Milan Furniture Fair 2014 – Kitchen Trends

Having recently returned from Milan’s EuroCucina and Salone Internazionale del Bagno fair, Steve Johnson, Director at Retreat Design, shares with us some of the key trends and new products from this year’s Salone Del Mobile.

 

Kitchens at this year’s edition of EuroCucina show that warm, and textured materials are still going strong with mostly timber finishes, muted and ‘greige’ tones taking precedence. Key designs from this year’s exhibitors were:

 

  • Pull push grip solutions:  Kitchens with very few handles allowing for a seamless, streamlined aesthetic. Storage solutions such as large pull out drawers with integrated lighting and automated opening & closing mechanisms.

 

  • Design finish: Moving away from glossy lacquer finishes as seen in recent years, the trend towards matt and tactile surfaces was strong. Concrete and clay look textures were evident in many of the display kitchens with the use of Fenix NTM surface treatment prevalent on both bench tops and doors. This exciting new matt surface product is soft to touch, very durable and through the application of heat, can be restored back to its original state. As such, it has designer’s flocking to use this concrete looking product especially in black and dark tones.

 

  • Timber: Again a predominant feature in this year’s kitchen designs, the use of both solid timber panels and timber veneers was very popular. Knotted timber veneers were seen in many of the designs which showcase the natural characteristics of the wood grain. Timber panelling and bench tops were paired with white and black tones to add warmth to the kitchen spaces.

 

  • Appliances: Customisation of appliance handles and introduction of colour was big this year. There was a move away from the traditional stainless steel finish to more fun and playful colours and the ability for clients to customise the look of their appliance handles. As seen at Miele, there were new design features with special materials and customised manufacturing, moving away from standardization.

 

  • Retractable Doors: Cabinetry with doors that slide back into the carcass was big this year allowing for extra practicality and flexibility of use. Open shelving was also a nice feature allowing home owners space and scope to accessorise their kitchen and dining areas.

 

Stay tuned for our Milan 2014 bathroom trends report in the next few days….

 

 
This post was written by: Caz

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About the Design Blog

Welcome to the Design Blog. Here we're sharing the latest kitchen and bathroom products from our Italian manufacturers. We'll also bring you inspiring kitchen renovations and beautiful bathrooms. Feel free to ask questions in the comments.