Kitchen Trends:Looking ahead to 2020

From deep industrial colours to brass handles, 2019 has been the year of statement kitchens partnered with brave fittings that suited the personality of the owner. As 2019 will soon be coming to a close, we look ahead to the kitchen trends of 2020 and give advice on what clients are looking for.

Reflecting on the Biggest Trends Of 2019 

2019 has seen the trend of dark coloured kitchens, many clients then pair with lighter tiles that bring light to the space. It was the year of being brave and adding personality to kitchens by making progressive choices that suited the client’s style. In addition, brass fittings were huge and will continue to be so for the next 10 years, while boiling water taps (and the benefit of having tea on demand) were the luxury choice of many.

New for 2019 was rippled glass, adding texture to the kitchen and cabinets, whilst hiding the potential mess inside the cupboards. We are big fans of rippled glass, it also adds an art deco style to any kitchen.

Looking Ahead To The Biggest Trends Of 2020 

In contrast to 2019, while dark colours are still popular for 2020, we are also starting to see clients go for colours for their cabinetry that we’ve never done before - lighter pastels, deep neutrals and pinks/yellows accents. This is partnered with funky backsplash tiles or whole wall tile features adding texture and personality to the space. Things that are easy to change further down the line.  

2020 is also seeing a lot more tech coming into the kitchen for wi-fi enabled gadgets that is easily controlled from your phone, whilst the ripple effect glass is huge for next year too.

The biggest trend for 2020 is clients wanting to find space for a walk-in pantry in existing kitchens or when doing an extension to hide any mess. It’s about adding luxury to a space whilst keeping it practical.

Trends Across the UK 

Interestingly, the trends in kitchens are not as different as you may think across the UK. Country kitchens are often bigger spaces, avoiding upper cabinetry due to the fact they have space for utility rooms and pantries, whereas London kitchens go for the upper cabinets to add storage wherever possible. However, both love to go funky, adding personality and bring their style to life.

We love the fact that our clients aren’t scared of colour, texture and new trends. It's exciting to see personality being stamped all over the space, creating unique rooms that are fun to be in. 2020 is a year of fun, stylish kitchens that better reflect the personality of the owners. Bring on 2020. To book a design consultation, click here

Design Tips: Your Options When It Comes To The Details

Our kitchens are bespoke and made just for you. You can decide every element of your kitchen from the colour, to the type of shelving adjustments you want. Different elements to consider in your design include (but are not limited to):

Internal cabinet colour in oak, walnut or painted in any colour, drawer boxes in oak or walnut, shelving from the same material as your worktop.

Hinges to match or contrast with your handle finish - depending on what aesthetic you are after. We have also designed kitchens featuring brass rails for hanging towels and utensils.

We have both traditional shelving as well and pin and loop shelving adjustments. Glass can be rippled, plain, frosted or fire glass.

Many of our clients have chosen our signature larder design, with matching spice racks. The spice racks metal work can match your handle choice colour.

Clients come with a range of new and exciting ideas for wine racks, dressers etc and we love working on new designs together.

Kitchen Trends: Decorative Tiles

We suspect decorative tiles to be the new big thing in interiors, kitchens or elsewhere. They are an excellent way to introduce colour, texture, pattern and style to any space. Whether you want to make a bold statement with your tiles or simply inject “just a little something” into your space, you are certainly spoiled for choice nowadays! With different colours, materials, shapes and sizes available there’s almost certainly a tile for everyone’s taste.

Atlantis Scallop Tile in Navy

Two of our most popular and frequently used tiles are the Lily Pad Porcelain Tiles and the Neapolitan Hex Tiles. These hexagonal tiles come in multiple bright colours as well as some more subdued ones. Due to their material (porcelain) they are very easy to clean and therefore perfect for kitchen splashbacks. They are however, becoming increasingly popular for bathrooms too!

Lily Pad Porcelain Tiles in Eucalyptus

The Lily Pad tiles also come in an encaustic version. The difference between them and the porcelain ones is that the paint lies within the actual tile as opposed to simply on top. Equally as beautiful with a choice of 5 colour, these tiles do require to be sealed as they are by nature more porous.

Lily Pad Porcelain Tiles in Admiral

Lily Pad Porcelain Tiles in Custard

Neapolitan Hex Tiles in Pink

For a more minimal look, choose a solid coloured tile like the Bazaar Ceramic Tiles or the Carter Ceramic Tiles. Both beautiful and glossy, these tiles will make a statement while remaining understated and classic.

The Carter tiles, a grown-up version of the infamous metro tile, can be arranged in a variety of patterns including herringbone and classic underground patterns. Have a play around with arrangement (before the tiler comes!) and see what pattern you think suits the tone of your room best.

Carter Ceramic Tiles in Ecru

Design Tips: 7 + 1 Tips On Planning & Designing Your Dream Kitchen

1. When starting your kitchen design process, gathering ideas and inspiration from the moment you decide on a new kitchen is always a good idea! Instagram and Pinterest are a great way to find and save inspiring images that will give you a better idea of how you imagine your kitchen to look and the styles that appeal to you. Don’t limit this to pictures of kitchens, keep an open mind! You can find inspiration in colours, shapes and all kinds of places.

2. If you are planning an extension, visit your kitchen designer with your plans after you have had your planning permission accepted. This should avoid the need to compromise on your design later on and your designer will be able to provide your builder with drawings of your kitchen design.

3. When meeting with your designer, provide them with as much information as possible about the space and what you want to achieve with the design. Pinterest inspiration boards will help you to visualise the project better and communicate the overall mood you want to evoke with your scheme. If you are unsure of anything (or most of it!) don’t panic, communicate with your designer, they will help to guide you through the process and your options.

We cannot guarantee ice lollies will be available, but we can guarantee a great kitchen design!

4. When planning lighting for your kitchen, look at the space you have and think about how much light it gets throughout the day. If the space is lacking in natural light there are some lovely options for introducing light in the places you need it. LED light strips under your wall units are useful for lighting work surfaces when prepping food and can be used in the evening to create a cosy atmosphere. Pendant lights over an island or kitchen table will provide light where you need it and choosing the right style will accentuate your design.

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Our Bespoke Kitchen Ranges

The Westminster

Traditional Shaker style cabinetry with a hint of modernity, it is a simple take on the traditional shaker door, without the decorative cockbeading that the Rye range has. Comes as standard
with feet but can be taken off.

The Applegate

The Applegate kitchen (named after the first clients to choose this style) is a modern take on the traditional shaker style. With units flush to the floor, cut-out handles and flat contrasting drawers, this design certainly has more 21st century feel to it.

The Rye

The Rye range is our take on the traditional English kitchen. The Rye has a traditional shaker doors and a detailed frame called a cockbead. As with the Westminster this range, this range comes as standard with feet but can be changed to skirting if you wish.

The Westgate

A contemporary take on the traditional Shaker style kitchen, with a T- bar panel separating each unit and much thinner shaker panel. The Westgate is designed after Westgate Towers in Canterbury, and built to stand the test of time. Often used with brass and ripple glass, this kitchen range can look very art deco with specific styling.

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5. When planning your layout think about the time you spend in your kitchen and what you want to use the space for. Do you spend a lot of time cooking with your family? Are you always inviting friends over for dinner parties? Make sure the layout considers all of your needs and is functional for everyone using the space.

6. When choosing colours, handles and tiles, go with your instinct and choose something you love! When choosing paint colours or wallpaper, paint big samples and put them on the wall. You’ll be able to see how the colour changes through the day and you will get a better feel for it. There are many different finishes and styles of handles & decorative tiles out there, Instagram is one of the best places for finding something unique.

7. When you have narrowed your choices down and decided on a scheme, use your samples to make a mood board for your design. This can be used as a visual anchor throughout your project and will help when you need to communicate your ideas for the space. You can also use this as a reference point when you are choosing furniture or accessories to check if they will work with your colour scheme.

+Bonus Tip!

Above all, enjoy the creative process and focus on a creating a space that makes you feel good!

Design Tips: Spice Racks & Toaster Trays

When planning and designing your dream kitchen, you will consider a myriad of things from cabinetry style, worktop materials & colours and daydream about the styling once it's all done. Something that we have noticed gaining a lot of popularity recently in our designs however might be something you would never have considered or known to exist: the in-larder toaster tray and spice racks on the back of a cabinetry door!

Toaster trays are brilliant works of carpentry, designed to sit inside your cabinetry or larder units, sliding in and out allowing you to store your toaster off your counter. This also keeps your kitchen a safer space as toasters should not be used inside regular cabinetry due to their nature of being fire hazards.

You may even wish to use the sliding trays as smart kitchen storage instead. Storing things like teas and coffees or dry goods you use on a regular, every day basis.

The spice rack: one of our favourite kitchen design inventions! Say goodbye to rummaging to the back of a cupboard shelf looking for your turmeric powder. Spice racks on the inside of your cabinetry doors as a great way to conceal your herbs, spices and oils while keeping them incredibly accessible when needed.

You can have one or two (or more) spice racks either painted to match your cabinetry colours or left in their natural oak to match the inside of your pantry. Adding brass, nickel or chrome bars to the spice rack shelves is a very small touch, but will make a big impact to the overall feel of your kitchen.

Please always follow your appliances instructions, including whether they can be placed inside cabinetry or not. This includes all appliances but especially toasters and microwaves in cabinetry. Do not use toasters or leave appliances such as kettles and microwaves plugged in inside larders.