kitchen trends Archives

2019 Kitchen Trends

Posted on January 28, 2019July 14, 2020 by katy@hawkkb.co.uk

DARK COLOURS

The all white kitchen is becoming a thing of the past with people wanting to put their own personal stamp on their kitchens. Not only are dark coloured kitchens increasing but also matte black fixtures and hardware are growing in popularity. This client opted for matte black handles to add a contrasting industrial edge to their traditional Shaker style kitchens.

2019-kitchen-trends-black-quooker — Image via Quooker

Following this trend, tap manufacturers are also having to re-think their offering. Quooker are the most recent brand to have also tapped into this trend and released a black version of its fusion tap earlier this month.

TWO TONE KITCHENS

2019-kitchen-trends-two-tone — Image via Hawk K&B

Continuing from last year we are still designing lots of kitchens with two different cabinet colours. Not only two different colours but also different textures and finishes too such as wood effect cabinets next to gloss painted cabinets as seen here.

CLEVER & CLEAN STORAGE

2019-kitchen-trends-storage — Images via Masterclass

As our kitchens become ever more the heart of the home, a place where we eat, cook, entertain and spend a lot of time, the storage needs also increase. It is for this reason that people are seeking kitchens with maximised clever storage solutions.

Masterclass have a variety of kitchen storage solutions for even the smallest of kitchens. From their signature corner pantry that makes the most of awkward corner spaces to pull out larders available in a range of widths and heights to suit many different spaces and lifestyles.

OPEN SHELVING

As well as more integrated storage, more open storage such as open shelving is also becoming more popular, giving the kitchen a more personalised, lived in feel in keeping with the rest of the home. It also opens up the kitchen, as lots of wall cabinets can often make a kitchen feel enclosed.

2019-kitchen-trends-masterclass — Image via Masterclass

Similarly we are also seeing an increase in open freestanding units such as the Neptune Potboard or the Masterclass open ended island ‘Chef’s table’ both shown above.

2019-kitchen-trends-extractor — Image via Siemens

SMART STREAMLINED APPLIANCES

We will continue to see integrated appliances become more streamlined and seamless but also more smart too. Induction hobs continue to be popular and now come alongside downdraft extractors that are set into the worktop behind the hob, hidden from view, emerging only when needed.

Appliances from Siemens (and later this year, Neff), can also now be voice controlled through Amazon Alexa with their Home Connect function, allowing you to send recipes to your oven and coffee requests to your coffee machine with the appliances alerting you when the task is complete.

Mixing Materials In The Kitchen

Posted on May 29, 2018November 7, 2019 by katy@hawkkb.co.uk

When choosing a new kitchen, people usually have one cabinet colour and one type of worktop in mind; however you don’t have to have a uniform or matching look throughout your kitchen. We have been mixing cabinet colours in our kitchens for a while, often with islands in a different colour, allowing it to become the focal point of the space, and now we are beginning to mix materials too.

mixed-materials-kitchen-island — Image via Hawk K&B

Using different worktops for different zones in the kitchen is not only practical but also adds interest to the space visually. Wood has always been a brilliantly warm and tactile material for kitchen worktops, however it’s just not practical with heat and moisture. Above we mixed worktop materials and used a Silestone quartz by the sink and cooker with wood for the breakfast bar. The juxtaposing result looks stunning and also adds texture to the space.

stainless-steel-worktop-franke — Image via Franke

Stainless steel is also another material that has entered the kitchen worktop market recently, with Franke launching theirs later this year. This is supremely practical in a kitchen as for one thing, it’s stainless, so no tea, coffee or red wine marks and it’s great with hot or cold temperatures as well as being antibacterial. Being the worktop choice of chefs, people’s immediate thoughts on stainless steel worktops are that they are the preserve of clinical kitchens however just looking above, the Franke stainless steel worktop adds a brilliant contrasting texture against the natural wood.

hawk-kitchen-mixed-materials — Image via Hawk K&B

Mixing materials on cabinets is another way to introduce contrast and texture to your kitchen as well as zoning the space. In contemporary kitchens, mix wood effect laminate doors with solid colour doors and in a traditional setting mix painted cabinets with natural wood such as this walnut island and mantle we did above.

Gone are the days when it was a standard fit throughout – now it’s about thinking what you are doing and when you are doing it so that we can then work out what you need in a particular zone and design a kitchen that works for you.

KBB 2018 Kitchen & Bathroom Trends

Posted on March 7, 2018November 6, 2019 by katy@hawkkb.co.uk

Yesterday we attended the UK’s largest kitchen, bedroom and bathroom trade show, KBB. With hundreds of brands launching their new collections and latest technologies it is a great place to find the next up and coming trends and KBB did not disappoint. The trends we noticed spanned across both kitchens and bathrooms in equal measure, highlighting their influence across the entire industry. Below we discuss the three overriding trends:

BLUSH PINK

With Pantone and Dulux’s colour of the year for 2018 being Ultra Violet and Heart Wood, both warm, pink/purple tones it was clear to see why at KBB. Blush pink was prominent across both kitchen and bathroom cabinetry, a very bold change from previous years but a change that looks surprisingly stunning. Paired with warm coppers and brass, this colour sits perfectly.

Pink-kitchen-trend2 — Images via Hawk K&B

In recent years we have seen people become braver with their kitchen colour palette going for navy and forest green and blush pink takes another step into the direction of making the open-plan kitchen another room to make unique. It is not only reserved for contemporary kitchens such as this from Brigitte Kuchen either, Masterclass Kitchens showed their shaker door island in a beautiful blush pink, accented with a brass handle.

Pink-bathroom-trend3 — Images via Hawk K&B

However bathroom trends for many years have stuck to monochrome, black whites and greys for many years so blush pink or colour in itself is a very bold step up in bathroom design. However, again with the rise of copper and gold brassware in bathrooms, this colour goes hand in hand as you can see on this Vlaze rose enamelled vanity unit with gold trim and handles and the Dansani gold taps paired with this beautiful gloss pink unit.

INDUSTRIAL

Last year black came into its own within bathroom design in particular with black baths and tiles in abundance. Naturally this paired well with white sanitaryware, you can read more on our blog ‘Black & White Bathrooms’. This has now ultimately led to a more stripped back, industrial look which we have seen prominently across both kitchens and bathrooms this year.

industrial-bathroom-trend — images via Hawk K&B

In bathrooms, the industrial edge comes across in the details. Contemporary shower screens, inspired by industrial partitioning were seen from Impey and Fiora, among others. Crosswater also launched their Union range of brassware taking influence from traditional levers and wheels with knurled detailing for a contemporary edge.

industrial-bathroom-trend2 — Images via Hawk K&B

On cabinetry, steel or mottled effect finishes emulate the industrial feel alongside details such as edging on corners, shown on this unit from Diesel Living with Scavolini.

Industrial-kitchen-trend — Image via Hawk K&B

On the Diesel Living kitchen, modular structures and different textures such as steel tubes, ribbed glass and feet and corner elements epitomised the contemporary industrial style. Brushed steel cabinets and open shelving was also prominent, with Franke launching their stainless steel worktops at KBB.

COPPER

Last year we saw lots of copper accessories and an introduction to copper or ‘rose gold’ brassware. This trend has now evolved into the main components of kitchens and bathrooms, from cabinetry to sanitaryware itself.

In kitchens, copper was used a lot as an accent within contemporary cabinetry, shown above in this Rotpunkt kitchen.

Copper-kitchen-trend1 — Image via Hawk K&B

Surprisingly this also extended to copper accents and trims on appliances, from Kuppersbusch and De Dietrich to Smeg with Smeg co-ordinating this with a copper sink.

Copper-bathroom-trend — Image via Hawk K&B

In bathrooms, Hurlingham went all out with copper showers, shower trays and accessories. Elsewhere copper was ever more prevalent as a brassware option, including the Serenitie range from Abode.

Neptune Autumn Winter 2017

Posted on August 16, 2017 by katy@hawkkb.co.uk

Last week we attended the launch of Neptune’s AW17 collection and although outside was bright and sunny, once inside we were transported into a cosy, warming environment filled with deep colours and rich metallics reminiscent of winter woodland tones.

Teal was the colour of the moment, bringing drama to a space but also a sense of calm. Paired with warming tones in, aptly named, ‘fox’ and ‘chestnut’ immediately evoking images of crackling open fires. The overall feel is very British heritage and could be seen and felt through all of Neptune’s Autumn Winter additions.

In kitchens it was in the details with black, bronze and leather handles transforming not only the cabinets themselves but the entire room. The new Barlow range of hardware features a simple handle in a black bronze finish, something we have seen creeping into hardware across both kitchens and bathrooms this year. The matt texture means that it will age gracefully and creates a beautiful contrast with oak and painted finished.

neptune-leather-toggle-handle-dylan — Image via Neptune

The Dylan handle however is a favourite of mine. The addition of this leather toggle handle on dark kitchen cabinetry creates a striking appearance that allows the tan hues to shine, not to mention the texture it brings to the room, a texture and colour that will change and age gently over time.

For bathrooms, Neptune has introduced a brand new range of vanity units, completely different to their existing range but complimentary and just as beautiful. The Edinburgh unit comes in a natural oak with louvered doors and a marble top offering a characterful mix of textures and finishes to your bathroom space. Coming in three sizes, including an open shelf version, the Edinburgh will be a unique addition to any bathroom, small or large.

To compliment the new and existing bathroom collections, Neptune have also introduced the Bamburgh range of accessories. From simple towel rings to taps each has form and function in equal measure.

We are looking forward to introducing these elements into our upcoming kitchen and bathroom designs for next season.