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kitchens & bathrooms
Seeking
inspirations
To put its components, products and solutions into a modern context, Blum has launched a new global content platform called Blum Inspirations. As an extension to the sort of explorations that are possible in Blum’s physical showrooms, the platform features videos, and static stories, one of which captures the experience of a German couple in an experiment where they spend a day in Blum’s mock-up of a micro (22m2) apartment exploring different living ideas and creating as much storage space as possible.
www.blum-inspirations.com
materials, including timeless stainless steel and wood.
“Often, two different types of benchtops are being used in a kitchen. You might find a timber bench or bar when the main
bench is porcelain or man-made quartz stone, with stainless steel being used in sculleries.
“Or you may find natural feature stone for an island with man- made stone at the back. And more curves and shapes are also being introduced for a slightly more organic look.
“Tones are very natural and earthy at the moment,” she adds, “with not a lot of bold colour. Most kitchens were woody and textured in some way while the graining of stone and veneer finishes also adds a textural element.”
On the cabinetry front, Ingrid highlights the number of pocket doors being used: “They are often bifold to open and slide in, or singular pocket doors, hiding functional spaces away when not in use.”
Other than that, handles are now back “on display”, she says, there’s notable use of LED lighting strips for effect (for example see Davinia Sutton’s 2021 Supreme Kitchen on page 28) as well as providing good task lighting.
In terms of tapware Ingrid says taste is gradually moving away from chrome to “slightly more natural-looking materials like stainless steel, darker aged iron, and some brassy copper looks”.
And it’s apparent that fridges are getting more specialised. “Some kitchen designs have multiple fridge units including wine or drinks fridges. And with quite a few kitchens featuring extensions into social areas, designers are incorporating drinks areas in entertaining spaces.”
THE CHANGING SHAPE OF HOMES
Where to from here? Having already dealt with colours and
finishes, with the global pandemic impacting how we live, it looks like the fundamental form of kitchen and bathroom designs being commissioned today is also being heavily influenced by the events of the past 18 months.
Will we see a re-shaping of Kiwi kitchen and bathroom designs going forward?
From an attitudinal perspective, Janice Kumar-Ward suggests that consciousness around sustainability is likely to feature more in future design discussions.
“With what’s recently unfolded in the world, we could now be looking at more simple, minimal, easy-clean finishes and materials that aren’t shipped from exotic locations.”
Equally fundamental is the fact that the spaces allocated
to kitchens and bathrooms are also changing and that more compact and multi-unit housing is another step change that needs addressing.
In terms of bathrooms, Louise Cook for one is clear on
this point: “I think we absolutely need to understand that the landscape is changing more towards small bathrooms,” adding that, as well as ensuring smaller off the shelf products are available to fit more compact areas, one-off or bespoke shower enclosures are also becoming top of mind.
“There is a lot more happening in that space rather than just nine by nine and one by one showers,” underlines Louise Cook.
From the kitchen perspective, Rebecca Collier-York agrees that being smarter about the usage of space and maximising storage will be even more important in the near future.
To sum up in kitchens & bathrooms: current changes in
taste are about small steps, evolution rather than revolution; current changes in spaces however are more sizable, requiring a rethinking of both designs and products.
30 NZHJ | AUGUST 2021
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