Trends in Kitchen Design
Wayne Dance, Managing Director of InHouse Inspired Room Design discusses the latest trends in kitchen design
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aving been in the kitchen industry for the past 26 years we’ve seen trends come and go. Previously, there has been a rigid divide between contemporary and traditional designs. In the past few years kitchen design is more contemporary, with traditional
becoming simple and classic, or staying firmly upmarket in the handcrafted arena. Whatever the style of the kitchen, inside the cabinetry it’s mod cons all the way. Soft closing doors, kitchen storage features including drawer organisers and magic corners all take pride of place.
Working off the grid
One of the major trends in the UK, which has been available in
Europe for many years, is kitchens designed around a grid system. This is where all cabinetry and units are built around a grid, enabling different unit heights to be comfortably accommodated without losing the architectural symmetry and line of the kitchen. No longer just the preserve of top-end kitchens, grid kitchens are now available in mid-market ranges, giving a designer feel without the associated price tag. Working around a grid system has also led manufacturers to
invest in new technology. In the UK we are still using what we term Thatcher’s kitchens, even though the average person has grown by 13 cm since the 1970s, when most kitchen cabinet sizes were first
This investment has meant that manufacturers are catching up
with the innovations in appliance technology and gadgetry that is now available. From the ubiquitous hobs and ovens there are now steam ovens, coffee makers and even beer dispensers. Also, there are raised dishwashers (perfect for those with limited mobility - or those of us who just don’t like bending too much!), dishwasher drawers plus many combinations of fridges and freezers. Without a defined system that is flexible enough to design in appliances, a kitchen can quickly end up as a hodge-podge of different unit sizes, where filler panels waste valuable space.
Not just a kitchen
All trends tend to be cyclical. The kitchen is once again being opened up and used as a living area. This has led to an upsurge in island units and kitchens built into open living areas. This lifestyle change has also led to kitchen cabinetry now being used in other parts of the home whether as book shelves, display cabinets, and even TV housings. As coordination is key, taking similar finishes through into tables and chairs is also in vogue. There are even kitchen concepts which can be folded or closed away so that the kitchen becomes invisible when out of use, leaving beautiful items of furniture on display.
Designed with the user in mind
The principle of good kitchen design has always been to build a
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