Lately, I’ve been seeing a return to maximalism in kitchens – think tiled splashbacks, figured natural stone and decorative lighting. I’m also seeing a variety of contrasting materials and decorative details used together, like fluted glass in black steel frames, coloured paint finishes and then an array of artwork and ceramics. There’s more expression in our kitchen designs than ever before; maybe Instagram has something to do with it?

Now dear reader, I’m assuming that you are across the classic white kitchen with white/grey marble…. so here I’ve tried to share kitchen ideas that are little more interesting, textured and WOW-factor. And don’t worry, I’m not going to use the word ‘trend’ even once!

Natural Stone

Pink, green, beige, brown and black. We simply cannot get enough of gorgeous natural stone in our homes. Each piece is totally unique, and really becomes a work of art to enjoy every day in our kitchens.

Where once 60mm thick benchtops with a waterfall edge were preferred, we’re now loving the elegance of a slim 20mm thick benchtop, or even finer. We’re moving away from the white/grey varieties of marble and instead, we’re exploring richly veined marble and coloured stones.

Natural vs man made: There is not one right way to go, it really depends on your lifestyle. If you’re very fussy about spills and stains, a man made bench top will offer a  you peace of mind – try Cosentino or Caesarstone for a robust kitchen surface with the look of natural tone.

If selecting natural stone, look for one with an interesting vein so that if there are some spills, they’re kind of hidden. I prefer my stone to show signs that a great cook-off was had, and oops, those tequila shots seemed like a good idea at the time.. (until the lemon stained the bench top!). But hey, life isn’t perfect and my stone benchtop doesn’t need to be either.

On display

The kitchen with things on display is having a moment right now….. just when we had gotten used to the idea of a kitchen with everything hidden! We’re seeing open shelving replacing overhead cupboards, which makes the space feel more relaxed and open, and offers limitless opportunities for styling with artwork and objects to reflect the rest of the house.

There’s something so comforting about a kitchen with pots hanging and eclectic vintage plates on display… it’s the sort of place you want to hang out. The radio hums in the corner whilst hours are spent preparing food for guests. Everyday items such as glasses, coffee cups and cereal bowls are all on display and within arm’s reach, whilst herbs displayed in a ceramic pot or vase add life, and smell great too.

Tiles

The great thing about tiles is the sheer variety available, and the countless ways they can be used… the right tile really can completely transform a space.

We are seeing tiles everywhere from the typical splashback application to covering rangehoods, island benches and entire walls.

There are so many amazing stockists for interesting tiles in Australia, some excellent options include Urban Edge Ceramics, Artedomus, Signorino and locally made Anchor Ceramics.

Soulful Minimalism

Brown, that’s right folks. Warm walnut wood tones are taking over from the pale plywood / beech look that we all know and love. Walnut is more luxurious and ‘grown up’ and works so well with stone and brass accents.

These kitchen spaces are minimal yet soulful. Earthy tactile materials like marble, timber and bronze only get better with age.

The Dark Side

We’re (finally) moving away from white kitchens and gloss finishes, towards a darker palette of materials. Using a richer palette in the kitchen lends a sense of cosiness, warmth and interest – plus, mess and clutter recede into the shadows. There really is no reason a kitchen has to be white!