What will the kitchen of the future look like? Malcolm Owens, CEO of Sampford IXL, shares some insights with Alice Blackwood as he reflects on EuroCucina at the 2012 Milan Furniture Fair.
May 10th, 2012
What were the stand-outs for you at EuroCucina at this year’s Milan Fair?
The stand out was the BSH brands which took centre stage with one very large stand divided into 4 separate brand entities – Gaggenau, Neff, Bosch and Siemens.
Each with its own theme, Gaggenau was the stand out with the theme of ’raw materials’ and how they are honed into masterpieces.
The Gaggenau Vario cooking range was a standout and the stand was constantly busy and there was a level of excitement and wow factor not equalled with other brands.
Most brands offered something new and interesting, which generates excitement around the category.
The full product concept has been addressed by the key brands and reflected in their new product offerings: conservation, preparation, cooking and cleaning.
What sort of direction is the kitchen of the future taking, judging from what you saw at Eurocucina?
The kitchen of the future combines simplicity of design, minimalist in style with efficient and highly functional appliances that combine form and function.
Materials continue to focus on the natural use of stone bench tops, clean working surfaces and stainless steel.
Lighting, both in appliances and the kitchen is softer with a trend to a clean, white light.
Appliance displays have moved to a clean white from the oranges, reds and greens of previous years.
Induction cooking was a trend that stood out from most brands, along with some very nice extraction (range hood) solutions where style, noise reduction and ease of cleaning were a key focus.
Designs of range hoods certainly have progressed from the purely functional to an aesthetically pleasing component of the kitchen décor.
What were the trends in terms of materials, colour palettes and gadgets?
Interestingly, there was a polarisation of approaches across the brands.
Some, as I have mentioned above, focus on simplicity, clean lines, muted colours with focus on stainless steel, steel greys and muted hues; in many ways a calm palette drawn from beach and forest where the emphasis on natural materials and finishes was a dominant theme.
At the other extreme we saw some manufacturers again playing with colours; particularly in ovens and range hoods with bright reds, blues and greens.
Design was a key trend that has progressed well over recent years. Brand design and image as well as functional performance and features are key to a successful brand today.
It’s important that the brands stick to their brand principles and are authentic and sustainable.
I saw a strong focus on quality that offers the user something of real value rather than focusing on cheaper products that result in brand and market erosion that sends entire categories into profitless oblivion as we have seen in the AV market recently.
It was evident that there had been significant investment in research and development, design and production techniques which is an excellent sign for our industry.
This show was less about gadgets and more about product efficiency and the environmental impact of appliances. Most brands had a ’green’ message covering energy usage, efficiency, use of natural materials, carbon footprints and recyclability.
This was the stand out message from this year’s show.
In terms of Sampford IXL’s offering, what can we look forward to seeing in Australia soon?
In the next 12 months Gaggenau will be launching a new 400 series cooktop range as launched in Milan. Neff will be offering a wider range of FlexInduction cooktops and an entire new oven range in 2013.
Sampford IXL
sampfordixl.com.au
A searchable and comprehensive guide for specifying leading products and their suppliers
Keep up to date with the latest and greatest from our industry BFF's!
Channelling the enchanting ambience of the Caffè Greco in Rome, Budapest’s historic Gerbeaud, and Grossi Florentino in Melbourne, Ross Didier’s new collection evokes the designer’s affinity for café experience, while delivering refined seating for contemporary hospitality interiors.
In the pursuit of an uplifting synergy between the inner world and the surrounding environment, internationally acclaimed Interior Architect and Designer Lorena Gaxiola transform the vibration of the auspicious number ‘8’ into mesmerising artistry alongside the Feltex design team, brought to you by GH Commercial.
Sub-Zero and Wolf’s prestigious Kitchen Design Contest (KDC) has celebrated the very best in kitchen innovation and aesthetics for three decades now. Recognising premier kitchen design professionals from around the globe, the KDC facilitates innovation, style and functionality that pushes boundaries.
Rosana Orlandi Space – Jaime Hayon’s Crystal Candy Set for french crystal company Bacarrat. Combining crystal and porcelain with the tradition of the company.
pyd. will be holding their first designer markets on Sunday 26 October 2008. The markets will be a part of the Danks Street Festival, produced by the City of Sydney. Bounded by Phillip, Young and Danks Streets (hence the name) pyd. are an interior design and decor company. The Danks Street Festival is expected to […]
De Poortere Fine Carpets and Rugs celebrate the launch of 2tec2 ST Seamless Woven Vinyl Tiles with canapes and French champagne:
De Poortere Fine Carpets and Rugs’ 2TEC2 Seamless Tiles are durable and desirable and provide a ground-breaking woven vinyl floor covering that deftly merges quality and design with innovation and performance. One of the most unique features of the high-tech flooring is its ability to be fitted mono-directionally rather than quarter-turned as was the requirement for previous 2TEC2 tiles.
See for yourself –
Tuesday 9 March
6.30 – 8.30pm
To request an invitation or find out more about the range email mail@depoortere.com.au by Wed 3 March
The internet never sleeps! Here's the stuff you might have missed
We spoke with George Fleck, Vice President and Global Brand Leader of W Hotels, about the intermingling of hotel and hospitality design trends.
Continuing our new series on the design enthusiasts who work in all sorts of different roles across the industry, we speak to Rogerseller’s Claire Drummond.