What’s hot in the kitchen? With Eurocucine about to introduce the world to the lateste innovation at Salone del Mobile during Milan design week, attention is turning to the most important room in the home. If you’re looking for cutting-edge schemes that are sharper than a Japanese chef’s knife, try these trends that are approved by some of the world’s most forward-thinking interior design talents…
Glossy wood
We are living in an era of high shine, as lacquered-timber veneers offer the promise of luxurious cabinetry
Combining the trends for darker woods and lacquered finishes, this Milanese kitchen by Cecilia Avogadro (pictured top) champions Ettore Sottsass’s wood veneer for Alpi in ‘Dark Brown’. ceciliaavogadro.com
Lacquered sapele hardwood was the timber of choice for this undulating wall of cabinetry in Club Apartment – a holiday home and showcase for design-PR agency Club Paradis (pictured top). The kitchen was custom-designed by Atelier Ternier, who chose to counter the emphasised natural grain of the wood with a monolithic stainless-steel island. atelierternier.be
Léonie Alma Mason, founder of LAM Studio, selected glossy burr wood as a recurring theme throughout this Parisian apartment, with the material adding extra warmth and elegance to the art deco bones of the property. lam-studio.com
There’s a decadent mid-century vibe to this kitchenette/bar area in the home of entrepreneur Gilles Mattelin by Antwerp-based interior designer Merijn Degraeve – heightened by the expanse of shiny walnut veneer. Warren Platner’s iconic chairs for Knoll and an &Tradition pendant light continue the theme. merijndegraeve.com
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Statement skirts
Pleats are proving very pleasing, but avoid cottage-core under-sink curtains in favour of unexpected materials
Patricia Bustos is not an interior designer who’s tentative when it comes to colour but, for the kitchen in her own studio in Madrid, she decided to keep the palette simple and let the materials – from brick to terracotta – do the talking. Her one flight of fancy? This ombré mauve curtain, which enlivens the space while disguising clutter. patricia-bustos.com
The curtains that replace cabinet fronts beneath the sink in interior designer Kristina Busko’s Valencia apartment are a continuation of a language used throughout the home, where curtains also replace walls to divide the open-plan space. kristinabuskodesign.com
Think under-counter skirts are too fussy for a modern home? This Parisian kitchen by Alice Lacherez may change your mind. From the pared-back pleat of the neutral-coloured striped fabric to the thin, minimalist marble surround, it is perfection. alicelacherez.com
The kitchen skirt takes a futuristic turn in this studio apartment in Athens by Federica Scalise. A clever choice in a small home, the metallic fabric makes a statement while, much like the mirrored cabinet beside it, maximising light. federicascalise.com
Butter yellow
Having made the transition from fashion to interiors obsession, this colour is best spread generously
The creaminess of butter yellow benefits from being sliced through by metal. In this London home by Hollie Bowden, a stainless-steel splashback and worktop, industrial-style cabinet pulls and a chainmail ‘Sing Sing’ chair by Shiro Kuramata avoid any note of cuteness. This is grown-up yellow. holliebowden.com
The owners of this Milanese apartment, Christian Frascaro and Francesco Cristiano, are creative consultants in the fashion world, so it’s no surprise they were early adopters of butter yellow, drenching the walls of their kitchen in the hue.
A-based Reath Design takes a more traditional approach to butter yellow with this custom-made tongue-and-groove cabinetry, but details – such as the glass display shelves for modern ceramic finds – keep things cheerful and contemporary. reathdesign.com
Interior-architecture firm Sigla Studio relocated the kitchen in this Barcelona apartment so that it would be filled with natural light from windows on both sides – a new, sunny spot that is emphasised by the choice of colour for the streamlined cabinetry. siglastudio.es
Sharp metal
Steel has long been a designer favourite for kitchens but, today, we are seeing it used with more sculptural edge
There’s an industrial quality to the girder-like stainless-steel island by Belgian interior designer Jessy Van Gorp, made specifically for this residential project named the ’Infinitum Residence‘. The cut-out segments of its imposing form create shelving and the ideal space under which to slot bespoke oak stools. jessyvangorp.be
Stainless steel can sometimes make your kitchen look too pro – not ideal for anyone who finds that even watching The Bear raises their blood pressure. The hand-brushed finish in this Stockholm apartment by Studio Daniel Kutlesovski, however, lends the material a gentler aesthetic, even when used floor to ceiling. danielkutlesovski.com
Studio Zung created this kitchen for a celebrated New York chef, so stainless steel was a non-negotiable. The thin, crisp edges of the island and worktop keep things suitably luxurious, though. studiozung.com
Handelsmann + Khaw have given the ultra-modern material a twist, gracing this kitchen island with edges formed in the style of traditional coving and the addition of vintage stools from The Vault Sydney. handelsmannkhaw.com
