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Above left: Handle-less Thunder Grey Above right: The monochrome look
for our customers and those we have seen from our retailers are very sophisticated and functional. Most of these kitchens utilise one colour palette throughout, with some choosing a different colour to highlight a feature, such as an island. Bespoke storage solutions, such as drinks bars, coffee bars and coffee cupboards are very popular at the moment, as are pantry cupboards. We are also seeing 3D surfaces rise in demand, such as fluted glass, fluted wooden doors or ribbed doors, which add a decorative detail to a design. Bi-fold and pocket door solutions continue to grow in popularity.
COLOUR PALETTE
When it comes to popular kitchen colours, greens and blues are still dominant, but other shades are being incorporated into kitchen design. A monochrome theme is on the rise and we are seeing burgundy being utilised to highlight features in a kitchen. In contrast to these bold shades, the new neutrals are also very sought after, such as shades of cream, grey, soft pinks, beige and ‘greige’, which is taking over from bright white. It isn’t a surprise that a neutral colour palette is trending due to its timeless and versatile appeal. It also makes properties more desirable if homeowners do decide to sell. Timbers are often used in addition to colours to bring warmth and natural hues into the design. We have also seen more demand for oak painted finished cabinets, often with enhanced grain structure, but with accents of oak or walnut.
Examples of this include wooden shelves, pull-out trays, pantry units and wine storage. Adding wooden accents helps introduce detail and another material to the design. Additionally, we are seeing fluted wooden
panels being used as borders to cabinets or on doors.
While for many of our projects we use painted cabinetry, wooden kitchens also have their following and for these oak and walnut are the preferred choice of timber. We also use oak and walnut for adding accents to a painted cabinetry design in the form of pantries, slide-out trays, shelving, and so on. And we use solid oak and walnut dovetailed drawers with solid timber cutlery dividers, which add timeless appeal.
Of course, we’ve had to contend with the rising cost of timber. Both American black walnut and American white oak have risen in price significantly in the past 6-12 months and without obvious reason.
Some customers do express an interest in sustainability of timber used and appear to have a growing knowledge of FSC/ PEFC accreditation. Our timbers are sourced through reputable suppliers, acquiring timber from environmentally sourced locations. We do highlight this information on our website, so it is readily available, however we also provide it when meeting with customers. We have also invested in our manufacturing technology, adding a further 5-axis CNC machine and additional woodworking equipment to enhance productivity.
As for Stoneham Kitchens’ outlook, our forward order programme remains strong for 2024 and, although footfall in retail showrooms during November/December 2023 was reduced, the quality of the leads and conversion rates remain strong. It is always difficult to predict the year ahead, but we’re confident that we will have a successful year. It’s our 160th anniversary so we are very excited about the activity we have planned…stay tuned! ■
Top: Coffee bars are on trend Above: Stoneham teams natural wood features with painted cabinetry
www.ttjonline.com | March/April 2024 | TTJ
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