Issue link: http://digital.canadawide.com/i/1295215
O C T O B E R 2 0 2 0 | 35 Kitchens Blum has a way of combining smart storage with convenience – a pairing that's always trending. The company's Space Step is a drawer tucked into the toe kick of base units that can also support a slide-out stepping stool, allowing access to even higher cabinets for users of all heights. The ergonomic Space Tower is another space-maximizing solution: the larder unit features inner shelves that glide out fully so that nothing gets lost in the back of the cupboard. Both products are operated by Blum's Servo-Drive tech- nology, which offers handle-less functionality for drawers or cabinets. A single touch opens the lift systems of pull-outs, and they close again softly. Chmiel is also seeing a double-island trend happening in kitchen layouts these days. "It's a chance to ease a kitchen's traffic flow, while expanding its functionality," she says. "Homeowners want a look that is uncluttered and streamlined, but functionality is still key with storage being at the top of the list." The Houzz Kitchen Trends Study of 2020 even lists a large kitchen island as storage as the number one item on the wishlist for homeowner's kitchen remodel. "Homeowners want a kitchen that is comfortable and connected to the living and dining spaces – open floor concepts still remain popular – and want it to be a place for cooking, entertaining, relaxing, and working," says Chmiel. SQUEAKY CLEAN SURFACES A side effect of the global pandemic is that consumers are thinking more about the health implications of their homes and buying habits. Companies are striving to surpass environmental and health standards. AyA Kitchens, for example, offers low-VOC products and materials that are 100 percent post-consumer sourced. Now more than ever, clean surfaces are key – so materials that can take a scrubbing and stand up to disinfectants are increasingly popular. Laminate countertops, for example, can be cleaned with a mild liquid detergent or a household cleaner and a soft cloth. Formica Infiniti Laminate also has built-in antimicrobial surface protection, which stops the growth of mildew and mould. SLIM AND SLEEK Interior design is always taking its cues from fashion. Today, that means sleek, seamless designs and the embrace of quality, warmth, and authenticity over glossy glamour. "At one time everything was chunky, in women's shoes and jewellery, and so kitchens reflected that too. Now, everything has become clean and thin," says George Pavlov, national architectural and design specification manager for Grass Canada. Even as drawers are getting bigger and deeper, cabinet faces are getting slimmer and lighter. For the past decade, two cabinet styles have dominated the market: the shaker and the slab, however AyA Kitchens hopes to bring a third option to the forefront, with its hybrid style New Contemporary collection, fea- turing an ultra-slim rail along the edge that brings the best of both worlds. "We want to offer homeowners modern selections with a unique design flair. This product offering allows for designs with clean lines and the ability to personal- ize a space with subtle details," says Dillion. For flat-panel options, Dekton's cabinets go as slim as four millimetres, and can be used for cladding furniture or the wall (with impressive resistance to chemicals and detergent, as well as extreme temperatures). "It's almost a hidden look," says Pavlov of these sort of thin cabinet fronts. Grass has created a hidden hinge to match. "Then when you lift the door, you don't see that large piece of hardware that's integrated." Painted to blend in with the cabinetry material, you can barely see how it's opening and closing – magic. You wouldn't expect an economic downturn to be the time for a building boom, but the amount of time we're spending at home has absolutely inspired a glut of renovations. Whatever style homeowners and designers are looking for right now, it's exciting to see so many dream kitchens becoming a reality. A Space Step from Blum. Midnorthern_Quarter.indd 1 2018-01-12 9:58 AM