Trendy versus enduring: getting the balance right in your kitchen

Styling a kitchen can be tricky. Fittings and finishes must be chosen with the utmost care, because they can date very quickly – but, on the other hand, you don’t want the hub of the home to look as if the latest trends have completely passed you by. Check out the following trends, which strike the perfect balance.

• Feature appliances are big news, says Arnold Jardim of Dezign A Door. That’s not exactly novel, but the trend is shifting slightly: we’re seeing a move to integrated appliances, while retro and brightly coloured pieces are also in favour. If you’re not quite ready for such a bold move, opt for stylish, striking matte black.

Dezign A Door

• Speaking of colour: the love affair with deep jewel tones that we’ve seen in other areas of the home have made their way to the kitchen, according to Kate Shepherd of Something Different and Something Desired. The great thing about painting your cupboards a rich, dark hue is that you can paint them another colour when décor’s mood changes, without a significant financial outlay.

Something Different and Something Desired

• Swap marble for marble-inspired, advises Infin8 Surfacing’s Andrew Hatt. Materials like Caesarstone and CRL Stone are more durable than their lookalike counterpart; plus, they require less maintenance.

Infin8 Surfacing

• Take your herbs out of the garden and into the kitchen. This is a major trend overseas, and underscores the link between design and well-being, informs Mathilda Venter of Valcucine.

Valcucine

• Don’t overlook lighting. “Clusters of mini pendants arranged above kitchen islands and dining tables are a beautiful trend right now. The overall look is cleaner and more streamlined, dominated by architectural and geometric shapes. The incorporation of under-counter and cabinet lighting, using LED strip or tape lighting for example, should be an essential part of your lighting design,” says Guy Harris of Newport Lighting.

Newport Lighting

• Taps can be updated with a simple colour change: metallics are a great choice, as is black, according to Ronelle Badenhorst of Kohler.

Kohler

• Minimalism is a big trend. Jardim says this applies to cupboards and countertops: consider installing one wall of lower cupboards, a floor-to-ceiling storage wall and a larger island. Door handles are also on the way out, but if you’re not mad about the look, opt for bronze, leather rings or strip handles.