Just when you think you’ve seen everything in high-end kitchen design a new concept pops up that makes the work of choosing your dream kitchen harder. Boundlessly innovative in both form and function, these are some of today’s pacesetters.
Industrial styling is big news in the contemporary kitchen. Characterised by utilitarian shaping combined with the use of raw materials, it is a look that lends itself to open plan schemes in which the kitchen set-up is the showstopping centrepiece. Caesarstone’s recently launched Metropolitan collection is seen above in 4033 Rugged Concrete. With its clean lines and simple silhouettes, the worn textures become the focus of attention. Its non-porous, heat resistant rough finish boasts an arresting textural movement and a natural patina that catches the light beautifully. Style it with matte black accents and rustic wooden accessories for the full industrial effect.
(caesarstone.co.uk)
Taking the industrial look further, Abimis’s latest offering, Ego, recalls a professional kitchen, appealing to those foodie homeowners hoping to show off their culinary prowess. Where stainless steel has been unceremoniously shunned of late, this fearless kitchen brand brings it back – and sheds a whole new light on the material. In the image over the page, shiny surfaces are put to ingenious use in a small city apartment where, mirror-like, the stainless steel gives the illusion of space. Where the Ego range differs from today’s pro kitchens, however, is its chic, retro styling. Its curvy lines perfectly complement a mid-century inspired interior.
(abimis.com)
While high-end kitchen design is so often associated with the sharpest lines and strict uniformity, there’s a growing trend for rebellious colour pops that interrupt the eyeline. Combine this with a move towards freestanding units in the kitchen and excitingly, anything goes. Just as a feature fireplace works as a focal point in the living room, a big, beautiful range cooker can do the same in the kitchen. In on-trend mustard yellow, Everhot’s 90 Series cast iron electric cooker makes a bold statement. Promising to be the most energy-efficient heat storage range cooker on the market, it comes in a range of vibrant colours – but they are all green.
From £6,770 (everhot.co.uk)
With open-plan living, we’ve come to expect so much more from our kitchen spaces. Not only a place to cook but to relax, entertain, work and study, the kitchen has become the undisputed hub of the family home. In response, surfaces need to be hard-wearing and multifunctional. One brand that’s upped its game is Staron, whose award-winning solid surface in Sanded Heron was used throughout this project (pictured, left). The centrepiece is an oversized island, which shrewdly – and seamlessly – hides an impressive uprising at its centre. It is electronically raised to reveal nifty storage space including a cooking station, study nook, media zone and even a bar.
From £350 per sq m (staron.com)
Italian brand Falmec have engineered a seriously smart cooking solution that responds to contemporary open-plan – and broken-plan – kitchen design. The award-winning Spazio is a ceiling-suspended island hood crafted from steel that combines cutting edge technology with everyday functionality. Ingeniously, its suction and filtering parts are in one unit, evenly distributing clean filtered air back into the kitchen. It’s also equipped with USB ports and electrical sockets to recharge your tablet (ideal for those recipe apps), while it boasts stylish smoked glass shelves for storage, hooks for utensils, and even an integrated herb garden… everything but the kitchen sink, in fact.
POA (falmec.uk)