expert advice: trends

Katie Fontana, co-founder and creative director of Plain English and British Standard, reveals what should be on your kitchen radar for 2020

For colour, we’re expecting a continued interest in strong shades and bold combinations, perhaps ref lecting a desire for the warmth and optimism of mid-century modernism. Many of our projects are also being specified in natural greens, browns and blues. A successful colour scheme balances proportion and intensity; we prefer tonal colours, where the base hue is dulled with grey, as they feel more natural and calming than pure or primary shades.

When it comes to materials, we like classic or natural options that will age well, such as wood, leather, metal and stone. Despite changing fashions there will always be love for classic stones such as Carrara and Bianca Eclipsia, in a honed finish. We’re also seeing a mix of worktops, such as stainless steel, zinc, brass or copper used in combination with other surfaces.

Provenance is increasingly on the agenda. We’re often asked where our materials come from, and we source as carefully and locally as possible. We’ve always made products that conform to the now fashionable mantra to ‘buy well and buy once’. Our cupboards are built to last, making them a ‘green’ investment, and we like to use reclaimed sinks, taps and worktops where appropriate.

As for layouts, we find that open-plan rooms can lack intimacy and storage and be more costly to heat. The shift towards ‘brokenplan’ is a smart way to make use of a vast space – breaking it up with glazed partitions and furniture adds interest, and creates cosy nooks and separate areas for cooking, entertaining and relaxing. britishstandardcupboards.co.uk; plainenglishdesign.co.uk