or comfort to the space. By mixing the two, you can often achieve the best of both worlds and add more depth and interesting design to the kitchen.
There are many ways you can achieve this look. One way may be to include stainless steel appliances but use traditional kitchen cabinets and built-in shelving. Another method may be to use modern cabinets but mix in a patterned floor and vintage sink. Because there are so many ways of creating this, expect costs to fall between $20,000 and $40,000 for most designs.
Single Open Shelving
31% of experts feel that single open shelving will be a popular trend for kitchens in 2022. Single open shelves have the benefit of making a space look much more open and less cluttered than multiple shelves do. They also allow you to showcase items on the shelves and make them part of the design, rather than cabinets that hide things. Single open shelves work best in large kitchens with plenty of other storage and in cramped spaces that need to be visually opened. The key is to make sure that the shelving is placed so that you can maximize items stored on and below it.
Open shelving can be created using reclaimed wood for a rustic appearance, or you can use the same wood and style of your kitchen cabinets for a unified look. Shelves can be installed for $300 to $2,000, depending on the material and length of shelving.
Statement Metal Hoods
Statement metal hoods will also be popular this coming year, according to 31% of experts. Not all kitchen designs use a hood, but for those that do, a hood can be a big part of the design. Hoods, by necessity, need to extend 3 inches out to either side of your cooktop, which means they take up a lot of space visually. By making your hood a statement piece, you capitalize on its placement in the room. Statement hoods can be made of decorative metals and finishes, such as embossed designs or hammered copper. They are meant to draw the eye and be a focal point in the room so that the rest of the designs flow outward and complement them.
Classic hoods have costs starting at $500 to $1,000 installed. However, for a custom statement hood, such as one made of copper or with a unique pattern, expect costs to start at $750 and go as high as $2,000.
Incorporating Natural Elements
Incorporating natural elements into the design is going to be popular in 2022, according to 67% of the experts surveyed. This trend is showing up not only in kitchens right now but in other areas of home design as well. For example, of the various colors of the year selected for 2022, most are green shades, while one is a shade of complementary brown — all shades that can be found in nature.
Over the last two years, many people found solace in nature and the outdoors. For a while, outdoor living was the focus of many people’s renovations, and now, it seems that people are beginning to bring many of those themes and materials inside. For the kitchen, this includes natural wood, stone, and colors like green and ocean blue.
Mixing Materials
Mixing materials in the kitchen is also going to be popular, according to 64% of experts. It is a great way to incorporate natural elements and add depth and texture to the overall kitchen design. This can mean mixing stone countertops with wood floors, having a wooden countertop on the island with stone countertops on the perimeter, or mixing metal finishes for appliances and hardware. By using various coordinating but separate elements in the same design, you can gain additional layers of interest in the kitchen that might have otherwise been overlooked.
One way of achieving this look would be to use wood floors with quartz countertops and backsplashes and sleek laminate cabinets. This kitchen type would cost between $30,000 and $40,000 before adding appliances and lighting. Another method would be to use rustic slate floors with a soapstone countertop and wood cabinets, for costs of between $20,000 and $30,000 before appliances and lighting. You can use many different combinations to achieve these looks, and they do not need to be dramatic or encompass the entire room to work. To put these design options and their costs into perspective, the average cost to remodel a kitchen is around $30,000, but this also includes appliances and lighting.
Statement lighting
Statement lighting will also be one of the biggest trends this year, with 63% of experts agreeing. Lighting is crucial to any design, and most kitchens will use multiple types and sources of lighting to get the desired look and effect. Statement lighting brings an additional layer to design. It not only provides important illumination to the room, but it also brings color, design, and a focal point for the space. Statement lights can include pendants or chandeliers above an island, peninsula, or table, accent lights that illuminate a backsplash or countertop, or sconces and other unusual lighting that draw the eye.
Statement lights come in many different types and sizes. You can hang some glass pendants for $100 to $450 each or invest in a large statement light above a kitchen table for $2,000. There are many statement light types to choose from, which can enhance your overall design.
Mixing in Vintage and Antiques With Modern Designs
Another trend that 39% of experts feel will be popular in 2022 is mixing vintage or antique elements with modern designs. Modern designs are quite common in kitchens right now because people want the latest technology to help make their lives easier. However, antique and vintage elements can add a layer of nostalgia to a room that can bring feelings of happiness or comfort to the space. By mixing the two, you can often achieve the best of both worlds and add more depth and interesting design to the kitchen.
There are many ways you can achieve this look. One way may be to include stainless steel appliances but use traditional kitchen cabinets and built-in shelving. Another method may be to use modern cabinets but mix in a patterned floor and vintage sink. Because there are so many ways of creating this, expect costs to fall between $20,000 and $40,000 for most designs.
Single Open Shelving
31% of experts feel that single open shelving will be a popular trend for kitchens in 2022. Single open shelves have the benefit of making a space look much more open and less cluttered than multiple shelves do. They also allow you to showcase items on the shelves and make them part of the design, rather than cabinets that hide things. Single open shelves work best in large kitchens with plenty of other storage and in cramped spaces that need to be visually opened. The key is to make sure that the shelving is placed so that you can maximize items stored on and below it.
Open shelving can be created using reclaimed wood for a rustic appearance, or you can use the same wood and style of your kitchen cabinets for a unified look. Shelves can be installed for $300 to $2,000, depending on the material and length of shelving.
Statement Metal Hoods
Statement metal hoods will also be popular this coming year, according to 31% of experts. Not all kitchen designs use a hood, but for those that do, a hood can be a big part of the design. Hoods, by necessity, need to extend 3 inches out to either side of your cooktop, which means they take up a lot of space visually. By making your hood a statement piece, you capitalize on its placement in the room. Statement hoods can be made of decorative metals and finishes, such as embossed designs or hammered copper. They are meant to draw the eye and be a focal point in the room so that the rest of the designs flow outward and complement them.
Classic hoods have costs starting at $500 to $1,000 installed. However, for a custom statement hood, such as one made of copper or with a unique pattern, expect costs to start at $750 and go as high as $2,000.
The Colors We Will See Most on Kitchen Cabinets
Natural wood color for cabinets aligns with most popular kitchen trends this year
Kitchen cabinets make up a large part of the kitchen design. And, 70% of experts think that natural wood will be the most popular finish in 2022. This is followed by 65% who think earthy greens will be a top trend. Both these trends fit in with the overarching trend of natural materials and elements being popular for kitchens this year.
Natural wood cabinets can be found in multiple wood species, styles, shades, and finishes. They can be modern or rustic, traditional or contemporary, and they can work in a space filled with natural materials like stone and metal, or they can blend with other materials, including ceramics and veneers. Most fall into the normal range for kitchen cabinets of $4,000 to $9,000 installed.
Earthy green tones can also blend well with natural wood tones, while also calling to mind many of the colors of the year predicted for 2022. Earthy green tones come in many shades, ranging from dark to light, and you can use them to help create many natural-inspired designs.
Among the other most sought-after kitchen cabinet color trends for the year, black and dark hues will still be one of the most popular this year, according to 52% of experts, followed by two-toned cabinets (38%) and white cabinets (37%). These trends have all been popular over the last few years, suggesting they have some staying power.
Shades of blue will also be popular, and according to 21% of experts, they will be one of the biggest cabinet trends, while 14% think the same about reclaimed wood. Reclaimed wood can look like new-cut wood or the old wood it really is, so this trend can tie in with the natural materials and natural wood trends as well.
Experts Speak: How to Incorporate Cabinet Color Trends in the Kitchen
Experts have many different ideas and ways you can incorporate the cabinet color trends into your kitchen design. Many of these also utilize other aspects of popular designs and trends, such as using natural materials like stone countertops or backsplashes. Heather Blue Harkovich, founder of Heather Scott Home & Design, likes this idea and recommends, “Natural wood cabinets with honed marble counters (black or white or both in a large kitchen).” Erika Hollinshead Ward, owner of Erika Ward Interiors, agrees and likes the combination of “green cabinets with leathered black countertops or an exotic quartzite.”
Other experts feel that to incorporate colors into the kitchen, you need to consider the space around it as well. As Patti Johnson, owner of Patti Johnson Interiors, explains, “Choosing an island in a contrasting finish and a second choice on an island can serve to marry finishes from neighboring rooms and create a cohesive design vs entering an all white kitchen.” Karen Otto, chief staging officer at Home Star Staging, further explains, “Consider the size and style of your space in relation to the rest of your home. A bold black cabinet would work best with a contrasting, less busy countertop surface.”
By looking at all the elements in the room together and the surrounding spaces, you can start to pull together many different colors and themes. As Anna Gibson, owner of AKG Design Studio, says, “Those colors can be anywhere. We designed kitchens with all green cabinets with a beautiful green quartzite countertop and a muted backsplash. Another option is to add that wood touch to painted cabinets with open shelving that ties in the flooring, give a break to the cabinets, and add a layer of design with different finishes and textures.”
Image credits: AKG Design Studio
The Most Popular Backsplash Designs in 2022
Slab, ceiling height, and natural stone lead backsplash design
When asked which kitchen backsplash trends they thought would be most popular this year, 84% responded that the slab backsplash — an extension of the countertop — would be a top trend. Slab backsplashes create a sleek, seamless appearance in the kitchen that can make the space appear larger. They can also impart the feeling of luxury, particularly when made of stone or stone-look materials. Without grout, the space is unbroken, and the material will have the same maintenance as the countertop.
In addition to this trend, 67% of experts also feel that a backsplash that extends to the ceiling will be what most homeowners want this year. This is another trend that can give the appearance of luxury and opulence in the room but is often more affordable than extending the countertop. This is a particularly good trend for anyone with a lot of space above their cabinets. You help create a more dynamic design by filling that space rather than leaving emptiness in the design.
Other popular trends this year include natural stone backsplashes, which can include tile and slab for the material, ceramic tiles that create a pattern, glazed tile backsplashes, and backsplashes that use a mix of different materials, such as combining glass and stone or ceramic. Most of these can be used in the trend extending the backsplash to the ceiling as well, letting you encompass two or more trends simultaneously.
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Experts Speak: How to Incorporate Backsplash Trends in the Kitchen
You can incorporate these backsplash trends into the rest of your kitchen in many different ways. Backsplashes are meant to be decorative, so you can easily create them to be the focal point or the backdrop of the rest of the design. For those who want to call attention to the space, Leslie Carothers, principle at Savour Partnership recommends that you, “Tile your backsplash to the ceiling behind your range hood and cabinetry to give your kitchen a strong focal point.” Patti Johnson agrees, “I love to tile up to the ceilings with a backsplash tile. Sometimes less breaking of the lines creates a more calming effect even of a vibrant tile.”
Linda Merrill, owner of Linda Merril Decorative Surroundings, recommends following the cues of your kitchen to help you determine what the right backsplash will be, “A slab backsplash looks very luxe so would work with more upscale and elegant colors or finishes. That said, matching slab and counters also provide a good background look for a bold visual like a statement hood. Patterned tiles can be very bold and provide their own statement — which works well with open shelving.”
Anna Gibson also recommends playing up or down the backsplash, depending on the overall effect you want from the space, “Backsplash[es] can be the statement or the backdrop, it really depends on the rest of the items. Many times we select a countertop that will be the statement and use the backsplash to enhance but not take from it. Other times we will choose a more neutral countertop and add the pop of color and design interest in the backsplash with lots of colors, shapes, and textures.”
Most In-Demand Countertop Designs and Materials
Quartz remains the most popular countertop material in 2022
Quartz is thought to be the most popular countertop material again this year, according to 73% of experts. Quartz has been a top countertop material for the last several years and is expected to continue its popularity in 2022. Quartz is a manmade material that can mimic the look of marbles and other materials but is very durable and low maintenance. Unlike real marble, white quartz will not stain or etch, so you do not need to pay special attention to it over time.
56% of experts also feel that quartzite will be popular in 2022. Quartzite may sound like quartz, but this is a natural material made from metamorphosed quartz rather than a manmade material. Quartzite is much more durable and less likely to stain than granite or marble. And it comes in a range of brilliant and bold colors and vein patterns unlike anything else on the market. For those wanting a natural material, quartzite is one of the lower-maintenance options that can also produce stunning results.
When it comes to style, waterfall edges for island countertops will also be a top kitchen trend in 2022, according to 38% of experts. Using different materials on the perimeter cabinets and the island will be popular, according to 41% of experts. It is also possible to combine these trends, making the island the focus with a more dramatic countertop extending into a waterfall edge, which is the look of the countertop making a 90-degree turn and covering one side of the island. Both these looks can add more interest and depth to the kitchen design, regardless of the material.
Other popular kitchen countertop trends for 2022 in kitchen countertops include using materials like porcelain slabs, marble, and butcher block countertops, as well as design choices like built-edges or extra-thick-looking countertops.
Bring Your Kitchen Up to Date
By following trends like these, both homeowners and design professionals can help keep their kitchen and designs fresh and up to date. We hope you become inspired to take your kitchen and project to new heights and ideals. Trends can help your kitchen stay fresher and more relevant for longer, so before you undertake your next remodel, check out what the experts are predicting will be popular so that you can make the most of your space.
+ More in Kitchen Trends Series
Methodology
The results in this report were compiled from a questionnaire taken by 64 experts in interior design. The selection process for each survey participant was based on their work achievements, overall and social media influence, and recognition in the design industry.
The respondents were given a series of multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Percentages shown in the report have been rounded to the nearest whole number, and in some cases, the least-chosen options were grouped together and appear as “other.” The sizes of elements in some graphics are not 100% to scale to the percentages shown. This is in order to increase the legibility of the images that represent the trends.
The Expert Contributors
To create this report, we asked for input from a number of industry experts. We appreciate the time and effort each one of the contributors put into sharing their expertise for the creation of this report. We extend a special thank you to them all.
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Alene Workman
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Ally Whalen
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Amber Gizzi
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Amy Lau
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Anastasios Gliatis
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Andrea Monath Schumacher
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Anna K. Gibson
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Anthea Click
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Ariana Lovato
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Arianne Bellizaire
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Becki Owens
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Birgit Anich
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Bruce Bierman
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Bryan Sebring
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Chelsie Butler
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Cheryl Kees Clendeno
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Dahlia Mahmood
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Ellen Kennon
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Erika Hollinshead Ward
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Garrison Hullinger
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Gloribell Lebron
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Heather Blue Harkovich
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Helen Bartlett
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Jacob Laws
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Jeanne K. Chung
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Jeff Andrews
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Jennifer Gainer
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Jessica Davis
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Jessica Love
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Jill Seidner
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Joann Kandrac & Kelly Kole
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Joe Nahem
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Karen Otto
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Kerrie Kelly
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Kristie Barnett
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Laura Muller
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Laura Medicus
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Lee Miriam Cavanaugh
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Leslie Carothers
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Linda Holt
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Linda Merrill
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Lisa Ciofani Basham
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Lori Dennis & Sara Plaisted
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Lynda Quintero-Davids
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M. Grace Sielaff
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MacKenzie Cain
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Marcia Moore
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Marshall Erb
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Michelle Cortizo
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Nora Schneider
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Pat Valentine Ziv
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Patti Johnson
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Rachel Moriarty
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Rayman Boozer
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Rose Dostal
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Sarabeth Asaff South
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Sarah Fogle
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Sean Leffers
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Suzanne Lasky
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Tim & Jackie Santos
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Todd Davis
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Veronica Solomon
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Vicente Wolf
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Wanda Suitt-Horton
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Wendy Yates
