KITCHENS S
till the heart of the home, the role that the kitchen plays in our lives has evolved. Over the last few years, particularly since 2020, homes have become far more multi-functional. This shift has significantly changed what homeowners expect when choosing their perfect kitchen. Benchmarx, part of the Travis Perkins Group, has more than 130 showrooms nationwide, most of which are situated within Travis Perkins branches. Ruth Lavender, product development manager at Benchmarx Kitchens & Joinery is seeing these changes first-hand. She says: “The role of the kitchen in the home has fundamentally changed over the last decade. A kitchen is no longer used solely for cooking. It has become not only an extension to the family’s shared spaces, but also to an individual’s personality, reflecting their lifestyle and tastes. “Homeowners use kitchens as a place to work remotely, and so the kitchen has to be multi- purpose - we are seeing islands and open plan spacing helping to achieve that.” Data obtained by Legal & General, which surveyed over 2,000 homeowners who had undergone renovations to their properties, suggested more than half felt remodelling their kitchen was the best home improvement project to add value to their property.
Trends are constantly evolving and 38% of those homeowners said the reason was to change the style or design rather than to fix damages, increase the value of the property or increase space they have available.
Increasing efficiency
Benchmarx has committed to improving efficiency through the rollout of ArtiCAD, a kitchen design software, which will be introduced into all showrooms nationwide by June this year. For the kitchen supplier, the new system is set to elevate its customer offering, enhancing both the quality and the speed at which designers can produce detailed CAD drawings. “With the rollout of ArtiCAD, we have empowered our designers to produce hyper- realistic visuals in record time. These early designs are immersive and engaging, turning the planning phase into a premium visual experience. For our customers, this means total clarity and a seamless path to their dream kitchen,” Lavender says.
Trends and new products The ‘invisible kitchen’ trend, where some of the functional parts of the kitchen are housed out of sight, is becoming an increasingly popular trend.
Homeowners want clear worktops and uncluttered spaces. There’s an increase in things like pocket doors to achieve that look.
28 “From the
exhibitions and trade shows I’ve attended across Europe, it’s clear the invisible kitchen trend is gaining real momentum,” Lavender.
“Homeowners are
looking for kitchens that feel quieter and more refined.
“Our new CDA appliance range is a perfect way to achieve that invisible kitchen look, where the technology works away in the background, creating a kitchen that can do so much but is calm at the same time. “These appliances are understated, they don’t have big bold logos or bright LED lights. They are quiet and unassuming rather than visually dominant.”
Benchmarx has started the year by adding to its appliance offering, introducing a broader range that includes products from Samsung and CDA Group.
Colour… just a touch For homeowners to add character to their kitchens, the best way to do so is to add colour. Tri-coloured kitchens are making their mark on the industry. Lavender says: “It is three subtle but complementary colours all featured in
the same design.
“There is a dominant colour of around 60%, which sets the overall mood, followed by a secondary colour taking up a much smaller percentage of the space. The third and final aspect is the accent colour, and it is used sparingly to add definition and a finishing touch. “This style leaves the customer with something really bespoke, giving a really premium feel. “Most importantly, it allows the kitchen to stand out and prevents it from looking flat. “We are seeing softer and neutral shades - like taupe and mushroom - breaking through. Alongside driftwood blues and sage greens, which were introduced by us in 2025.” BMJ
www.buildersmerchantsjournal.net May 2026
THE MULTI-FUNCTIONAL KITCHEN
BMJ talks to Benchmarx Kitchens & Joinery to get the lowdown on how current kitchen trends are shaping up for the rest of the year and beyond.
Left: Ruth Lavender, product development manager at Benchmarx Kitchens & Joinery
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