Kitchens have to be functional of course, but now more than ever they’re an opportunity to be creative. The days of stainless steel and white kitchens are behind us.
We are seeking rooms that look professional and glamorous. White never goes out of style but for a modern touch, we are adding creams and greys.
Large format tiles are making big waves in kitchen design, compared to the busier look of smaller styles, super-sized pieces create a clean, calm aesthetic. The humble ceramic tile is making a comeback – it’s versatile, durable and makes an impact. People are adding botanical vistas to their breakfast bar; proof there’s no need to shy away from the elaborate pattern in your kitchen with murals combining well with utilitarian spaces. Here’s the inspiration to find your own style – You might also like to read our stories of What’s Hot and What’s Not in Kitchen Design or What’s Popular in Kitchen Design Right Now.
CAST AWAY
Concrete kitchens make a big impact but can appear imposing and cold. In this design by Spanish architecture studio Mar Plus Ask, the cast-on-site island is warmed by bespoke copper lighting and plywood cabinets. marplusask.com Custom Concrete Design & Fabrication can create a similar design. Marble benchtops from Harmony Stone Gallery, www.harmonystonegallery.com.au; Cabinets; for a similar bespoke plywood design try Kookaburra Kitchens; Tap KV8 by Arne Jacobsen for Vola.
LAID BARE
Architect Danielle Siggerud chose to celebrate the beauty of raw finishes and materials in this kitchen, artfully combining exposed brickwork, concrete and a handsome slab of calacatta viola marble. The extra thick worktop makes a focal point of the island and showcases the stone’s markings from every angle. daniellesiggerud.com
For a similar look, try Calacatta marble slab from STS Stone or WK Stone. See our fave stone suppliers used by leading architects and designers in MP Directory. TR Bulb by Tim Rundle by Menu (check our Essential Guide to Lighting) and ‘Afternoon’ Barstools By Menu from Living Edge, www.livingedge.com.au See our rundown of the best lighting suppliers in the directory. Or check out our story- 7 Ways to Save on Your Kitchen Renovation.
BOLD AS BRASS
For a masterclass in the art of mixing, materials look no further than this kitchen by Melbourne-based interior designer Fiona Lynch. It marries white stone with black joinery and blackbutt timber (on the island) crowning it all with a stretch of polished brass fionalynch.com.au
For a similar look try mirrored finish brass doors by Rimex Metals or electroplated finish by Astor Metal Finishes . A building company like top-notch Dancore Constructions can help build the kitchen. For marble benchtop suppliers, check our story Benchtops 101: A Guide to Seven of the Best and our Directory for Best Benchtop Suppliers.
WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
Transparent glass splashbacks are having a moment in the design spotlight – they bring extra light into a dark kitchen and if positioned carefully, reveal unexpected views. In the space by Australian design practice Flack Studio, the well-placed window perfectly frames a neon artwork that runs along the garden fence outside. Bespoke design by flackstudio.com.au; Artwork new piece by Aly Indermuhle. Indermuhle.com.au
FROM THE GROUND UP
Herringbone tiles needn’t be confined to flooring, as this kitchen by interiors practice Doherty Design Studio proves. The graphic, orderly repeat pattern flows up the sides of the island, where it meets the organic strata of the stone benchtop dohertydesignstudio.com.au. See Best Benchtops in the Directory. Worktop For similar try marble, from Arte Domus artdomus.com.au; for herringbone, timber flooring try Precision Flooring, precisionflooring.com.au
A PERFECT MATCH
Achieve a completely coherent look in your kitchen by using the same materials for your splashback, floor and worktop. Norwegian brand Lundhs’ bespoke tile service allows customers to order tiles and benchtops in the same stone. Worried about everything looking too same, same. Break up the look with light and dark woods. lundhsrealstone.com Benchtop Try Caesarstone Turbine Grey for a similar look, www.caesarstone.com.au
STONE-COLD CLASSIC
A monolithic hunk of stone is the star of Fendi’s ‘Ginger’ kitchen. Its island has been clad carefully so that the flow of the marble’s veins remains uninterrupted, while the integrated hobs and sink ensure the material gets maximum exposure. Every detail has been meticulously crafted, from the copper trim to the monogrammed knobs and cabinets, also lined in marble.
Get a similar look with a marble kitchen island using our pick of stone suppliers in the directory. Plus glass fronted full height cabinets with brass trim for glassware.
PICK OF THE BUNCH
Italy’s most popular kitchen brand and most ecologically-aware, Scavolini opened its first workshop in 1961 – from the beginning it experimented with new technologies and materials, working with designers to give its products a unique look. From industrial to futuristic, there are also ‘Basic’ and “Easy’ ranges. Among the firm’s most truly innovative kitchen designs is ‘Qi’ by Japanese design studio by Nendo – which can conceal all your kit behind seamless doors. Reasons to invest in a Scavolini kitchen go beyond matters of style and practicality, it’s one of the best co-conscious brands out there. Check our Directory of fave suppliers for Best Metal Door Fabricators.
