2017 is gearing up to be an exciting year, especially on the colour front. Stylish hues are leaping forward with confidence and if they are any indication, we’ll be taking decor inspiration from them in the year ahead.
For the outrageous amongst us, we will be drawn to dusky blues, spicy reds and lime greens, designed to capture your attention. For the more subtle of us, we will be drawn to earthy greens and taupes to help create a contemporary space. And for a little comfort, it’s all about pale pastels emphasised by light pinks, blues and yellows that make the smallest of spaces pop.
Integrated storage and workstations
Sleek, streamlined kitchens are the trend in 2017 with refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves and all other appliances hidden away by cupboards and finished with matching cabinet doors.
Pared-back colour palette
The bright, clean feel of a white kitchen will have anyone in awe, but we are also seeing a move towards black kitchens. Black cabinetry (inside and out) with black benchtops, black sinks and tapware, and black handles that will take your breath away. At the same time, we are continuing to see the impact the Scandinavian trend still has on our decoration trends.
Getting ‘smarter’ in small spaces
With many stay-at-home parents now spending less time doing the laundry, we are finding that the older, larger laundries of the 70s and 80s are being demolished to make room for bigger bathrooms and Euro laundries. Integrated washers and dryers are starting to find their way into kitchens.
Being creative with colour
Homeowners are starting to be more creative by adding colour in their splashbacks and cabinetry handles. These smaller items can be changed to suit future trends. This includes the demise of the grey kitchen. Whilst popular in recent years, we will see the use of greys fading out in favour of brighter colours by the end of 2017.
Benchtops and the future
During the late nineties and early noughties, thinner, slim-line benchtops were the trend. In the last few years, however, the trend has moved towards slightly thicker benchtops. In early 2017 we are seeing a shift back towards thinner bench tops again. Thicknesses of 20mm are seeing a huge revival, but we are also seeing a move towards even thinner tops with streamlined 6mm and 12mm benchtops proving to be very popular.
The move away from timber and stainless steel benchtops continues, with buyers preferring harder wearing porcelain or stone, as well as the newest addition to kitchens – DEKTON. It’s a durable and almost indestructible man-made product that supersedes stones and granites. DEKTON is a long-term solution for those looking to turn their kitchen into a unique space. It allows greater potential for installation in one continuous piece with no cuts, no joints and no limits. The result is an impressively uniform surface which fits seamlessly into a wide variety of design styles.
Soft closing hardware
Everyone loves soft closing drawers and German brands BLUM and HAFELE are major players in the Australian kitchen industry. A lot of designers are also moving towards the simplicity of handleless cabinetry (push to open/electronic opening options) such as those from SERVO-DRIVE.
Timber
Classic timber is making its way back into kitchens but mainly as a highlight feature, with only portions of the overall kitchen being treated with a timber finish. Tap into this trend by making a feature of a pantry, open shelves or a few cabinet doors.
So, dive into it, take the risks and create the space you want – not what you believe you need.
Alan Nasrallah
Interior Designer, smarterBATHROOMS+
Contact our expert team at smarterBATHROOMS+ on 1300 662 838