Colour, texture and material
LivingKitchen firsts were not confined to technological innovations. Some manufacturers preferred to push personal boundaries by expanding their product portfolios. Hansgrohe, for example, debuted its first range of stainless steel sinks. They may not be as exciting as some of the technology on view, but they’re still noteworthy because the finely conceived collection is typical of the brand’s exacting attention to detail and commitment to product longevity.
Manufacturers are also finding inventive ways to build on ongoing design trends. With the desire for open-plan living continuing, they’re coming up with ever more inventive ways to soften the impact of the kitchen and make it a natural extension of the living space. Embracing the challenge is Dutch manufacturer Wave, which revealed a series of cooker hoods clad in a choice of 12 leathers by upholstery company Cools Bekledingen.
Elsewhere, kitchen manufacturer Leicht is using colour to blend kitchen and living spaces. The company has been granted the exclusive right to carry 15 colours from the Les Couleurs collection by architect Le Corbusier, and it’s using these to striking effect. In particular, look out for the eye-catching ochre seen on the new Classic-FS | Stone kitchen.
Next125 also proved to be no shrinking violet, revealing its NX 500 kitchen in a dramatic saffron yellow. Mass appeal seems unlikely, but if its purpose was to draw visitors’ attention to the stand at LivingKitchen, the NX 500 certainly succeeded.
Meanwhile, Grohe launched its Essence Professional series of kitchen taps with easy-to-clean silicone hoses in a choice of colours. There are three natural shades – matt sheer marble, matt dark grey and matt dark brown – or, for a brighter option, a range of limited-edition vivid colours including yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, green and blue.
Anyone planning to refresh their kitchen by adding a touch of colour should look out for the expressive palette put together by product and interior designer Gesa Hansen for Villeroy & Boch’s Timeline and Subway sinks. Four colours, inspired by the seasons, are available – including emerald green for spring, sunrise yellow for summer, mellow coral red for autumn and deep midnight blue for winter.