Incredible appliances, exquisite materials, innovative design solutions … EuroCucina 2018 showcased all of this and so much more
There’s nothing like travelling overseas to an international design fair when you need a little inspiration for work back home. This year’s visit to EuroCucina did not disappoint, and I returned home feeling more inspired than ever before.
The 22nd edition of the biennial EuroCucina showcased incredible displays by 117 companies over 22,000m2. The exhibits embodied incredible design, the latest kitchen technology and innovative solutions.
Keep reading to find out my verdict of the top 10 best trends I spotted when immersing myself in the kitchen design Mecca that is EuroCucina.
1. HIDDEN APPLIANCES
Gone are the days of kitchens looking solely like kitchens. The trend is now for the kitchen to look more like a piece of furniture. This means everything, including wall ovens and other appliances, is concealed behind doors. Pocket doors were seen around many displays and it appeared to be the most frequently used hardware solution to conceal either the appliances or the entire run of the kitchen.
2. STONE INTEGRATED SINKS
It was hard to spot an ordinary stainless, black or white sink at EuroCucina. Most showcased sinks were completely integrated into the benchtops. Many were seamless and some had a lid created out of stone as well as a retractable tap, so the sink is completely hidden out of sight. The size of the sinks was also a huge statement, with most of them as long as 1m in length, creating an incredible feature in the kitchen.
3. FINISHES AND COLOURS
Matt finishes were featured prominently this year, while gloss surfaces and finishes to cabinets were rarely sighted. Everything was matt and sleek, and timber and natural-look material were incorporated into two-tone kitchens. I noticed many dark hues taking prominence, and instances of black incorporated into all areas of the kitchen, even the internal hardware. Stainless steel was a huge hit and was often paired with timber in a range hues. It was also displayed on door and drawer fronts, creating a commercial look but in a modern application.
4. FABULOUS INTERNALS TO KITCHENS AND BATHROOMS
It was refreshing to see the same amount of thought being put into the aesthetic of kitchen interiors as is given to the exteriors. No white board carcasses were seen; instead, everything was finished in beautiful timbers and even marble in some cases. Gorgeous accessory organisers and internal automatic lighting were also spotted frequently.
5. PORCELAIN, PORCELAIN AND MORE PORCELAIN
Thin benchtops and lots of porcelain were seen throughout, not just on horizontal surfaces but on vertical surfaces, too. Kitchen drawer and door fronts were also finished with beautiful porcelain such as Calacatta or other marble replicas.
6. THICK AND THIN
This year, I spotted a combination of thick and thin surfaces, but thin benchtops and doors dominated the expo. Many thin 8mm doors were presented with Blum’s newly developed 8mm hinge.
7. GLASS STORAGE
Displaying your treasures is on-trend again. There were lots of glass storage with glass doors that were either frameless or with thin black frames. Lighting was generally present inside the cabinetry, creating the illusion of a beautiful art installation.
8. HANDLELESS HEAVEN
The handleless trend is still strong and the options of bevel grips and touch mechanisms were incredibly popular at EuroCucina this year. Where a kitchen display did feature a handle, they were either aluminium extrusions inside a cabinet or custom-made beautiful lip handles. The lip handles created quite a strong feature as they generated a continuous horizontal line across the kitchen. Many metals and finishes were utilised for the lip handles, but the brass lip handles stood out the most in my opinion; these were wrapped around the entire door, creating a very elegant, picture-frame-like illusion.
9. CENTRAL ISLAND STATIONS
Almost every kitchen display was dominated by a beautiful island display, which was created in the middle of the island bench. Many of the displays were spectacular and included features such as electronic charging stations, movable lighting across the entire island, and simple but crucial storage space.
10. BATHROOMS
EuroCucina also featured displays of the other important wet area in every home — the bathroom. In terms of what’s hot, use of porcelain sheets instead of tiles was a popular trend this year. Large floor-to-ceiling sheets created a very elegant and luxurious feel. Complementary custom bathroom accessories, such as toothbrush holders made out of the same porcelain, featured in many displays, creating a whole new level of luxury.
Words Katia Slogrove Images Courtesy of Salone del Mobile.Milano
Originally in Luxury Kitchens & Bathrooms 17