The kitchen is once again the focal point of the interior design scheme of the contemporary home.
The kitchen has undergone radical transformation due to the changes in the time we spend in our homes and how we use them. But what do we expect from the design of a modern kitchen today?
We spend time and care choosing the right design, the covering materials, the finishes and the appliances, to make sure the kitchen is truly the heart of the home.
The kitchen area is not just the working interior used for preparing meals, but also a place for sharing, where we spend time with our family and friends.
Choosing the type of kitchen
When furnishing a modern kitchen, choices should be made starting from the room’s shape and the way it will be used:
Perfect for a rectangular room, usually separate from the dining area. If there is sufficient space, a small breakfast table can be added.
The workspace is larger and more complex. For open plan spaces that lead into the living room, the short side of the L can be used to create a snack peninsula, with raised or stepped tops.
A large island facing towards the living room to maximise the space for socialisation during meal preparation, or two parallel worktops if space is more limited. Take care to leave enough room between the two blocks to allow appliances to be opened.
For installation in rooms where the short side is at least 2.4 m long, this is a real working environment. Ideal for large spaces, it can open directly onto the living area or may be placed behind glass screens.
A modern kitchen must be designed on ergonomic criteria, must have good natural and artificial lighting, and must guarantee freedom of movement. Here are four fundamental recommendations for designing and furnishing a modern kitchen:
It guarantees the necessary freedom of movement and working space. It is best to provide some worktop area between sinks and dishwasher and oven and hob. The fridge and pantry tall units must always be placed at the end of the block or on the opposite wall.
Many modern kitchens are furnished with plain shelves, contrasting with the materials used for the base. This is the ideal solution if there is plenty of space available, and for achieving a minimalist style. However, if space is limited the room’s height has to be exploited to the full, with wall units for use as pantry storage.
No modern kitchen is complete without high-tech appliances such as pyrolytic ovens, induction or gas hobs with integral hood, and professional sinks. Home automation is a useful aid for organisational planning.
Fundamental in creating your kitchen’s style, coverings help to give character and definition to its design. Whether choosing the furnishings of a rustic modern kitchen or a professional kitchen in industrial or minimalist style, it is essential to opt for a product with easy care and excellent hygiene properties. The materials chosen must be easy to clean and mantein and resistant to stains, detergents, heat, damp and impacts.
The choice of the floor and backsplash coverings defines and completes the style of a modern kitchen’s design. Here are some style inputs for the optimal choice of kitchen tiles:
For real lovers of the culinary art, who demand technology and style worthy of a top restaurant. The professional kitchen is usually designed with steel or concrete effect base units, appliances without front cover panels, and contrasting details such as knobs or hoods. Concrete effect floor tiles fit well into these design schemes, with bevelled or geometrical tile backsplashes.
Simple, without handles and in neutral shades of black, white and greige: the minimalist style kitchen is discreet and features no visible accessories. For combination with a marble look stoneware with glossy surface or decorative carpets that evoke moods of elegance and simplicity.
To enhance a more rustic style that recalls timeless country scenes, the design of a rustic kitchen must include materials like stone, terracotta and ceramics, with the inclusion of decorative carpets or cement tiles to underline their decorative effect.
Color is back, also in the modern kitchen. Usually featured in matt effect pastel shades or with neutral wood base and wall units, it is a style that can be easily emphasised with contrasting glossy tiles for backsplashes and wood, stone or resin look floor coverings.
