As kitchens continue to evolve into a space which is required to be multi-functional, open-plan interior set ups have remained popular, in turn driving more neutral and classic surface colours to reign with their desirable versatility and pared-back style. Crisp white worktops deliver a premium feel whilst letting the rest of the room do the talking; offering a blank canvas for personality to shine through via bold accessories, textiles and brassware. Greys are also sought-after with their modern, neutral palette, with plenty of shades to choose from spanning from cooler to warmer tones.
When it comes to patterns, striking marble-look worktops and islands remain popular; their luxe look even more desirable without the hassle of the ongoing maintenance demanded by natural marble. Dekton comprises both bold designs and surfaces with more subtle, natural veining; something for everyone.
Designs inspired by nature, such as Dekton Feroe’s forest green tones and Dekton Sky’s rippling patterns reminiscent of water, bring feelings of calmness to a space and really help to bring the outdoors in – ever more important as homeowners seek ways to entwine their interior style with their own wellbeing. For those who seek something even more daring, surfaces evoking materials such as industrial concrete and aged metal can help to create an on-trend urban-inspired interior.
To create a truly seamless, modern look, matching large-scale single-slab splashbacks and sinks are a popular choice for high-end residential kitchens. Aesthetics have never been more important as the sink is now often on show within an open kitchen-living space. Once considered a purely practical purchase, sinks and taps are becoming more of a design statement so creating a cohesive, streamlined look in the kitchen is becoming increasingly popular. More and more designers are now choosing sinks that match the worktop material, resulting in a continuation of design while offering peace of mind that the sink will not be easily scratched or stained.
Where a dishwasher is available, a smaller sink size might be considered, and we are seeing a rise in sinks on kitchen islands – often handy for food and drinks preparation, these sinks are smaller and are often designed to blend with the rest of the island. Matching upstands are also a popular choice in the majority of high-quality residential kitchens, helping to add a bespoke finishing touch to a kitchen and thus appealing to detail-conscious homeowners.
Our second Global Kitchens study, a research project undertaken by our insights platform, The Silestone Institute, confirmed that modern attitudes towards kitchen usage in the UK are driving demand for hardwearing, versatile surfaces in residential homes. The study, titled ‘The Domestic Kitchen in the Globalisation Era’, looked into the function of the kitchen around the world, involving undertaking surveys in eight different countries. The results showed that more and more UK homeowners see the kitchen as a truly multi-functional space at the heart of the home, with 34% of UK participants stating they use the kitchen for activities other than cooking and eating, above the global average of 17.4%. Ultra-compact surfaces, such as Dekton by Cosentino allow customers to achieve any look they want, combined with the reliability of a premium material which offers a high resistance to scratches, staining, UV rays and heat, making it the ideal surface of choice for high-traffic areas and spaces with daily use.
Not only for kitchens, ultracompact surfaces are also key to curating luxury bathroom designs too. Extra-large tiling is a key trend for bathrooms this year, a striking design option which also means less grouting to maintain. For a truly wow-factor look, entire walls can be clad, or sinks and shower trays can match seamlessly. Dekton Slim offers a range of 4mm surfaces which have been designed specifically with this kind of wall cladding in mind and are quicker and more cost-effective for covering larger areas. Paired with an oversized shower head or freestanding bath, the result is highly effective.
In addition to style points, potential homeowners in the premium market ultimately expect quality fixtures and fittings from names they can recognise and rely on, providing peace of mind and easy maintenance that reflects their busy lifestyles. Longevity of products continues to be key – developers and designers are looking for surfacing products that will withstand years of use, and want the peace of mind that comes with branded products that offers warranties and incredible customer support.