As people become more aware of the details and textures in interior design, so the move from laminate to stone worktops continues. In the past granite and quartz were seen as an expensive luxury, but the development of composite surfaces makes having a stone worktop more affordable and can make a huge difference to the look and feel of your kitchen for a relatively modest additional cost. Large kitchen splashbacks in stone as also be seen to complete the look.
A key Scandi trend – with exposed bricks and pipework, concrete and metals, you need the right kind of house to carry this off. It is followed by a trend to using copper for handles and accessories and minimal metal pared-back lighting.
Handle-less units with soft-closing drawers can be seen in all the top designer kitchen ranges.
Designing a kitchen so that the worktops are left clear has become a key trend – and to achieve this you need to plan for cabinetry to hide or contain small kitchen appliances. It is one reason why boiling hot water taps and larder cupboards are now so popular. Having clear worktops helps make smaller kitchens look larger.
Lighting design is getting more attention in the kitchen space – under cupboard or floor level lighting for atmosphere, spotlights for tasks. The recommendation from lighting experts is to plan 3 levels of lighting in your kitchen.
Grey tones have been around for some time in interior design – it is a good colour to carry throughout a house – and works well in kitchens with good natural light. Dark greys are used to accent an island or feature cupboard. White and black kitchens have always been popular and now we are seeing various shades of blue creeping in – indigo and navy look great on an island or large cupboard. Dulux’s colour of the year 2017 is Denim – so expect to see lots of blue around. The colours that work in your kitchen will depend on the light. Try paint colours in natural day light and at night under artificial light.
Painted cabinets are still popular – as is the timeless look of the shaker kitchen, which never seems to go out of fashion. If there is a subtle change, it is to slimmer, less chunky doors mixed with plain-fronted drawers to update this style.
Many of the latest kitchens come in a high gloss finish – great for bouncing light around a small kitchen to make it seem larger. However, watch out for fingerprints – so maybe not suitable if you have young children. Matt finishes show such marks less and offer a softer finish. Brick-shaped tiles are still popular – as are brightly coloured, shiny splashbacks.
The march of technology continues unabated – despite rumours of hacking from Russia! The move now is towards appliances that can be controlled remotely (putting the coffee on from bed!), integrated speakers with Bluetooth functionality, colour changing lights and pop up sockets for phone charging.
Perhaps surprisingly range cookers recently come out on top as the one appliance respondents to a home survey don't already have but would want in their dream kitchen. They provide a focal point and the style can be traditional or contemporary.
If you are thinking of updating or changing your kitchen – contact Crest Interiors, kitchen designers and installers in Harpenden, and you will be inspired.
