Kitchens and bathrooms get more than their fair share of attention. Reports back from Milan’s biennial Euro Cucina, International Kitchen Furniture Exhibition and Salone Internazionale del Bagno, International Bathroom Exhibition focused on trends at these globally influential shows.
Movable spaces with stone benchtops sliding over metal as if they were floating to reveal work surfaces beneath. Storage spaces initially concealed and then revealed where you would not expect them. Islands fitted out with pull-out drawers or shelves, or fixed units, as needed. Open and closed shelving for maximum flexibility. Kitchen and living areas merging, with storage spaces that can be used in both types of rooms as part of the exploitation of space throughout the house.
Bedrooms open up into bathrooms and plants sprout everywhere. Small vegetable gardens grow in kitchens. Back to nature is key. Textured, woodgrain and stone finishes flourish and the lived-in appearance of ageing materials is welcome, in Europe anyway. Benchtops are appreciated anywhere, especially sleek and slim ones, with a contemporary line enhanced by the integrated hob burners and sink. Some had a strong cantilever acting as its own servery.
PRODUCTS:
Top: Dekton Aldem Flooring and Sensa countertop on trestles
Middle: Dekton Aldem countertop
Bottom: Dekton Blaze Xgloss countertop
Linear kitchens had geometrically shaped taps, integrated handles within the smooth panelling and tall cabinetry at the back.
The bathroom sector emphasised its greenness, optimising water and electricity consumption yet with high-tech audio and video concepts.
PRODUCTS: Dekton Gada on walls and floor
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An Australian gathering of interior designers and design journalists, brought together by Habitus magazine, was held at Cosentino Australia in Sydney, part of the global, Spanish, family-owned innovative surfaces company. Fittingly, it has recently brought out its new Dekton Xgloss polished, ultra-shining, ultra-compact surfaces, well suited to kitchens and bathrooms.
The five colours are;
- Halo, pure white with a clean dazzling crystal shine reflecting light and making spaces seem bigger;
- Splendor, soft restrained grey with a mirror-like finish giving it clarity and character;
- Blaze, dark grey with a metallic effect;
- Lumina, brown with warm, earthy undertones; and
- Spectra, intense, solid black.
Cosentino has also added six new colours to the Dekton range. Inspired by natural stone and industrial finishes. Blanc Concrete emulates the texture and surface of concrete and Trilium, that of metal oxides mixing volcanic colours, with grey and black and a lighter soft matte finish. Gada is inspired by limestone, Entzo by natural stone veined with grey and gold marbling, Valterra, by a reddish, cream and brown look reminiscent of wood patterns combining coarse and soft surfaces, and Aldem’s wood finish colour variety covers plain and chic.
Deborah Singerman runs her own writing, editing, proofing and project managing consultancy specialising in the urban built environment and community. @deborahsingerma; dsingcbeat@ozemail.com.au
