A feast for the eyes Kitchen designs that are as diverse as they are resplendent.
KITCHEN TRENDS
From Wowowa’s lively Mediterranean-themed worker’s cottage (page 54) to a minimalist guests’ house by Studio Esteta (page 110), the homes in this issue are as diverse as they are resplendent. Every one of the selected projects goes to show just how important it is to personalize a home, and all of the profiled architects and designers well and truly left their egos at the door in order to do so.
There’s no denying that the elegant approach to spatiality seen in the design of Leichhardt Oaks is the work of Benn and Penna (page 34), or that Kennon Studio is responsible for the coolly sophisticated charms of Spanish Mission House (page 90). Customization is evident across the board, and the kitchens are a true extension of the clients’ personalities and very particular ways of living. These spaces will remain the heart of the home and rightly so, because it’s where important family activity and connection happens and where expression of self has been allowed to flourish.
Although each project is certainly imbued with something of the designer’s signature, each also reflects the unique character of its inhabitants. This consideration is one of many trends we have identified in contemporary kitchen design.
01 Keeping it clean
Minimalism never goes out of style, nor does the love people have for the pared-back elegance of Japanese and Scandinavian design seem to waver. In Australian kitchens, the penchant to keep things clean, crisp and free of any superfluous embellishment is strong, as architects and designers focus on making the space as functional as possible. Restrained material and colour palettes characterize this trend, as does a simplified scheme, where circulation is key and the allowance of natural light is prioritized. Benn and Penna’s Leichhardt Oaks (pictured and page 34) and Kennon Studio’s Spanish Mission House (page 90) both exemplify minimalist design at its most sophisticated and efficient.
02 Handcrafted and artisanal
In response to the sterile, white kitchen comes projects that feature handcrafted elements and a strong artisanal sensibility. In an age when digital technologies prevail, there’s a decidedly nostalgic yearning for physical tactility, with highly textural surfaces back in favour. Handcrafted tiles, as seen in the splashback at Pohio Adams Architects’ Paddington House (pictured and page 116) and the bespoke timber chopping board in Millswood House by Studio-Gram with Kate Russo (page 40), are two examples where the hand of the architect or maker is evident. This trend presents considered articulation and bespoke appeal, making the kitchen all the more inviting.
03 Pops of colour
Australian architects and designers don’t shy away from colour and this year sees the trend for bright hues in the kitchen continue to grow in popularity. From understated punctuations in projects like Amber Road’s 1906 (page 76) to the kaleidoscopic stylings of Il Duomo by Wowowa Architecture (pictured and page 54), the aesthetic diversity achieved through this trend is a big part of its appeal. Colour is being introduced through materials such as terrazzo, finishes like carpet and handcrafted tiles (often used as a splashback) and furnishings such as rugs and chairs. It lends the overall scheme a decidedly bespoke look while speaking to the personalities of the owners, filling their home with a strong sense of character.
In an age when digital technologies prevail, there’s a decidedly nostalgic yearning for physical tactility, with highly textural surfaces back in favour.