KITCHEN CULTURE Springtime

Beyond KITCHENS

Bring the hub of the home to life. Tallulah Rushaya looks at the latest colour trends, features and innovations

Kitchens are the heart and soul of your home and investing in your kitchen means a long-lasting space that can combine a vast array of design features. Emerging trends for the year include colourful cabinetry, clever storage, and metallics. Even with minimalist designs, a kitchen can be transformed by layering with textures and materials such as wood and marble, statement lighting or vivid appliances. Whether you are in a penthouse or mews house, or have a U or L-shaped kitchen, there are additions that could make it a showstopper.

BURST OF COLOUR

The use of bolder colours to lift the kitchen became a trend last year and is here to stay. Deep jewel tones, varying from richer blues to greens now adorn cabinets, paired with textured surfaces which radiate warmth. “The trend for darker and bold colours in the kitchen is

DESIGN AND TECHNOLOGY Above: A multifunctional kitchen area fitted with over-and-under refrigerator and freezer with French door from Sub Zero & Wolf Below: Smeg Portofino cooker in orange, with triple fan technology, £3,349 Previous page: Modern kitchen furniture in colourful shades from Pluck

continuing but starting to branch out from just the dark blues to include more greens and even deep reds,” comments Charlotte Campbell, senior kitchen designer at Harvey Jones (harveyjones.com). “The bold feeling is following through in worktop choice and more and more people are choosing heavy veined marble looking worktops as opposed to the more discreet choices we have seen in the past. Texture is also a better understood and used element to kitchen design, to now include honed and satin finishes. As well as reeded glass creating a more layered aesthetic.”

Colourful kitchen appliances can be an innovative way to combine design and technology. “Our kitchens should be a place where we feel comfortable to relax and unwind, as well as try new things,” notes John Davies, head of marketing at Smeg UK (smeguk.com). “One way to achieve this is through colour, as it has the power to uplift a room, and put us at ease. Rich colours like maple, dark alluring tones, and earthy hues of green and terracotta are set to be big in 2022. Smeg offers a plethora of these popular colours through its Portofino range, which allows consumers to add a pop of colour to their kitchen to bring it to life,” says Davies.

Luxury appliances, aside from the aesthetic benefits, also present opportunities for more storage and the chance to create an eco-friendlier kitchen, while not compromising on style. “To create the ultimate kitchen, seek first the ultimate kitchen appliances and build the design around the appliances which truly work for your home, family and lifestyle. High performance, high build-quality, and the utmost control; married with low energy and longevity ensure that not only will your food stay fresher for longer and your meals become more enjoyable, but your appliances will last decades – not just years; reducing food wastage, grocery trips and keeping unwanted materials out of landfill,” advises Ricky Davies, director at Sub-Zero & Wolf (subzero-wolf.co.uk)

LAYOUT & STORAGE

Starting anew, having a focal point can highlight features within your home’s architecture. Interior designer Anouska Tamony (anouskatamony.com) explains: “I tend to find that the best starting point over and above prescriptive rules is a client’s individual lifestyle and personal preferences. For example, placing a range cooker in an old chimney breast can be both a great use of space and an attractive focal point, but doing so might mean structural work which can be off-putting for some, and others may prefer to place their hob on an island so they can face outwards and chat with family and guests whilst cooking.” Using a bespoke kitchen company will enable you

ISLAND LIVING Above: The island and clever storage help zone a ‘broken plan‘ space, as shown in the Vivid kitchen collection from Life Kitchens Below: Experient with materials and textures to add character, such as naturally veined marble tops and these aged brass Mayan taps, £360, by deVOL

to show creative flair and truly make it personal. “We begin every project focussed on creating the perfect space, ensuring the architecture of the room is correct before we design a single cabinet. This approach allows us to design the furniture in the best way, following the scale and proportions of the room. The final stage is to choose the appropriate materials for the client’s taste,” says Scott Nicholson, managing director of Chamber Furniture (chamber-furniture.co.uk)

Depending on the size of the kitchen, custom storage could be the solution to maximise space. “Would you prefer a fully integrated kitchen island, a space where the family can come together, or perhaps floor to ceiling seamless cabinetry, or both? Once the practical layout is decided, then the planning of materials, colour and texture come into play. Custom storage offers a multitude of options for a unique scheme, from handcrafted timber to different types of glass that can conceal, layered with a colour palette that complements the existing interior of the home, or perhaps extends to create a link with the garden,” advises Rebecca Northmore, design manager at HUX (hux-london.co.uk).

Despite the vast array of kitchen styles, one element that has emerged is the concept of ‘broken plan’ a play on open plan, with spaces having clear distinctions, whether using storage or shelves. “When designing an open-plan layout, don’t try to incorporate too many different elements into the space – it will quickly go from a light, airy space to a very closed in, chaotic space. A design that has an abundance of storage space can encourage clutter, making a scheme look disorganised, so the more storage (especially hidden) the better,” says Graeme Smith, head of retail and commercial design at Life Kitchens (life-kitchens.co.uk). “The best open plan kitchens will incorporate some form of divider to break up the space, such as an island. Not only does this zone your space, but it increases your storage space and gives you an place to eat or work."

STATEMENT SINKS

The humble sink can also make a lasting impression, by implementing material and texture which will add character, opulence, and a long-lasting finish. “Copper sinks are beautifully understated and mellow to the eye. They are elegant but hardwearing and they age beautifully, gathering character with every use,” comments Helen Parker, deVOL’s creative director (devolkitchens.co.uk).

Experiment with other materials. Parker explains: “Here at deVOL, we favour white ceramic sinks, as they are most in keeping with the look of our furniture ranges, but in recent years we have begun to enjoy using marble as an alternative

to clay. Carrara and Arabescato marble add a certain glamour to a kitchen, the smooth and tactile marble with natural veining is old Italian kitchens, it has a beautiful way of ageing and each is unique.”

MIXED MATERIAL

Whether it is curved tables or flowing lines, one trend being revived is gracefully shaped pieces that echo the modernism or 1970s aesthetic. Along with wood, that brings naturally textured look to cabinetry or flooring with parquet styled shapes. One masterful way to have geometric shapes within the kitchen is through the island, with a fresco-styled worktop. “The show-stopping island top is a work of art by Lara Bohinc of Bohinc Studio. It’s a selection of Italian marbles, inlaid into an aged-brass edge trim, in a selection of shades that elegantly complement the muted colours throughout the rest of the kitchen. For the long runs of worktop, we specified Ambra quartz, for naturallooking veining in a hard-wearing man-made material,” says Charlie Smallbone, founder of Ledbury Studio (ledburystudio.com).

Dada’s ‘Intersection’ kitchen from Molteni&C is described by its designer Vincent Van Duysen as “a project that plays with proportions, thickness and a mix of refined materials.” It is an example of how a kitchen can combine rich earthy palettes, while contrasting light and

shadow. Intersection is characterised by its expressiveness, that melds together sculptural and linear detail using stone like Breccia Capraia and lacquered surfaces.

Wood is another material enjoying a revival, contrasted with quartz, adds depth, especially when mixing patterns as well as material. “There is a definite appreciation of interior schemes inspired by nature – kitchen cabinetry with softer tones, often combined with woods. Also finishes are soft, whether it’s honed marble or matt tile splashbacks, current trends are definitely about using colours and materials to create a harmonising effect,” remarks Leila Touwen, co-founder Pluck Kitchens.

Finish with focussed lighting to highlight the areas where cooking takes place, and a standout lighting piece displayed over the dining table to bring an element of showstopping drama. L

CRAFTSMANSHIP Above: Intersection, the new project by Vincent Van Duysen, uses sophisticated details that highlight Dada and Molteni&C’s excellence in working with materials Top right: This Camden kitchen, designed by Ledbury Studio, incorporates a brushed stainless steel screen and fluted oak island