What we're Noticing in Kitchen Design this Autumn

Kitchens with Visible Character: "The Soft Kitchen"

Whilst reading House & Garden, the discussion of ‘the soft kitchen’ in particular caught my attention. Amoako writes that the term ‘has gathered momentum over the past year and describes kitchens that borrow the comforts of living rooms.’ Aswell as the idea having evolved from the shift towards open-plan living, it’s something of visual aesthetics that has championed its popularity. Here’s the perfect illustration for it from a recent project in Tunbridge Wells.

It’s all about the ‘return of visible character’, therefore, kitchens that belong to the same language as interiors across the rest of the home: ‘open shelving with visual interest’ acting as artwork within the space and ‘soft furnishings.’ While the coffee station here serves its function, pop a lamp between it and the toaster, and all of a sudden you have something more atmospheric and homely: the sorts of furnishings one would expect in a living room on your coffee table.

Our delicate cabinets framing the dining table are another way to populate this vision, with shelves ‘filled with things chosen for pleasure rather than just usefulness.’ But, ‘the soft kitchen does not reject the kitchen’s functionality altogether.’ We see this in how our client has arranged the space: pots and pans hung up for daily use, a lamp to light a dark room when making coffee in the early hours of the morning. The practicalities and logic are all there, this kitchen model is just a different variant to our more contemporary models favouring appliance integration.

This is why our design here is not trend-driven. Instead, this is highly personalised design, tailored to the individual. The decorative flair brought about by objects and ornamentation have been chosen because they bring joy and a sense of nostalgia to the everyday: perhaps it’s the mug decorated for a special birthday, or the candle holder that you hold dear. Not to mention being an avid cook and passionate baker, the kitchen layout is as practical as it is visual; enabling clear location of pans and baking trays in easy reach of the cooking station.

Has the Seamless Kitchen had its day?

In short: No.

What’s happening is what was once deemed the only way to achieve elegance and sophistication has mutated. And what we’re noticing is the increasing appetite among the market for visual interest throughout the home. It’s just a new way of expressing the coziness of the home, making interiors and kitchens segway alongside each other. But it isn’t for everyone. The takeaway is that it’s all about personal preference.

Softer Edges: "Islands getting Curvier"

Continuing that thread of “softness” is the rise of kitchen islands ‘getting curvier.’ In Living Etc’s 7 dynamic kitchen island trends, we see how our recent showroom developments satisfy this point besides, of course, the label of being trend-driven.

Our new kitchen display has been thoughtfully designed to showcase the variety of our craft through the mixture of texture, tone and materiality, alongside the softer features that smooth over the harsh edges of striking marble slabs. The book-matched Calacatta Marble veining is softened by the bullnose edge detail on the island aswell as the curved walnut finish on the end of the main run. It strikes the balance between form and function rather than following the crowds.

The Beauty in Natural Materials: "Raw Finishes"

According to House & Garden in their Kitchen trends roundup, the beauty of natural materials has also been another hard hitter. ‘Raw materials’ such as oak, walnut, sycamore or eucalyptus all have the beauty of their own grain. While I refer to these materials as “raw,” I must clarify that we would never leave a kitchen unfinished. Raw to the naked eye, but finished in a clear or matt lacquer at the percentage sheen of your choice.

Recently, many of our commissions have favoured a complete colour scheme of natural beauty, allowing the earthy hues to be the neutral backdrop to a splash of colour elsewhere. Or perhaps to introduce texture and tone to break up a long marble run. While this has been increasingly labelled as a “trend” natural wood has long been popular among our commissions and we’re always confident that this will never expire as colour won’t wane your interest, nor will welcoming the organic inside.

Colour-drenched Kitchens: "Fearless Colour Choices"

Whenever the topic of colour crops up, I’m always pleased to return to this Georgian Rectory for its playful whim. Some projects just bring an instant smile to your face, and this is one of them. Designed as part of a whole home scheme, interior designer Lyn Goddard of HSI designs was entirely fearless in all the best ways when it came to colour. I’m sure you’ll recognise this one:

In line with this month’s Elle Deco, titled ‘Home of the Brave,’ this season is also making room for the furnishings ‘that demand a fearless approach to decorating,’ introducing bright colours and contrasting materials for homes that really make their mark.

Truth is on colour; you must choose it for the way it makes you feel and how it speaks to your wider interior scheme, not because it’s trending seasonally or because it’s Pantone’s colour of the year. Of course, if you’re a firm believer that you really like a tone because it’s splashed throughout this month’s magazine, then by all means go ahead. But just because you’ve seen a country farmhouse in House & Garden wear it well, doesn’t mean it’ll flatter your contemporary London apartment quite the same. It’s about the architecture of the building, the home and the wider choices that bind spaces together.

Colours here, have been carefully selected for their confectionary charm, because they create a calm atmosphere, as well as the way they whet the appetite in a place where food is the focus. There’s nothing trend-driven about this commission – read more here.

Last but not Least: "The Messy Kitchen"

A recent article in Architectural Digest writes that ‘the dirty kitchen is still in demand,’ outlining the increasing desire to separate the workspace from the wider living. As aforementioned, there’s a growing popularity in open-plan living, with kitchens becoming the real social hub of the home.

In favour of this shift, we’re seeing how ‘separate prep ancillaries and nooks’ have their place, alongside the pantry, or perhaps two-zoning your island, scaling up to allow for a messy end and a civilised one – the point circles back to the very beginning of this post: the rise of open-plan living.

This is also where our secret door designs come in handy, and have been popular among our recent commissions. This project in South-east London, home to a dedicated cook, knew he wanted some sort of separation between the food prep area and the hosting of friends and family. We designed the main kitchen around the way our client wanted to entertain, the central island for gathering in close proximity to the bar area.

At the push of a secret door, the prep area is revealed, allowing vegetable cuttings and clutter of pots and pans to remain out of sight. Out of sight out of mind in this instance! Again the point stands, crafting furniture for the individual is where the sense of timelessness really shines through.

So, what's the Biggest Trend?

Individuality. It’s evident that there really is no one size fits all. When it comes to trends, placing all of the above into one category simply isn’t possible. The only label for these designs to be grouped is by their individuality. At Chamber Furniture, this is exactly where we start. Designing around family life, pets, routine, and the bones of the building.

Every Chamber Furniture project begins with a conversation.

If you are considering a bespoke project that seamlessly unites craftsmanship, heritage, and your unique vision, get in touch today. Our team would be delighted to discuss how we can bring your ideas to life with precision and artistry.