Home remodelling trends come and go, but when considering the most trafficked interiors in the modern home it’s vital to know what’s on trend in terms of resale value. Kitchen cabinets might not have changed as much as other elements within the contemporary kitchen, such as countertops, but a few dominant indicators took shape in 2015 and should remain through 2016 and into 2017.

Personalisation is key. Homeowners are selecting kitchen cabinet styles, colours, textures and functions that fit their particular needs and aesthetic desires. Overall, in 2016, there’s no universal cabinet design solution in evidence, but clean lines and subtle design elements remain. To ensure design flexibility in the long term, cabinet door styles have become simpler and, as modern preferences continue to evolve, this direction makes ideal sense for those considering an upgrade to kitchen cabinets. It’s a formula that’s able to offset the ‘decorative tension’ between rustic, modern and transitional kitchens.

Along with the clean line theme, white kitchen cabinets still remain popular but greys, beiges – and other neutral tones – are seen, plus refined natural colours like stone / earth and cement shades that work well with a variety of design elements. Such tones not only provide a sense of warmth, but add design freedom for stronger colours used elsewhere. They provide a seamless neutral look throughout the balance of the interior; particularly in smaller properties where the kitchen may integrate with the living area.

Ideally, every aspect of the modern home should aim to casually blend function and design, especially within this most used core area. Yet, one factor should never be sacrificed for the other.

Ramón Casadó – Design Director / co-owner, bulthaup South Africa comments of the future: ‘The bulthaup b3 system (b3 Milan 2016) revolves around the basic concept that the requirements needed in the space change as they evolve throughout the day, or for the occasion. The system makes it possible to create very different room effects using the interplay of material and light. Different levels can be selected to vary depth and horizontal positions so that users can either design a working environment or a comfortable living ambiance.

‘The new wall, made of panes in various high-end materials (such as Japanese coated paper), provides the basis, which – together with illuminated functional profiles – create an atmospheric living ambiance. The worktop extending from the wall is freestanding and is therefore, for the first time, independent of any substructure. It eliminates the rigidity of predefined structures, allowing the entire architectural space to be altered; walls can even create new rooms and spaces e.g. for storage or appliances.

For the full article see Habitat #255 September / October 2016