Every year I
look forward to the furniture show in Milan! Really great design ideas from
furniture, to lighting, to kitchens and this year it was special! Why? Because
I finally got to see some furniture & kitchen solutions for small spaces.
You see… all
furniture trade shows showcase exquisite pieces of furniture but many of them
could not even fit through the narrow corridors of many of the condo units built
in North America.
However, this
year I was impressed by the Kitchen show especially by one company who
introduced a really tiny & compact kitchen.
It was a show
stopper- could barely take pictures :) as it was always crowded around it.
What I like
about this kitchen called Ecocompatta from Veneta Cucine is not only that is compact but it's also sustainable and
good looking :)
It comes in
either white or black, but the idea will probably be soon incorporated in
different other finishes in some of the very small condos. The concept is that
in an open space, the kitchen can literally be hidden and can look more like a
piece of furniture rather than a utilitarian space.
Ecocompatta is
basically a kitchen module. The main body consists of a work plan with stove
and sink and above the dish rack, shelves and remote hood. The complete two
sliding doors are designed to house freezer, refrigerator, dishwasher, oven and
steam oven, sliding drawers and cabinets and a system for recycling waste.
The principle of
sustainability is also expressed through the use of antibacterial materials.
The supporting structure of the kitchen, formed by two elements wired inside to
allow the passage of cables, is made of antibacterial laminate, as well as the
bottoms of the drawers, the partition walls and the shelves.
The damper is
available in the manual and the motorized, operated with a special remote
control and once closed the kitchen can blend in your overall living/dining
space.
The frame which accommodates
the appliances, industrial patents of Venetian cuisine, allows the use of
models of appliances already on the market.
The hood, integrated in the central
part so as to not be visible, has a flow rate of 800 cubic meters / hour and is
operated by remote control.
Few other
kitchen manufacturers showcased interesting compact kitchens hidden by large
sliding doors. I noticed 2 major trends in the kitchen vignettes showcased in
Milan.
- one of
kitchens fully integrated- where
appliances and even countertops are hidden behind sliding and retractable doors
that basically make the kitchen look like a piece of furniture and so very easy
to be integrated within the overall look of your condo space.
Here's a nice
example of how kitchen becomes connected with the dining and/or living space
adjacent to it. This layout is very common in condo plans and the open space
becomes visually more of a living space yet with all functions of
kitchen/dining/living.
- 2nd trend is
the one represented by large and open kitchens where you see most of everything
you have in the kitchen from glasses, plates, herbs- it's almost like a living
kitchen.
I think this trend will also be embraced by some developments in the
design of larger condo spaces or for a house with a contemporary and lofty
look.
It is more of a messy look(as some would call it) but it sure has its
charm and the casual look gives more of an understated look very suitable for
families who want to prepare meals and enjoy the good food and the good wine
with friends around the kitchen island.
One other
feature that caught my eye is the cabinet doors finished to resemble a cement
or concrete look, continued also on the countertop and backsplash. 
A very
neutral and cohesive look that basically makes the kitchen visually disappear,
but then you can always add a bar counter in a vibrant finish and think of all
the small accessories- if they are all within the same color palette the
overall look could be pretty cool!!
So if you're renovating your old condo or a
new house you have recently purchased think of incorporating some of the latest
kitchen trends, I believe they are here to stay!
