Technology with purpose

flow harmoniously with the rest of the house.’’

And it works in reverse too, with Stephens saying there’s a move towards taking traditional kitchen elements like cool drawers or wine fridges into living areas and outdoor spaces. ‘‘People are making decisions on how they want to live rather than living by a prescribed formula.’’ detail handles blend seamlessly with appliances and shelving units, creating a fully integrated look and feel.

‘‘We’re at the point now that even screens are integrated,’’ says Stephens. ‘‘They’re installed into cabinetry rather than sitting on something.’’

Samsung’s ‘‘flat design’’ approach saw its appliances shown with clean lines, hidden displays and surfaces that sit flush to the cabinetry. The appliance range that Fisher & Paykel showed is all designed to support customer benefit.

‘‘It’s really purposeful,’’ says Stephens. ‘‘The technology is clever, but it’s subtle.’’ It included an integrated column refrigerator with four different climates, adjustable depending on the produce inside.

Samsung also showed it’s Dual Cook Flex double oven with a flexible door that allows access to the upper compartment without losing heat in the lower. Two different temperatures and cooking times can be set, meaning two different dishes to be cooked at the same time with no odour crossover.

SANWA COMPANY The Pattina kitchen looks like a piece of furniture with its matte black frame, wood grain and ceramic tiles.

SANWA COMPANY/ YUTORIE The Japanese bamboo veneer kitchen can be concealed with a panel and turned into a writing desk.

SANWA COMPANY/YOURIE The kitchen transformed into a desk for the space-deprived.