Exciting shades, wow wall coverings, tempting textures, marvellous metals and more are bringing beauty to the heart of the home in 2024
FEATURE Ellen Finch
SMALL- FORMAT TILES
Mosaic and other small-scale tiles are making a comeback – and they’re being used all over the kitchen for maximum impact. Bold is best when it comes to this look: take your lead from the Spanish architects behind this imaginative space and choose vibrant orange – mint green and cobalt blue also work well. Just don’t go for white grouting – you’ll thank us when it comes to cleaning. Kitchen designed by Estudio Gonzalo del Val and Toni Gelabert Arquitecte
BUTTER YELLOW
A few years back, the fashion world was dressing like a ‘stick of butter’ in shades of soft yellow and cream. Now it looks like the dairy-inspired phenomenon is heading our way – and, actually, we’re pretty into it. A light buttery yellow is the hue of choice for the more contemporaryminded – particularly in the kitchen, where it has just enough interest to stand out in a nice, sunny way. Bespoke English kitchen in Pale Vanilla (cabinetry) and Buttermilk (island), Martin Moore
MINI ISLANDS
A new wave of islands in miniature forms is making its way to kitchen design, performing the same function as a full-sized version – but in a package that’s perfectly suited to small spaces. Cesar’s Maxima 2.2 island takes up just over eight square metres and provides space for storage, cooking and washing. And with its jewel-like PVD vintage gold finish, it’s proof that these additions can pack a design punch, too. Maxima 2.2 mini island, Cesar
WET BARS
As handy as a coffee niche is, isn’t a wet bar just a bit more fun? It needn’t take up more than a small counter’s worth of space and it’s the perfect thing to fill an alcove if you happen to have one going spare. The way to design a home bar at the moment is all about understated glamour: patinated metal splashbacks, open shelving to show off your cherished glassware and, of course, an injection of dark, subtly veined marble. Cheers! Kitchen, Naked Kitchens
SEPARATED SPACES
The backlash against open-plan goes on, first with partition walls – see Tala Fustok for the perfect execution –and now with this concept: a kitchen contained in aglass-walled steel frame hovering above the parquet floor of the dining space. Perhaps not so applicable to your average family home, sure – but a sign that we’re returning to the kitchen as a room of its own. Design by Crosby Studios
SCULPTURAL STONE ISLANDS
Dramatic dark and veined stones continue to be a popular look for kitchens, but designers are taking the trend a step further by carving islands out of blocks (or rather sheets) of the stuff. Instead of the waterfall effect
