What's trending in kitchen design?

We take a look at the latest kitchen trends speaking with Alice Hood a Senior Design Consultant at our Clapham showroom.

In terms of timbers, it feels like whitewashed oak is gone – clients and interior designers alike are looking for warmer tones with dark golden hues – think old original oak parquet kitchen floors. These timber elements help warm a bespoke kitchen and are being mixed with lots of other materials to help avoid the “overly woody” effect.

A request I am also hearing a lot is “something other than grey and white marble” worksurfaces. There is still a love for striking veins sweeping across a kitchen island or splashback, however now we are looking for something with an extra wow factor. So natural quartzites and lesser used stones featuring blue, brown, rouge and gold hues are taking foreground, with porcelain also offering some great man-made options for drama. 

In terms of kitchen cabinet style, there has been more interest in elegant laid-on shaker styles, with slim frames. Emulating Edwardian wall panelling, this can give a different feeling to chunkier shaker options and sleek handle-less chic. More and more we are seeing a mix-and-match approach instead, with this elegant classic style on a back wall, sinking away, and a contrasting textured island in front. 

Ribbed timbers, stained veneers, metallics and even tiled knee-spaces under breakfast bars are popular kitchen island choices emerging, rather than alternative plain colours as we have seen previously. (i.e. light coloured back wall cabinets and a darker island)

This desire for more organic materials fits well with the popular Japandi style clients are choosing, and in many homes the kitchen island is the centrepiece of an open-plan space. This Japandi style has also influenced a desire for floating sculpture-like wall kitchen cabinets or no wall cabinets at all, and hidden appliances, like low-level island based ovens and downdraft hobs to give a feeling of calm and sanctuary. There is an overall feeling that whilst a luxury kitchen needs to function well for meal times, it also needs to be easy to tidy up, beautiful and sympathetic to down-time.

If you’d like to read more about the latest design trends, get advice about what to choose and how to plan your own bespoke kitchen, or enter an exclusive competition why not sign up for our Newsletter.

Our expert kitchen designers can help you make the best choices for your Roundhouse bespoke kitchen or wardrobes. Visit any of our seven Roundhouse showrooms; Wigmore St, Clapham, Fulham, Richmond, Cambridge, Guildford & Cheltenham and get planning!