INSIGHT | TRENDS FOR 2017


preference to smaller, affordable living spaces. This results in smaller pieces of household furniture as well as smaller kitchens. A plethora of multi-functional concepts such as extending countertops, folding tables, inner door shelves, etc. come together to create nearly miraculous space savers.


The kitchen must be capable of being adapted to every situation. It needs to be convenient and functional, yet beautiful and attractive. Fronts and countertops must be easy to clean, there must be plenty of storage space for implements, and good lighting is required to illuminate the countertops and facilitate food preparation as well as to promote the general mood. And all of this needs to be set up with ergonomically fitting heights, short routes, good ventilation, low energy consumption and with a stylish design.


THE APPEARANCE The current product range of kitchens is just as diverse as people’s tastes. Thus, you will have found modern, minimalistic kitchens as well as more traditional country- style kitchens at LivingKitchen. Combining kitchen furniture and living room furniture or vice versa is a new trend. In this regard, open-plan kitchen design additionally benefits the target group: benches, sideboards and platforms will fit everywhere, not just into one certain room. Kitchens can be set up more comfortable and cosier – congenial to the concept of the kitchen as the soul of the home. A certain sense of romantic atmosphere might play a role here as well, since many people find the outside world already cold and stiff enough. People enjoy retreating to a cosy, trusted and enduring place. Between these two extremes, however, there is a great number of variations, as the trend towards customisation shows. This enables every customer to design his own preferred kitchen. The current product range of kitchen furniture employs mostly varnished fronts. Both matt varnish as well as


varnished laminate are popular. High-gloss varnish is decreasing in popularity; wood and wood look are maintaining their popularity. Considering colours, white and grey remain strong traditional choices. When it comes to grey colours, the concrete look is highly favoured by some target groups, yet remains a niche within the big picture. Combinations of different front colour schemes and materials are generally popular. Especially favoured are combinations of a matt single stage varnish and real wood veneer or matt single stage varnished laminate and wood imitation. Solid wood kitchens are preferred among highly health-conscious target groups, but are far from being mainstream products. The trend towards black is still ongoing.


Black is being used for electrical appliances, for fitting solutions, for interior elements and for ceramic sinks as well as for complete cabinet and refrigerator fronts. Materials employed here encompass printed glass, varnish and laminate as well as slate. There is also a rather strong trend towards ceramic or ceramic-look countertops. Ceramic sinks are equally important and popular. Ruggedness and longevity are the


NEW AMK WEBSITE FOR KITCHEN END CONSUMERS New for the AMK, and announced


by Kirk Mangels at the exhibition, the AMK Kitchen Companion is now available as a dedicated web platform. Visit www.amk-ratgeber- kueche.de to browse the impartial, comprehensive overview regarding kitchen purchase and maintenance


and the AMK kitchen standards. The AMK is convinced that this is a great opportunity for consumers to inform themselves regarding new, modern fitted kitchens, without direct interest to sell. Sections include: Kitchen design, work centres, storage space and equipment, modern equipment,


kitchen care, and kitchen standards. Packed with useful, and unbiased, advice for consumers, the site is the perfect starting point for an end user wishing to research the purchase of their next kitchen.


| www.amk-ratgeber-kueche.de


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LIVINGKITCHENWORLD 2017


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