For the past few years, the kitchen has become ever-more open-plan and part of our central living space. While the kitchen of 2018 was big in colours with many striking designs cleverly incorporating a mixture of colours, textures and finishes, the onus in 2019 is on creating a sense of minimal calm, with colours, materials and finishes all being chosen to reflect this. Nature-inspired materials are therefore popular, with quartz, ceramic and Inalco MDi being increasingly chosen for worktops and splashbacks, as they can emulate the look of marble, granite or even wood without any of the maintenance drawbacks.
With the trend for natural materials that reflect the great outdoors, surfaces with a marble-look remain popular, bolstered by the trend for industrial styling, where they combine with raw materials such as timber and brick to give the room a professional edge. Cabinetry with an exposed wood grain, for example, can be topped with a stone-effect surface such as Inalco MDi Pacific Blanco, while a neutral colour palette that helps bring nature indoors will be accentuated with bolder earthy tones seen in accessories.
The larger the space the better the trend for mixing materials too; using different surfaces for different areas of the kitchen helps zone the space – particularly important if it is used for a variety of activities from dining to socialising. Using different worktops, walls and floor finishes for different zones in the open-plan kitchen, for example, adds interest to the space visually. Think about which materials and colours work well together and don’t be afraid to mix things up by contrasting to add more visual interest or turn a particular area into a focal point. Some areas of the kitchen may require a more durable or water-resistant surface than others too, providing another opportunity to mix and match materials appropriately.
On the other hand, for smaller spaces a lighter coloured worktop and splashback used as an accent allows for the inclusion of darker furniture, creating a two-tone effect that is very effective. Subtle marble inspired surfaces such as Ceralsio Montblanc White can be teamed with dark cabinets to make a striking two-tone effect in the compact kitchen.
Solid surface materials are increasingly being seen in kitchen design, as awareness and availability grows. Ceralsio Ceramic surfaces offer a highly durable and easy to maintain alternative to natural stones. They are suitable for worktops, wall cladding and flooring as they feature a thin 12mm profile and are scratch and stain resistant, providing the best of both worlds in terms of style and function. And for those willing to create a continuity from the kitchen to the outdoor terrace area thanks to large sliding doors, the surfaces can be used inside and outside as they are thermally stable and UV resistant which means that they will not crack in hot summers, frozen winters and the colour will not fade over time. Ceralsio comes with a 10-year warranty for added peace of mind.
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