Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1295215
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 0 | 33 Kitchens Despite a strange year, the kitchen industry is cooking up something big by STACEY MCLACHLAN Creative Kitchens I n the wake of a strange, secluded year, we've had more time than ever to really consider the hub of the home. It's been a place to gather with family, a place to bake our pandemic sourdough loaves, and a place to find comfort in inspiring design or pleasing function. And so, while it's hard to predict what's coming next for the world, there's also no better time to dream about the kitchens of the future. The amount of time we've spent at home this past year has changed our expectations of a space. It's function today is so much more than a place to cook dinner: ideally, it needs to spark a sense of joy and provide comfort and beauty too. It's no surprise that Formica Corporation is seeing an embrace of texture and warm tones in kitchen design these days. Hand-painted marbles and watercolours are among the new style-forward surfaces for home interiors in the company's 2020 Living Impressions Collection. "Homeowners and designers are asking for handcrafted patterns, artisanally-made materials, and beautifully simplistic designs that add a personal touch to the home or office," says senior design manager Gerri Chmiel of Formica Group. The designs are handcrafted by artists – instead of based on a traditional scan of the material – to make a striking impression. Floform's Portrush Cambria quartz countertop is one example of the new artisanal vibe coming to countertops. The elegant cream base is speckled with gold flecks and navy veining – part watercolour painting, part gold rush. The new Coordinates collection by Florform, meanwhile, takes its cues from American locales: a bold black-and-white terrazzo inspired by Vail, to the black on black Kentucky Coal pattern. Meanwhile, over at Cosentino the first series in its The Collection Dekton 2020 – Dekton Liquid, created in partnership with london-based design studio Patternity – embraces this trend towards celebrating natural textures and patterns. One finish is inspired by the meeting point between fire and liquid; another by the texture of a shell. Another new Dekton series is the ultra-saturated Chromica. These are still hues inspired by nature (a rich evergreen Feroe, and an inky, deep-sea blue Baltic), but they bring a drama and richness, too. "It's almost about that contrast of human and nature," says Jose Varon, marketing analyst for Cosentino. DARK AND DR AMATIC This year Caesarstone launched its Dark Collection, a range of blacks and dark greys, each with their own flavour: classically luxurious Empira Black; the matte Piatto; a rusted Oxidian; and a weathered Black Tempal. "Today, black is considered a modern classic, used as a stark accent or a powerful overall look," says Elizabeth Margles, VP of marketing at Caesarstone. "We're seeing dark slate and stone, along with oxidised metal and black lacquered wood combined in dramatic interiors and hospitality spaces." The brand introduced a Natural Finish for the Dark Collection as well, to add warmth and depth via a slight grain – an embrace of trending texture. ALL NATUR AL INSPIR ATION On a lighter note, earth tones and wood cabinets are bouncing back into vogue after years of minimalist white and grey flat-panel millwork; designers are pairing this with a laminate countertop in a natural pattern and colour, like quartzite or marble. "As we look to our homes as an escape from daily stress, homeowners are expressing a desire to declutter and simplify their living spaces without sacrificing comfort," says Chmiel. Neutral spaces with subtle patterns – like wood grain – help create a sense of calm. Floform is also seeing this trend towards wood countertops. "They're marvellous to look at, adding a natural look and feel to your home, but they're also visually complex in subtle ways, the tones and grain of the wood add depth to the palette of your kitchen," the brand's social media team mentioned on Instagram this past August. FUNCTIONAL FLOW This year, as always, storage is also a key part to any dream kitchen plan. "Making good use of storage space is important, as we are still seeing a less is more approach," notes Amy Dillion, lead designer for AyA Kitchens. "With small living spaces becoming the trend, cabinets need to be fully functional." Kitchen hardware companies like Blum help make those storage dreams come true, with innovative technology that can support drawers of all shapes and sizes. Designers can get creative with dimensions and depths, thanks to hinges and tracks designed to support ultra-heavy or ultra-bulky cabinets and drawers. "New technologies are being incorporated into hinges and other kitchen hardware," explains Frank Sansalone, product specialist at Blum. "It allows us to accommodate wider, deeper drawers." Dekton Liquid Shell from Cosentino. White painted marble from Formica. Black Tempal from Caesarstone.