Kitchen: Our Top 8 Picks for 2024

1. ON OUR BEST (TABLE) MANNERS

A house that is full of grandeur and exuding a boundless homely feeling. Something extraordinary is happening right now in cutting-edge kitchen designs. Over and above open-concept architectural spaces, 2024 is seeing a shift towards timeless designs that feel more intimate, cosy and boldly eclectic. This includes lavish use of colour as well as an appropriate focus on the dining area as a show stopper, as well as a cherished gathering place in the home. The latest design trends showcase the kitchen as an additional living space rather than as purely a functional place for cooking – featuring sophisticated materials, artwork and statement light fittings. Regardless of your styling preferences, now is the time to challenge the notion of the traditional modern kitchen. Put home dining at the forefront by uniting the kitchen and dining space as one complete entity. For instance, Casa R+1, a design by Madrid-based design studio Puntofilipino, shows us how an open-styled room can unite combined living and dining areas. The melange of eclectic furniture, using muted tones, clean lines and vibrant accents reflects not only the owners’ deep-rooted passion for furniture, but also their lifestyle. PUNTOFILIPINO, Casa R+1 © Polina Parcevskya – puntofilipino.com[/caption]

2. Coming together is key

As kitchens have increasingly become spaces for socialising, the way we regard the seating in them has also changed. Whether it’s a comfy-looking Togo next to the kitchen table, an intimate dining area or a grand dining table in an open space – sufficient and comfortable seating enhances the connectivity between the people sitting in the kitchen and the person cooking. The concept of an eat-in kitchen encourages spending more time in this space.

The affinity for natural elements and biophilic design continues in 2024, but serenity is the overtone. This is reflected in the lighter woods of Carl Hansen & Son’s Børge Mogensen BM0057 sideboard. We are also seeing wood panels that run across both walls and ceilings, and subdued wood tones being complemented by contrasting surfaces, such as stainless steel, in addition to darker-toned wood choices.

3. Uniform expression

We are observing a strong trend this year in sustainable material choices and colour palettes that flow out from the kitchen to adjoining rooms – creating a unified sense of serenity throughout the home. The uniformity comes courtesy of naturally soft colours, rounded curved shapes, like those at Bolia, as well as soft fabrics like Cecilie’s Monolit Chair for Fritz Hansen. They bring tranquillity, allowing us to relax and recharge. Rattan-woven chairs or natural fibre embellishments add artisanal charm, and when combined with stone and marble accents, give the space a peaceful, elemental feel.

 

 

4. Multi-functional kitchen island

What is the showpiece in this year’s kitchen? It’s the kitchen island, showcasing a sophisticated and often striking choice of colours, atypical shapes and a rich palette of materials. Functionality and style are consciously combined to offer an optimal multi-functional kitchen space experience. The kitchen islands takes on the identity of a versatile hub where we can not only cook, but also eat or work at the worktop equipped with built-in charging stations. One stand-out trend is the integration of island hoods with integrated architectural light fixtures. And in line with the trend of minimising clutter, we are also seeing walk-in, built-in or butler’s pantries becoming increasingly popular. They offer organised storage and often include feature spaces for appliances such as our beloved coffee station.

Stainless steel was one of the dominant interior design trends in the early 2000s, and it is now making a comeback, but in new company. Where previously stainless steel provided a somewhat cold and hard tone, it now sets up an exciting contrast to natural materials such as wood and natural stone – by softening and converting the clinical look into a warm feeling in the kitchen. We note its incorporation into architectural elements, and how refined finishes can optimise metal’s ability to enhance natural light. This includes metal integrations in various guises – matt, polished and patinaed – and in everything from splashbacks to full cabinetry and kitchen islands.

5. Creating transparency

In the latest kitchen trends, natural stone worktops are a vehicle for combining aesthetic elegance, functionality and environmental awareness – from earth tones and bold veining to sustainable choices and integrated designs. And continuing in that line, Belgian natural stone masters Potier Stone have nailed their colours to the mast with their translucent Alone Verde natural stone. It transforms interiors into light-enriched and open-hearted spaces. Potier Stone is promoting Lucent Marble as the natural stone trend of 2024 for creating transparency, whether through the play of light or the character of the stone itself. The Alone Verde stone combines the near-transparency of marble with a subtle, colourful haze to achieve a vibrant result. It has a green-tinted shade that also made it a perfect contrasting match for the residential design by interior designer Paulien De Lange of Studio Pien. The home showcases different shades and natural materials, including fumed oak, which are fused into a luminous overall look.

Why do large and small kitchen islands have sharp edges? Organic shapes bring playfulness to contemporary luxury in the latest kitchen trends. Many designers advocate these forms as more inviting and cosier for sitting in the kitchen with friends and family. Moreover, organic forms are a way to create extra circulation space. Apart from neutral hues, we note the appearance of the colour green popping up as an easy-going colour trend. From soothing sage tints to a powerful emerald-green tones, it is easy-to-integrate colour alongside eccentric wallpaper, eclectic art and a mix of furniture – from lavish to quietly luxurious.

6. Functional minimalism

One design trend that never grows old or disappears is minimalism. And in 2024 it looks like this style will continue to live on in kitchens and dining rooms. In minimalism everything revolves around achieving simplicity and clean lines, with a particular focus on functionality. It is an ideal approach in small kitchens for maximising space and eliminating clutter. Easy storage options abound – from tall, streamlined cabinetry to a series of identical cupboards, to tidy worktops or walls and shelving.

7. Sustainable engagement

Enthusiasm for natural, sustainable materials is primed for further growth in 2024 as more people start thinking about the long term. That is why kitchen specialist Ixina is committing to the future with an ESG approach, resolving, among other things, to minimise its environmental impact throughout the supply chain. For example, all their kitchen furniture is made in Europe, with 70% PEFC-certified wood. This guarantees that the majority of the wood comes from sustainably managed, local and European forests. Ixina is not just following a trend by stepping up its social responsibility, but actively striving to have a greater positive impact on the future.

8. Quiet Luxury

Understated elegance, timeless appeal and high-quality materials – the quiet luxury of kitchen design prioritises soothing spaces. Franke, for example, has introduced quiet vapour hoods that prioritise innovative Sound Pro technology. Similarly, Fragranite has designed their latest sinks and range of soft taps such that water noise is dampened in the kitchen. SieMatic impresses with the S2 Next Generation, which highlights innovative features such as SieMatic SecretSpace and SieMatic SecretService. On the radar: closed kitchen furniture that you can transform into decorative open display units, as well as a hob hidden under sliding worktops and kitchen appliances concealed in elegant kitchen furniture or behind folding sliding doors.