The contemporary kitchen is bold and expressive. Far from being the unloved functional back room it once was, it’s the beating heart of every modern home. Your kitchen should be much more than a place to prepare food – it’s where we socialise and relax too. If you’re planning a kitchen redesign in the near future, take inspiration from these 5 sizzling hot trends to help you create a kitchen that reflects your unique style and personality.
- The kitchen island
Image Source: Halcyon Interiors
If you’re blessed with a big enough space, a kitchen island is a must-have – it really is that simple. This kitchen design element has experienced a huge boom over recent years and its popularity is showing no signs of slowing down.
Whether you go for a sleek handleless kitchen design or a traditional farmhouse style, it should always be possible to incorporate an island. Aesthetically, it will provide the wow factor that makes your kitchen unique. But islands are more than just a visual feature; they’re practical in so many ways.
Use your island for cooking, food prep or dining – or all three! – and enhance the way your kitchen space can be used by the whole family. Whether you place your induction hob or your sink on the island, enjoy the additional worktop and storage space, a strategically positioned island adds both functionality and architectural interest.
- Mixed yellow metals
Image Source: Coopers
If you’re a lover of opulence in interior design and you’re looking for sophisticated and elegant kitchen ideas, you’ll love this huge trend for mixed yellow metals for door handles, sinks and taps, even appliances. Brass, bronze and gold are going to be everywhere next year, overtaking rose gold and copper. As for chrome and satin nickel, they’re yesterday’s news.
Yellow metals work particularly well with pastel colour schemes, as well as dramatic dark finishes. Combine with plenty of natural plants for a super on-trend natural/industrial vibe.
- Handles or no handles?
Flush, handleless kitchens are another continuing big trend, particularly in combination with smooth gloss white and neutral surfaces that are the mainstay of contemporary kitchen design. White handleless kitchens are brilliant at helping to bounce the light around the room and maximise the illusion of space. No other finish will give you that sharp, clean cut look. Combine with integrated, hidden appliances for an even sleeker appearance and open your cabinets, larder, fridge and dishwasher at the merest touch of a hand.
That said, cabinet handles are set to make a major comeback, especially for more traditional kitchen styles and darker toned finishes. From slim to chunky handles or just plain old knobs, look for gold or bronze as part of the mixed yellow metal trend above for a totally up-to-the-minute look.
- Dress up your sink
The kitchen sink is one of the most functional areas in the room, and this year it’s getting some extra TLC. Sophisticated sink systems such as these ones from Franke feature multi level sink grids, glass cutting boards, a colander and compost bin to turn your humble sink into an intelligent, integrated workspace solution.
Protect your sink area with a stylish splashback, and add shelving to provide useful additional storage space for kitchen utensils, accessories or recipe books and to enhance the overall visual appeal. A few bold accessories such as designer lighting, statement clocks or wall art, with a funky kettle and toaster placed a safe distance from the sink, and your kitchen will look fresh, stylish and super modern.
- Smart appliances
As the world increasingly embraces Artificial Intelligence (AI), smart appliances are surely a must-have for any upcoming kitchen refurb. Known as The Internet of Things, these include forks and plates that can help you manage portion control, ovens that you can switch on from your smartphone, even fridges such as the LG InstaView ThinQ Refrigerator that has camera to indicate when you’ve run out of milk.
There’s a vast range of ‘futuristic’ connected kitchen appliances and smart systems that you can buy right now. And should you need help with a recipe, there’s always the Amazon Alexa and similar assistants to read the cooking instructions to you while you’re busy at the chopping board. Welcome to the future.
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