Issue 35 April/May 2010
Kitchen and bathroom designer Natalie Du Bois unfolds six kitchen styles to help you discover the look you love.
Words Natalie Du Bois
The personality and character of your kitchen is portrayed in its look and style. Often the design of your home will dictate the style you go for, but there is nothing wrong with a contrast. A contemporary kitchen can look right at home in a villa; the kitchen doesn’t have to represent the exact period of your home's architecture for it to be right.
As a space the kitchen is used more than any other room in the house so it makes sense to ensure it looks and works well for you and whoever else uses it. There is no right or wrong style; whatever you decide is right for you will work. The overall effect should be that it is a comfortable space where you want to spend time in.
The Contemporary Kitchen
The most popular style is always a modern or contemporary kitchen. The colours are up-to-date, the materials, appliances and fittings are the latest products on the market. However, this look can change quite quickly as trends and fads surpass each other.
Around seven years ago we were very keen on curves and rounds on everything. Almost all kitchens had soft edges everywhere and everyone specified bull nose benchtops, rounded cornices and bowed handles. Compare this to only a few years ago where everything was extremely angular and square with no curves in sight. In the last year or so, curves have started to creep back in, in the form of oversized cylindrical forms in handles and on appliances like rangehoods, fridge/freezers and hobs.Today’s contemporary kitchen has an air of drama, often creating a wow appearance by mixing materials and proportions.
Get the latest issue of homestyle to read more on Kitchen Styles. Available from supermarkets, book stores and magazine outlets nationwide.