Plenty cooking in kitchen design
Crafted cabinetry, porcelain benchtops and display shelving create welcoming, functional kitchens for a budget between $40,000 and $60,000. Colleen Hawkes reports.
Kitchen designers are loath to talk about ‘‘trends’’, with good reason. A kitchen is not something you can change every year just because you think a particular colour or look has gone out of fashion.
A great kitchen should look just as good in 15 years as it does today, says multi-award-winning Christchurch designer Ingrid Geldof.
‘‘My one is 18 years old and it still looks good. There’s nothing I would change,’’ she says.
However, it’s true that, over time, kitchen designs do change, and Geldof, who was a National Kitchen and Bathroom Association (NKBA) awards judge in 2021, puts this down to new materials and technology.
‘‘Kitchens evolve,’’ she says. ‘‘There are designers who follow trends, but there are others who do it more cautiously to give their clients longevity.
‘‘Kitchens cost so much more money now, and you don’t want something fickle – three years down the track you might be getting tired of it.
‘‘Most kitchens will date to a certain degree; the question is whether they’ll date well or not. You might put one trendy product in there, but the whole kitchen isn’t ruined in five years.’’
Sustainability has a large bearing on design. ‘‘Design it to last, and you are not filling landfill with all this product,’’ says Geldof.
‘‘Almost all kitchen materials come from overseas, apart from MDF board, which is made here. Melamines are made overseas but applied to board here. Our industry is just shocking – we cut into mountains to take a piece of stone that gets shipped to China to be cut into pieces and is then shipped to New Zealand. All this has increased the cost hugely – and carbon miles.
‘‘Stainless steel and porcelain are also imported. We do timber benchtops here in New Zealand, but they are now getting very expensive.’’
Porcelain gets a tick
Porcelain is welcome, however, for its longevity. Geldof says porcelain benchtops are robust and highly durable (and should never need replacing). The NKBA says it is now the preferred benchtop material for designers, with 46 per cent predicting porcelain to be in all their new kitchens this year.
Karen Harlen of Bays Joinery in Nelson says the majority of her kitchens in 2021 utilised porcelain, and she is even using the product in her own home renovation.
‘‘There is a wide variety of finishes, from industrial to classic. This helps achieve the look you’re after, keeping the same hardwearing, nonporous, temperature-resistant surface without compromise,’’ she says.
Fifty per cent of NKBA members say this year they will be designing splashbacks that are seamless with benchtops – using porcelain slabs, for example.
Timber reigns supreme
All designers agree that we will also be seeing a lot more timber in kitchens – and it won’t be sleek and shiny, says Auckland designer Mal Corboy.
‘‘What we like to see in a textured finish is a more natural, organic look and feel, with some definition to the veneer. Homeowners don’t really want the ultra-sleek finish any more; they want their kitchen to be more homely and natural, and this trend will continue to grow in popularity.’’
Geldof agrees that kitchens are moving away from a strictly minimalist look, as people look for textural finishes and more detailing.
‘‘I think wood has more longevity. My kitchen is dark-stained timber, and we’ve been doing that forever. That’s not going to change.’’
Auckland designer Natalie Du Bois says oak is popular because it keeps its grain when stained.
‘‘We are still seeing a lot more heavily textured, sandblasted and beadblasted finishes that help give that rustic feel. And there’s definitely no shiny gloss cabinetry. Now it is more matte and tactile.’’
NKBA designers predict timber will be pushing white off the top spot for kitchens this year. They suggest the most popular timber colours are oak and walnut; however, all natural timber finishes are considered ‘‘on the up’’.
Not everything is sharply linear, either, says Du Bois. ‘‘Organic forms and curves are desired, and this stems from wanting something calming – sharp edges give a harsher feeling.’’
And Du Bois sees other earthy products making a strong appearance with timber, such as concrete.
Geldof says she is designing for quite a few midcentury homes. ‘‘We are picking up on the woodwork already incorporated in these homes that were built in the 1950s and 60s, and replicating that in joinery and other items,’’ she says.
‘‘It’s about utilising styles and details seen in other parts of the house, especially if it has character.’’
Wherever possible, appliances are integrated, and handles are flush with the cabinetry, although that is changing, with many timber kitchens incorporating a matching timber handle detail.
What about black?
Geldof believes black is a colour we need to be careful using. ‘‘Matte black is a trend, and I am sure it will stay around a while longer. I do quite like it myself, but I think wood has more longevity.’’
Black tapware is also still in vogue, along with brass. ‘‘There are lots of different metal finishes coming out now, and again we need to be careful. They could be quite nice in a powder room, but I would be more cautious in a kitchen. Again it’s that question: Do you want something to last, or do you get something highly fashionable?’’
Of course, it is easier to change tapware, though you will need a plumber, should fashions change.
Show and tell
Another strong move designers are seeing is the desire for open shelving to display favourite items and artefacts, and even everyday objects.
‘‘Five to 10 years ago, everything was hidden away, and the kitchen had to be perceived to be tidy,’’ says Geldof. ‘‘Now, displaying items is a welcome form of expression.
‘‘Being able to put some nice things on a shelf is a way to define your own style.’’
LED lighting is used to highlight such displays, and also for under-cabinet lighting and downlighting on island fronts. It is subtle, with the aim being to ensure key features are highlighted and every part of the workspace is well lit.
Bar facilities are also increasingly requested by owners – usually an area off to one side with a wine refrigerator and storage for glassware.