So your kitchen is in need of an overhaul, but all you’re seeing is sparkling chrome and you really want something a bit different. Well, as expert kitchen designers, we know that individuality is the way forward, so if you want to move away from uniformity and embrace a few new ideas, how do these trends grab you?
Individual lighting accents
Seamless storage and barely there cabinets are leaving more room for decorative lighting, especially as upper cabinets are being replaced by cleverly placed cupboards at a lower level. This gives an illusion of more room even in a smaller kitchen, and with clever lighting you can enhance the space even more. There’s not so much need for limited under cabinet lighting, so you can make the most of moveable sconces and adjustable arms which direct the light to where you want it most.
Splash backs
The natural look is big in 2014, with real, natural materials making a splash – quite literally – in the modern kitchen. There’s more space around cooker hoods and sinks to play around with splash backs. You could choose glass and go for a brightly coloured decorative effect, or follow the natural route and make the splash back a focal point with slabs of marble and limestone.
Brass, aged gold and black hardware
The shine has gone off the chrome and stainless steel kitchen – warmer metals like iron and graphite are starting to make a comeback, and you can see statement cooker hoods all over the place with combinations of the materials which look really dramatic and different when we’re used to everything having such a high shine!
Built-in cabinets
Another new look for 2014 is built-in accent cabinets that act as framework for the rest of the cabinetry. The accent cabinets can be designed so that they sit tall and narrow on worktops or on either side of the cooker, and contrasting in shade to the rest of the cabinets, adding a little extra design touch to a simple kitchen.
Natural raw materials
Even the walls are embracing the back to nature trend, with exposed brick and concrete making an appearance again along with attractive wooden planks and exposed beams. If you don’t have the real thing – you can even fake it with a veneer so that it looks like you’ve taken your kitchen back to basics!
We can work with you to design the kitchen of your dreams, whether you want a rustic, pared-back kitchen with accent lighting and built in cabinets or a shiny chrome kitchen that you can see your reflection in. Just contact the experts at Paul James Design Studios and we’ll work with you to create your dream kitchen.
