The very latest in kitchen design sees statement surfaces truly taking center stage, with a pioneering use of unexpected new materials and exciting, fresh updates on classic looks.
Uplifting traditional kitchen ideas with an innovative new style, striking texture, and stunning decoration, explore everything from islands crafted with a blend of rustic wood and sleek marble to cabinets finished with luxurious brass mesh, providing beautiful inspiration for a new kitchen design.
From flooring to backsplashes, cabinetry to kitchen countertops, the materials you choose for your kitchen surfaces will make a huge impact on the overall look and feel of your design.
So, with the help of a collection of interior designers and kitchen experts, let us show you the ten luxurious new materials and design ideas that are setting this year’s kitchen trends alight with sensational style.
UNITE PATINA WITH THE PLAIN FOR AN ELEGANT CONTRAST
Expressive materials with natural variance and texture are bound to bring a kitchen island to life, and you can take it one step further by pitching a striking unit against a backdrop of plain-painted kitchen cabinets.
Here, Roundhouse plays on the tension between busy and still finishes by pairing shiny aged brass with low-sheen paint. ‘The brass has a wonderful hand-applied aged patina that makes the island stand proud against the dark, moody cabinetry,’ says Roundhouse’s senior design consultant, Sam Hart.
EMBRACE A RUSTIC REIMAGINED LOOK
Rustic, sustainable timber is being taken in a new direction for modern kitchen ideas: less Boho farmhouse, more high-end chic.
In this Norfolk, UK, barn conversion, reclaimed sun-dried fir, and satin-treated steel form a sophisticated pairing of Italian cabinetry. ‘The combination of rough, natural wood textures with soft pink marble and sleek metal creates a smart visual link between old and new,’ says Andrew Hamilton Barr, managing director of Espresso Design.
We adore the sense of contrast that is created through the materials in this kitchen and how the design is a more modern take on rustic kitchen ideas.
Andrew Hamilton Barr is managing director at Espresso Design, an interior design consultancy specializing in contemporary furniture for kitchens, bedrooms, and living spaces. Andrew has been with the brand since 2007.
CHOOSE A STATEMENT BACKSPLASH
Kitchen backsplashes are shaking off their purely practical side to become one of the hardest-working decorative elements in the kitchen.
Interior designer Sophie Ashby has taken the approach to a spectacular height with this tall, ceiling-hugging design, featuring outsize book-matched Breccia Capraia marble and a bold slash of PVD metal in Brushed Anthracite, establishing a magnificent feature wall and focal point in the space.
SWAP GLASS FOR BRASS
Instead of using glass to break up expanses of cabinetry, why not incorporate a luxurious brass mesh into your design instead?
Here, woven brass by Rupert Bevan brings an extra layer of texture to this cabinet space and allows for you to see what’s inside subtly. Establishing a beautiful contrast with the surface of the dark wood, both materials work as one to add warmth and a rich sense of color to the space.
CHOOSE A MARVELOUS MARBLE
Each year, a fresh look for marble emerges that strengthens its appeal. ‘This striking Selene, with its large rock fragments in gray tones and hints of pink, gives classic marble a contemporary twist,’ says Louisa Morgan, creative director of Mandarin Stone.
Utterly timeless in style, you can never go wrong with marble ideas in the kitchen, and it is perfect for use on a backsplash or kitchen countertop ideas.
As Alex Beauregard, managing director at Lanserring, says, ‘we love the calming effect of natural stone splashbacks, such as marble. Knowing every slab is unique creates an emotional connection that helps your kitchen resonate with you.’
Creative director at UK-based, family-run tile brand Mandarin Stone, Louisa has been with the company since 2000 and has extensive knowledge of tiles and natural stone.
TRY NEW WAYS WITH PORCELAIN
Tech advances are bringing ever-thinner porcelain to the forefront, which now allows for this material even to be used on cabinet doors. One benefit is that the color and pattern run right to the edge for a more realistic and finished look.
The use of porcelain from Cullifords on the cabinetry in this kitchen establishes a smart and sleek design. It works wonderfully with the light wood and marble to enrich the space with beautiful natural texture and material.
USE TERRAZZO TO THE MAX
In this project, interior designer Victoria-Maria Geyer goes big on terrazzo, showcasing a design by Max Lamb. ‘I used mirror backsplashes to create a box effect so you can experience the large-format terrazzo on horizontal and vertical planes,’ she explains.
A beautiful example of how creative kitchen flooring ideas can be, the terrazzo introduces a sense of playfulness and movement into this small kitchen, with the terrazzo colors perfectly complementing the natural tones of the dark wood cabinetry, making for a cohesive and stylish design.
Victoria-Maria is a German-born interior architect and designer based in Brussels. Her design practice and eclectic and daring style have been extensively featured and praised by international publications.
CONSIDER YOUR EDGES
Often, it’s the subtler details that distinguish a perfectly nice kitchen from one that blows your mind, and statement edge profiles are really transforming plain worktops in stand-out contemporary kitchens.
In recent years, the angular shark nose has stolen the limelight, but 2023 is ushering in a more fluid, imperfect aesthetic. ‘We love a hand-chiseled edge for its organic texture and rawness, especially set against clean-cut lines of high-finished surfaces,’ says Joshua Tait, senior designer at Eggersmann Design. ‘This smart detail can change the pace of a space in just one move.’
