There was a sense of renewed energy around the Fiera’s EuroCucina Halls, producing a live-wire vibe that was sorely lacking from the kitchen furniture exhibition’s previous instalment in 2012.

The world’s leading kitchen brands created a buzz on-stand with fully-furnished kitchen and living settings, giving guests a first-hand experience of the ethos and design vision behind each brand’s approach to ‘kitchen living’.

This year saw a real focus on storage solutions and the superior automation that allowed for a seamless, intuitive and enjoyable experience in the kitchen. Leicht, in particular, was a standout with its over-head storage with concertinaed doors which gracefully folded upward to reveal the storage concealed behind.

Leicht Classic-FS Kitchen

Cesar too, dominated, with numerous kitchen storage options, some concealed, some exposed to create visual points of interest in the kitchen space. Cesar also presented a new partnership with Neolith (available in Australia through CDK Stone), a cutting-edge surface material that can be used across almost any kitchen surface (benchtops and doors, not to mention outdoor applications as well).

Cloe Kitchen by Cesar

While a majority of kitchen brands sported benchtops which featured refined finishing and detailing, others played with a layering of surface finishes and surface heights to create variation and support multiple activities around the kitchen bench.

Team 7 stood out for its creative and innovative use of timber, which drew on Team 7’s long history of working with wood, and also featured a very creative re-use of timber offcuts, repurposed as tiling.

Vao Kitchen by Team 7

Cosentino was present on a number of stands throughout the Eurocucina halls, its revolutionary new Dekton ultra-compact surface impressing many with its extreme strength and durability, complemented by its ability to be produced in incredibly thin thicknesses of 8mm.

Dekton Kadum Worktop

Seamless stone benchtops featuring recessed sinks were among the best examples of a minimalist design approach. MK Cucine’s stand was particularly memorable, its recessed sinks carved out in unique and arresting shapes.

045 by MK Cucine

Steininger too, integrating sinks and even serrated drying areas into its benchtop surfaces which were made from stone, concrete and other materials.

Steininger concrete bench tops

Stay tuned for more of Eurocucina with the Technology of the Kitchen showcase, featuring leading appliances and white goods brands from around the world.

For more indesignlive coverage of the 2014 Milan design fair visit: indesignlive.com/category/articles/in-review/milan-14