SUPPLIED BY Stiles
Kitchen trends are evolving.
The rigorously matched countertops, tiles and cabinetry is best left to the dentist’s offices and vaccination centres. Today’s designer kitchens display curated compilations of luxe materials, interesting textures, intelligently designed sanitaryware and artisan finishes. They have developed into airy living spaces which exude style and flow into the rest of the home. Think of kitchen design as a Castaway movie. Be brave, start at the island and work outwards!
Open Plan Cohesion
The open concept floor plan is here to stay. A single durable and functional flooring material is the glue that binds the space. Continuity in flooring makes the kitchen and living spaces appear cohesive and roomy. Interiors are increasingly favouring tiles that mimic the raw and natural look of screed, stone, and cement. Wood effect tiles, such as the Revival Chevron range are an increasingly popular option for homeowners with pets. They deliver the illusion of warmth, with the practicality, functionality, and durability of tile.
A Bigger Backsplash
The reign of the clunky and clumsy over-counter cupboards is over. Modern kitchen designers are quickly moving away from boxy overhead storage solutions. Storage is moving low, and tiles are moving high. We are seeing sleeker and taller backsplashes, adorned with floating shelves. Consequently, there is even more emphasis on the sophisticated backsplash, they are now stretching right to the ceiling.
“The right backsplash serves as a practical element, but also acts as a focal point, amplifying the overall aesthetic and sophistication of the space,” says Pierre du Plessis, Style Consultant at Stiles. Decorative porcelain tiles have emerged as the most popular material used for kitchen backsplashes. They are durable, resistant to stains and moisture, and available in many styles. Glossy subway tiles remain a steadfast trend with a near limitless range of layouts available from classic horizontal brick, to herringbone and vertical stacks.
A “Back of House” Kitchen
Kitchen design doesn’t stop at the statement “front of house” kitchen. It now extends all the way to the functional utility room, often hidden away. This space is often designed to hide a multitude of sins: clutter, mess and cleaning supplies. Traditional sculleries had all the appeal of workhouse soup kitchens, but the modern versions are getting an elegant makeover with the use of tasteful fluted tiles and genius storage solutions. Fluted and relief tiles have emerged as a new favourite in kitchen design. These tiles add a sense of movement through their surface profiles, playing with shadow, light, and tactility. They add a sense of fun to a space that can otherwise instil fear and panic in even the bravest homeowner.
The Kitchen Mixer Remodel
The ugly duckling kitchen tap grew up and developed a graceful swanlike style. The modern deck-type kitchen sink mixer is taller and slimmer, with a gracefully curving neck. “We are seeing a stampede for the Meir sink mixers,” says Adele Swart, Sanware Buyer and CSO at Stiles. “These mixers come in a variety of gorgeous metallic finishes including champagne, gun metal, tiger bronze and brushed nickel.” The Hansgrohe Talis Pull-Out Sink Mixer is a firm favourite. This mixer features a ‘pull-out spout’ to spray in different directions and is equipped with two jet options.
Sinks that Makes Sense
The latest in kitchen innovation includes the space saving ‘Workstation Sink’. These are utterly genius and are predicted to revolutionise washing, straining, chopping and other vegetable related chores. Perhaps all the clever engineers who sent astronauts to the moon got bored of redesigning everything but the kitchen sink, and then circled back to tackle it. The ‘Workstation Sink’ is an undermounted unit with integrated lips which function as tracks for sliding accessories. Expect a sleek, multifunctional, and cleverly designed unit which keeps the meal prep mess to a minimum. Accessories include a variety of chopping boards, colanders, draining boards and dish drying racks.
The final kitchen upgrade will appeal to the environmentally conscious homeowner. The InSinkErator is a convenient, quiet, safe, and highly efficient food waste disposal unit. It grinds food rubbish into small particles, which can be flushed away for processing with wastewater. It reduces odours and pests in the home and diverts food waste from landfill.
Visit any of the Stiles’ showrooms to views these products in person, or visit their website: stiles.co.za to find out more.
