By Mari Sciarappa
The kitchen is perhaps the most functional, practical room in the house. From here, we prepare our meals, spend time as a family, and in some cases, even entertain. Whether you are finishing your first kitchen or refinishing it for that revitalising facelift, the options available on the market now are as diverse as they are stunning.
From start to finish
When it comes to materials, Trevor King from Caesarstone notes that the kitchen is a high-traffic, everyday-use environment, and materials used in this space need to be strong enough to withstand heavy, daily use. A kitchen is no longer just a place to prepare food – it has become the centre of the home. Your kitchen design should reflect the warmth and overall look and feel of the rest of your home.
Inside Living’s Angela Chandler believes that the most popular materials for exquisite kitchen finishes include: reconstituted wood that creates contemporary, horizontal lines; matt/textured earthy finishes such as brushed/sandblasted wood or as a contrast, high-gloss lacquered natural wood veneer; ceramic on support plates for doors; sanitised/acid etched colour-coated glass doors; different thicknesses of stainless steel worktops; and glass splashbacks that are printed or wallpaper laminated between glass. She adds that stainless steel, engineered stone, lacquered doors and natural wood are popular choices as well. Quartz is an extremely fashionable trend right now as it is one of the strongest materials found in nature. Engineered surfaces bring this strength and durability to the kitchen environment.
Sergio Polita, of Snaidero Cucine, believes it’s all about going green with water-based lacquers and wood from sustainable forests. He suggests also using glass-fronted doors and polymers for their durability. “Clients are going for clean lines in high-gloss or wood,” explains Sergio.
Stylishly done
Once you have decided on the material that you want to use, you should then think about the style of your culinary space.
According to Emily Feldscher of Slide and Hide, high-gloss finishes at the front of the design should be complemented by natural materials such as marble and granite for the tops. She also suggests playing with different colours.
Finishes that are resistant and easy to clean are best for a functional kitchen.
Experts from the Kitchen Specialists Association believe that duco high-gloss with eco-friendly, water-based paints allow for a sleek and modern look. The two most popular looks at present are the modern European styles of clean lines and a combination of finishes including duco, timber, stainless steel and aluminium.
Lilly Botha, from Country Style Interiors, says that the main trends for wooden finishes are dark woods (mahogany and walnut) and light woods (maple and beech). Paint finishes are also popular, with the trend leaning towards white and grey, and other natural, earthy colours. When introducing brighter colours, the popular way to do it is to add a pop of colour to a largely neutral palette or wood finish.
But when it comes to playing with colour and selecting that perfect paint finish, the options are near-endless. According to Jason Wells from PG Bison, the colour trends have been identified as the following: “Oak woodgrains have come to the fore, joined by ‘slow-grown’ pine and elegant walnuts; white remains an intensely popular colour choice; our love affair with nature inspires the use of a wide selection of greens; blue still has a commanding presence; fantasy and weathered looks accent the broader range of items and the old-world charm that these elements offer; accents of citrus and plums offer bright, exciting and fun elements; and precious metals, mineral elements and concrete give depth to the kitchen space.”
An emerging trend not to be ignored is the use of wallpaper in the kitchen, which creates character in the space. With the way that technology has developed, it is no longer necessary to tile your kitchen from floor-to-ceiling. Eurotrend’s Reuban Zasas recommends that one must consider how the finish will wear in the kitchen as well as where the application of the finish will be.
The minimalistic look is still a popular choice for kitchens, and Louis Hogan from Herrons explains that this trend is been driven by the latest styles and designs of kitchens finishes. “Recent kitchen finishes include square, flat chunky-looking units with long, flowing horizontal and vertical lines.” He adds that large square or rectangular tiles are also being used in the kitchen to complement the impression of space and grandeur.
Two other primary kitchen styles have been identified by multiple industry experts, and these are modern kitchens and the more traditional styles. Bernard Simpson, from Easylife Kitchens, says that modern kitchens have sleek finishes with straight lines, and consist mainly of flat surfaces, drawers, and engineered stone. The use of coloured glass splash panels has replaced granite splash panels.
The Kitchen Studio’s Vinesh Maharaj adds to this, saying that one should use high pressure laminates (HPL) as door frontals. Vinesh further goes on to describe traditional kitchens, which make use of solid hardwood floors, duco and hand-painted doors, as well as recycled oregon from roofs and floorboards, and these elements can give the space a rustic appearance. For a more formal finish, oregon pine can be stained in a variety of finishes.
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