In the past, little thought was given to the design and decor of the kitchen or bathroom – they were simply clean and practical. Thankfully, those days are long gone and, although still functional, the style and aesthetics of these spaces are now of utmost importance.
The kitchen is the heart of the home. Indeed, no matter how lovely the living room, or how beautiful the view, you’re sure to find friends and family hovering in the kitchen.
Although it must be beautiful, the greatest factor that comes into play when designing a kitchen remains functionality.
“Clean, uncluttered surfaces, matched with large amounts of integrated storage space are the starting point for most kitchen designers,” explains Carlo di Pietro from Crestwood Kitchens.
In terms of decor, the latest trend is the use of bolder colour in kitchen design – neutral cabinets with bright accessories or conversely, bright units with chrome and glass elements to balance the colour.
Maryam Vanker, a kitchen specialist from Pilon Kitchens in Pietermaritzburg, says they have seen a move towards more modern, streamlined and super-high gloss finishes.
“The use of uniquely designed, vibrant coloured glass splashbacks in the kitchen is one of the latest kitchen crazes,” explains Vanker.
A further significant trend is a move away from granite countertops towards quartz surfaces.
“Quartz has a greater impact in the kitchen – it is bolder, more versatile and reiterates the clean square features of the kitchen,” says Vanker.
Something to keep in mind, says Les Bowden, kitchen guru and chairman of the Kitchen Specialist Association (KSA), is that the cost to renovate your kitchen can be substantial and to avoid being taken for a ride, it is recommended that you use a registered KSA member to ensure professionalism and accountability.
One of the season’s most popular trends for kitchens and bathrooms is a specialised screed flooring.
Michael Linley-Thomas, owner of CustomGround, says: “These floors offer exceptional strength, look stunning, and are also ‘green’, using no solvents.
“It provides improved hygiene and water-resistance benefits, there are 30 different trendy colour options, as well as different textured finishes available, providing improved flooring alternatives for internal and external environments.”
The finish is both beautiful and convenient.
In fact, no longer are bathrooms considered boring.
It has become a place of refuge, a haven where you can rest your tired body, relax and gather strength for the new day.
The interior design gurus agree that bathrooms should be simple and uncluttered, and that colour should be introduced in towels, floor mats or blinds.
The trend is to stay away from patterned tiles and floor-to-ceiling tiling, and rather bring more paint into the room.
Bathrooms can be accentuated using mirrors and pictures.
There has been a big move towards incorporating luxury and spa baths for you to fully enjoy your sanctuary.
Not only are these baths beautiful to look at, and often a main feature of the room, they have been designed to offer ultimate comfort and thus ensure total relaxation and recuperation.
Arief Moosa of Classic Trading says rimless, freestanding and built-in baths are in.
Look for modern taps and tiles and ensure that they suit your taste, he says. - The Mercury