8 Features to Change the Future of Kitchen Design
New design features and technological trends from EuroCucina 2016 show what's on the horizon for our homes
What will the kitchen of tomorrow look like? The response from this year’s EuroCucina trade fair in Milan makes the answer to this question clear: if, on the one hand, technology has now become an essential aspect of home kitchens, on the other hand, the return of warm and natural materials in kitchen design is also apparent.
Among the luxury kitchens and avant-garde technology on display at the fair (such as the Home-Connect app, which allows you to manage appliances remotely and check, for example, what is missing in the fridge via a video camera when you’re at the shops), here is what we believe are the eight biggest trends in kitchen design and technology that will soon be found in Australian home kitchens, maybe even your own.
Among the luxury kitchens and avant-garde technology on display at the fair (such as the Home-Connect app, which allows you to manage appliances remotely and check, for example, what is missing in the fridge via a video camera when you’re at the shops), here is what we believe are the eight biggest trends in kitchen design and technology that will soon be found in Australian home kitchens, maybe even your own.
2. The total-look is winning
The trend of having one open-plan space for kitchen, living and dining has led kitchen manufacturers to also now provide furniture for the living room, to coordinate with their kitchen designs. This means you can use the same style, manufacturing standards and materials for the entire living area.
Kitchen model Look by Snaidero, Sistema Collection, Michele Marcon Design
The trend of having one open-plan space for kitchen, living and dining has led kitchen manufacturers to also now provide furniture for the living room, to coordinate with their kitchen designs. This means you can use the same style, manufacturing standards and materials for the entire living area.
Kitchen model Look by Snaidero, Sistema Collection, Michele Marcon Design
3. The hideaway kitchen
Another possibility, if you only have one space for kitchen/living, is to hide all of the kitchen fixtures and appliances away … inside a cupboard. In this case, the cooking and washing up areas are contained inside one cupboard, which can be placed anywhere within the kitchen/living space. However, at EuroCucina, we also saw many other linear kitchen solutions, concealable behind recessed panels instead.
Credenza by Veneta Cucine, design Michele De Lucchi (2015)
Another possibility, if you only have one space for kitchen/living, is to hide all of the kitchen fixtures and appliances away … inside a cupboard. In this case, the cooking and washing up areas are contained inside one cupboard, which can be placed anywhere within the kitchen/living space. However, at EuroCucina, we also saw many other linear kitchen solutions, concealable behind recessed panels instead.
Credenza by Veneta Cucine, design Michele De Lucchi (2015)
Another solution for hiding everything away and achieving one, smooth-level benchtop, is flush built-in sinks and cooktops. And voila, the kitchen is a kitchen no longer, until it’s needed agin!
Sink and cooktop from the Lab collection by Barazza
Sink and cooktop from the Lab collection by Barazza
4. Vapours wiped out in a flash
Have you just discovered that there are retractable range hoods that pop up from the benchtop? Too bad, because they’re already old news. This isn’t exactly a novelty, but in many catalogues you now find extractors flush-fitted into the bench next to the stovetop (both extractor fans and recirculation ones).
Silent, powerful and aesthetically pleasing (because they are hidden away), you still need to take into account the height of the pots, the bulkiness of the engine in the cabinet below, and the fact that the air evacuation system has to reach down to the floor (and up to the centre of the room if it’s an island kitchen).
Mix of extractor worktop fans, teppan yaki and induction cooktop by Neff
Have you just discovered that there are retractable range hoods that pop up from the benchtop? Too bad, because they’re already old news. This isn’t exactly a novelty, but in many catalogues you now find extractors flush-fitted into the bench next to the stovetop (both extractor fans and recirculation ones).
Silent, powerful and aesthetically pleasing (because they are hidden away), you still need to take into account the height of the pots, the bulkiness of the engine in the cabinet below, and the fact that the air evacuation system has to reach down to the floor (and up to the centre of the room if it’s an island kitchen).
Mix of extractor worktop fans, teppan yaki and induction cooktop by Neff
5. Materials
This year saw the banning of the stainless steel kitchen, as the vast majority of models presented at this edition featured the contrasting combination of wood and marble.
A great example of this change in direction, Arclinea presented their new finishes – very definitely trending – of bronze and gold tones.
Lignum by Arclinea
This year saw the banning of the stainless steel kitchen, as the vast majority of models presented at this edition featured the contrasting combination of wood and marble.
A great example of this change in direction, Arclinea presented their new finishes – very definitely trending – of bronze and gold tones.
Lignum by Arclinea
6. The suspended covering over the island
In the beginning, there was the island kitchen, and then the mobile structure hanging above it arrived. The natural response, answering the desire to get rid of the range hood, was to make it a light source, or an extra space to stow away dishes and glasses.
In this model, the hood becomes a lightweight, architectural element, complete with LEDs and a low shelf, where herbs and other ingredients can be stored.
Alnoattract by Alno
In the beginning, there was the island kitchen, and then the mobile structure hanging above it arrived. The natural response, answering the desire to get rid of the range hood, was to make it a light source, or an extra space to stow away dishes and glasses.
In this model, the hood becomes a lightweight, architectural element, complete with LEDs and a low shelf, where herbs and other ingredients can be stored.
Alnoattract by Alno
7. Everything in its place
The tricks (and convenience) of professional kitchens can increasingly be seen in our own homes. One particularly popular one is the single customisable benchtop, which includes – in addition to the traditional stove and sink – various accessories for everyday recipes: a knife holder, cutting board, iPad holder, electrical power points and compartments for detergents and sponges.
Made-to-measure, stainless steel top by KitchenAid
The tricks (and convenience) of professional kitchens can increasingly be seen in our own homes. One particularly popular one is the single customisable benchtop, which includes – in addition to the traditional stove and sink – various accessories for everyday recipes: a knife holder, cutting board, iPad holder, electrical power points and compartments for detergents and sponges.
Made-to-measure, stainless steel top by KitchenAid
8. Conviviality 2.0
The natural development of the island, evolving from bench space to cook space to dining space with adjoining snack bar, leads to the kitchen of the future, which will be … a table!
A collective element par excellence, this table has an induction cooktop built in, as well as dining space. From now on, the call for everyone to come to the table will bring together family and guests, at an even earlier stage, to all cook together.
Air Kitchen by Lago, design Daniele Lago
The natural development of the island, evolving from bench space to cook space to dining space with adjoining snack bar, leads to the kitchen of the future, which will be … a table!
A collective element par excellence, this table has an induction cooktop built in, as well as dining space. From now on, the call for everyone to come to the table will bring together family and guests, at an even earlier stage, to all cook together.
Air Kitchen by Lago, design Daniele Lago
The island layout has proved to be among the most popular kitchen furniture solutions from designers and manufacturers. But even if you have a large space available, it can be handy to have a pull-out table as well as an eat-in island, which can be lengthened or shortened as needed.
The problem of food splashes, in the island models that have built-in stovetops, has been brilliantly solved in this design by installing a glass splashback between the range hood and the benchtop.
Kitchen model Icon by Ernestomeda, with extendible table, Evolution, and Mistral island hood with glass partition. Design, Giuseppe Bavuso