Period dramas give ‘traditional kitchens’ the recipe for success
SHAKER cabinets and wood are in; glossy, handle-free kitchens are out, according to designers who say that period dramas have spiked sales of traditional units.
In years past, it was considered fashionable to have minimalist lacquered units in neutral colours, with bright under-cabinet strip lights and LEDs set into the ceiling.
This trend has given way to a natural look, reminiscent of Georgian and Victorian kitchens, say designers.
Franchises like Downton Abbey, which has a new film out next week, have inspired homeowners to embrace antique styles like scullery tables, skirted kitchen cabinets and open-plate racks.
John Lewis reports that sales of one of its traditional styles has risen by 20 per cent in a year, with the company launching two new country-style kitchens to try to keep up with demand.
It also noted that searches for kitchen cupboard handles are up by 64 per cent from this time in 2019, as people move away from sleek minimalist designs and opt for traditional styles like brass handles.
DeVOL, one of the biggest sellers of traditional kitchens in the UK, says that its sales have “pretty much doubled” in the past three years, as the style has taken off.
“Period dramas like Downton Abbey create that authentic feeling of a traditional kitchen, which has become really fashionable,” said Helen Parker, creative director at deVOL.
Ms Parker says that customers are often looking for “the below stairs” look, which has big individual pieces of furniture like dressers and tables, instead of being entirely composed of fitted cupboards.
She added that the pandemic might have spurred people to choose a softer and homelier style, rather than going “from a lounge which was ambient and atmospheric into this fluorescent lighted kitchen with harsh hard surfaces”.
“People spent so much time at home over the last two years they want to feel comfortable in their homes and lounge on a sofa in the kitchen rather than just doing chores,” she said.