Image copyright Clair Strong Interior Design
The kitchen is the heart of the home and whether a grand and spacious space, or a tiny galley design, it can be a very stylish spot.
While flat-packed units and laminate worktops fit the bill for some projects, I generally prefer something with a little more personality. Judging by some of the latest trends, 2015 is going to be a good year for kitchen design! Here are a few of my favourite looks:
Colourful Cabinets
Gone are the days when colour was limited to the kitchen walls. Now the cabinets, white goods, floors and ceilings can see a splash of colour too. You can have your kitchen in inky blue and coral, grey and purple, bright pink and green – the choice is endless!
Painted cabinets can be a really effective style choice. Even if the rest of the space is neutral, like in the above Plain English designed kitchen, the pop of colour from a cabinet is really refreshing and bold. This look can even be achieved on a shoestring budget if you’re brave enough to paint your existing cabinets…
Open Shelving
Open shelving can be as practical as it is pretty, and a strong design feature. Choose gorgeous timber or sleek metal shelving – painted or left natural. The shelves themselves can be a style statement but what you display on them is important too. Avoid cluttered pots and pans and choose your finest china instead. Add in a few cookbooks and you’ve got a kitchen that looks lived in, homely and loved.
Modern Minimalism
There’s a lot to love about simple design. Clean lines, fresh colours, no fuss or frills – just the bare necessities. In 2015 we’ll see even more minimalist designs using some beautiful modern materials. Polished concrete countertops, handle-less cabinets, glossed timber and luxe metal details.
I really like the cool, sleek look of bulthaup’s kitchen designs. They’ve kindly provided me with a few images of a bespoke kitchen they created for a couple in Munich. The kitchen is a custom-designed collage of bulthaup b2 and b3 items, finished in a diverse range of colours and materials. It combines smooth, seamless surfaces with rugged unit fronts that have a solid wood appearance. Gorgeous!
Of course, I couldn’t talk about minimalist kitchens without mentioning everyone’s high street favourite; IKEA. Their newest configuration is an effortless blend of form and function. Metod features high-gloss cabinet fronts in a range of colours and units in all shapes and sizes. It’s affordable too, which makes it ideal for creating a gorgeous kitchen on a budget.
