The shape of things to come in the kitchen

By Margaret.

The shape of things to come in the kitchen

Spring is a key time for people updating their kitchens. In preparation, many of the manufacturers are launching their new ranges in the next month.

Be bold
As the economy warms up, we are gradually becoming bolder in our choice of colours. David Grenham, marketing manager at kitchen company Harvey Jones, says: “People are becoming increasingly adventurous and using fairly loud shades although not often across the whole kitchen.” Expect to see kitchen islands, cupboard doors or splashbacks in bright shades – teal, marsala red and denim blue are in vogue – to offset the neutrality of the rest of the decor. Alternatively ,a statement wall in blackboard black or graphite grey. More timid souls are jazzing up the kitchen with brightly coloured appliances on the counter top.

Pay and display
Everyone except the most obessessive compulsive has storage issues. The answer is not to hide our nick-nacks away. Hayley Shaw, head of merchandising for Magnet Kitchens, says: “It’s time to express your personality and put your worldly goods on display for everyone to see. Embrace glass-fronted cabinets or drawers to show the world your hidden depths.” Magnet is launching a display drawer for the kitchen next month. Like a museum display cabinet, the top drawer has a glass lid so everyone can see in. Alternatively, Magnet’s illuminated drawer presents a lit display area without revealing the full contents. For those of us keeping our messy drawers of spare wires, tools, string, fuses etc jammed closed, “J-Pull” kitchens with indented hidden handles are the future, according to Matt Thomas, the fitted kitchen buyer for John Lewis.

Small solutions
Space is still a key issue for British homeowners. Next month Magnet launches two new space-saving solutions: the Table Plus fold down table and storage unit and the Worktop Plus a pull-out worktop. Shaw says: “This year will see the emergence of multi-functional kitchens. Expect to see wall- mounted storage transforming into tables and cabinets into worktops, as designers develop new, innovative ways to multiply space within small kitchens.”

Take the gloss off
“People are slowly beginning to switch from a gloss to matt effect. Matt doors have been around a while but have never really sold in vast numbers. Now things are slowly beginning to change,” Thomas says. Shaw agrees: “The polar opposite of high gloss, in 2015 we’re getting touchy-feely in the kitchen by introducing rich textures to cabinets and worktops. A balance of vintage and modern fittings adds instant character to your kitchen and is extremely indulgent for those seeking cutting edge trends.” One breakthrough which is driving the trend is the advance in laminated technology which makes wood effects more affordable. John Lewis is launching a new range of laminated effects in February including driftwood. The shaker kitchen styles, that is the mix of modern and traditional, is also back in fashion. Julian Masters, business leader for kitchen at Ikea, is keen on the mixing of textures but remains attached to gloss for its space-enhancing properties: “Highly polished gloss kitchen doors reflect light back across the kitchen, creating the appearance of a larger room, particularly within lighter gloss kitchen colours. The smoother the surface and lighter the colour tone, the more light is reflected and the bigger and brighter a kitchen space will appear.”

Catering chic
Inspired by MasterChef and The Great British Bake Off, kitchen buyers are emulating the professionals. So what if your shaker pantry (yes, there will be one) is stacked with Mr Kipling’s finest, the least you can do is look like you know what a schichttorte is. Kitchen manufacturers report increasing sales of catering-style taps (those with the detachable shower-style heads), combi steam ovens, bread-makers, industrial-sized food mixers, enormous fridge-freezers (we’re talking from industrial refrigeration companies), induction hobs, vast range cookers, plate warmers, hot taps – who has time to wait for a kettle to boil these days? And anything that can be controlled from your iPhone or tablet definitely has to be on your shopping list. Just pass on the built-in coffee maker. It was a trend, but then along came George Clooney and Nespresso.

Get social
The trend for combined living/dining/cooking spaces shows no sign of abating. We are though getting better at integrating the spaces. Many kitchen designers are putting wine chillers and bookshelves on the “living” side of the kitchen island. Some designers are also replacing normal chairs with barstools, as they are one of the popular additions in the kitchen. It can only be a matter of time before designers integrate beds into the kitchen islands.

Embrace your curves
Two distinct looks are emerging in the 2015 kitchen catalogues. The angular industrial look beloved of interior designers – all exposed brick work, blackboards and driftwood – and the more futuristic softer curved look. Gerald Jones, a designer at Masterclass Kitchens, says: “As kitchen spaces become more open-plan, so curves are increasingly introduced to add softness to what has traditionally been a rather linear design. Curved edges on island units are nothing new of course, helping to create a soft yet clearly defined dividing element in the open-plan kitchen, but we are now also seeing curves being introduced in other parts of a kitchen’s layout too. This includes curved tall larders and S-shaped units and drawers which add interest even as part of a run of cabinetry.” At John Lewis, Thomas says that improved solid acrylic surfaces are enabling buyers to attain curves previously only achievable with Corian, for two thirds of the price. It launches its new Minerva range of solid acrylic surfaces next month.


Kitchen kit

(see pictures in gallery above)

KitchenAid artisan stand mixer in candy apple red, from 379.99
johnlewis.com

Sage by Heston Blumenthal the Nutri Juicer Plus, 199.95
johnlewis.com

Agam chair in Marsala red, 35
ikea.com

Quooker Fusion tap, 1,150
quooker.co.uk

Cuisinart CBK250U bread-maker, 149.95
johnlewis.com

Nespresso Inissia coffee machine, from 79.99
johnlewis.com

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Kitchen
Published
Dec 14, 2015