Now more than ever, the kitchen is the heart of the home; a space where comfort and function combine to create a multi-functional room where we can enjoy being together.
Surfaces take up a large expanse of any kitchen; worktops, floors and walls are all highly visible and always on show, particularly in the open-plan setting. This means that from an aesthetic viewpoint, the style and colours chosen really do matter and will have a huge impact on the look and feel of the space overall. The kitchen is also a high-traffic area; of course, so practicalities are just as important. Materials that are easy to wipe clean and that can withstand high temperatures and spillages, and the general wear-and-tear of daily life should be chosen where at all possible.
How we use our kitchens has influenced design trends; the popularity of open-plan cooking, dining and living spaces; for example, has led to an increase in the use of tiled flooring. Porcelain tiles tick all the boxes from a practical perspective, but also from a style point too, being available in an array of sizes and in a wide range of colours and patterns to offer an extremely versatile flooring option.
With a growing trend for darker materials in interior design, Ceralsio Umbria from CRL Stone ensures that the use of grey in the kitchen will never get boring
Taking size first, large-format tiles have grown in popularity, with the RAK Ceramic mega slabs offering endless design possibilities that can be used across kitchen walls, countertops and even furniture. Such slabs create a seamless finish for the ultimate luxurious finish but also produce an illusion of space. However, practicalities surrounding delivery, storage and even installation of such slabs can be a limiting factor to their use. RAK Ceramics recognises that, despite their many benefits, handling such a bulky item can be problematic, so delivers the slabs directly to site.
For work surfaces in the kitchen, heat and stain resistance are also of extreme importance, which accounts in large part for the growing popularity of materials including quartz and ceramic. Extremely hard-wearing, these materials are non-porous, stain-, scratch-, heat- and shock-resistant and also very strong and simple to care for, making them ideal for kitchens. Just with porcelain tiles, quartz and ceramic can be chosen in a wide range of colours and patterns, as the CRL Quartz and Ceralsio collections from CRL Stone demonstrate, making these materials an extremely flexible option for kitchen design in contemporary and classically-styled properties alike.
From a style viewpoint, large slabs can be used to create astonishing vertical surfaces on kitchen walls and offer endless possibilities for floors and countertops, visually expanding spaces with fewer design interruptions. Visual appeal is one of the main drivers for the popularity of marble-inspired patterns in the kitchen. The elegance of marble accounts for much of its appeal, yet the material itself is not overly suited to the kitchen environment, due to its high-maintenance needs. Alternatives such as porcelain, ceramic and quartz offer the opportunity to embrace this trend; therefore, both from a style and functional perspective. Although they can be chosen as imitations of natural materials such as marble and wood, quartz and ceramic don’t need to be sealed, which means maintenance is straightforward.
Revised classy marble and granite patterns displaying elegant veins, used on kitchen walls and floors, create a sophisticated ambience that is the epitome of luxury and sophistication. The ancestral charm of stone makes it one of the most popular materials in contemporary design, with materials such as quartz and ceramic ensuring that this look is solid, durable and extremely versatile. CRL Stone surfaces; for example, are designed to interpret both more minimalist tastes as well as the more refined and stylish ones.
Mixing dark and light tones on worktops is very much on-trend and creates an individual look that is particularly effective across large and open-plan spaces
And with industrial styling being a hot look in contemporary interior design, surfaces made from porcelain, quartz and ceramic enable materials commonly associated with professional kitchens to be included, making a powerful statement with their sheer simplicity.
Packed full of contemporary style, concrete-effect big slabs inspired by the simplicity and strength of this industrial material; for example, are an ideal choice for creating a minimalist look and feel. Composite surfaces that celebrate the dramatic effects and contrasting colours created during the ageing process of raw metal, with a bold and arresting appearance, are perfect for urban and industrial settings.
Mixing dark and light tones on worktops is very much on-trend and creates an individual look that is particularly effective across large and open-plan spaces. Using different surfaces for different areas of the kitchen also helps differentiate – important in today’s multi-functional kitchen living areas. Some ‘zones’ within the larger space, such as where food is to be prepared, may require a more durable or water-resistant surface than others too, providing another opportunity to mix and match materials appropriately.
As always, style and function need to go hand in hand when designing kitchens, and the latest trends in materials for surfaces certainly lend themselves to this approach, giving creative freedom while ensuring the finished space works on a practical level too.