Author: Liz Tilley
If there is one room house hunters want to inspect first in a potential property, it’s the kitchen. Arguably the most important room in the home, the kitchen is the central hub - a place where families are fuelled, stories are shared, and memories are made. Not only does the kitchen contain everything needed to prepare food, it also provides storage, seating, multi-purpose benches, and is the centre of communication and focus for the household.
A well-designed kitchen can also increase the value of your home with market history showing many examples where homes have sold for a higher price after undergoing a kitchen renovation. Key design features include opening up the kitchen, creating an open plan space, as well as integrating intelligent, premium appliances.
The last few years have changed how people view their homes, with lockdowns and working from home making us realise the value of space and the need for more functionality and flexibility. As a result, we're likely to see a bigger investment in kitchens – both indoors and outdoors. It's predicted there will be greater interest in creating shared zones within a broader kitchen, living and dining area, with an emphasis on making the kitchen a multi-use space. For example, island benches that can double as home schooling hubs or temporary workstations.
So, what will the kitchen look like in 2023? The monochromatic colour palette is starting to become more popular with dark appliances and dark matte finishes set to make an entrance. The Electrolux 609 Litre French Door Refrigerator is right on trend with its sleek, dark stainless-steel design and with a suite of matching appliances in this same finish that can be built around the fridge, this is the perfect choice for a stylish and cohesive feel in your kitchen. Materials such as copper, brass, and bronze, which are naturally germ resistant, have surged in popularity since the pandemic, as have smart home technology and voice activated devices that make life easier.
If you’re designing or updating your kitchen this year, there are a few must-haves you simply shouldn’t do without:
Premium, intelligent appliances
Smart appliances are having a moment. Whether it's a smart oven from Smeg, or Wi-Fi-connected appliances that add new features with constant updates like a built-in coffee machine from Miele, connecting your phone to your kitchen is finally worthwhile.
For example, the Samsung 810L Family Hub Smart fridge is the friend you never knew you needed. ‘Family Hub’ is like having a tablet screen built into your fridge door that also works as a memo board, and you can access it all from your phone. Plus, it has a built-in camera, so you don’t need to write out a grocery list to remember what you have in the fridge – just take a peek inside from your phone!
Integration of appliances is also key to tie in with the minimalism trend and conserve space. Integrated, flushed appliances that seamlessly blend into the background will be sought-after, such as integrated rangehoods on cooktops and of course, fridge/freezers and dishwashers. Fisher & Paykel were on to something when they introduced the DishDrawer 20 years ago.
The Fisher and Paykel 60cm Double Dishdrawer has two independent drawers, enabling two different wash cycles to run, simultaneously, meeting your unique needs and saving you time. Technology like this will only continue to be in demand, with more appliances set to be hidden in drawers and cabinets, which will become a more desirable selling point in a home.
When it comes to cooking, time-saving measures and efficiency have become paramount. Steam ovens are now very much in focus. Not only do they cook food quicker and more evenly, they prevent food from drying out, and maintain nutrients better than other methods.
Pyrolytic ovens, like Smeg’s Classic 60cm Pyrolytic Oven has also become popular thanks to their self-cleaning capabilities. When activated, the pyrolytic process applies high temperatures to the oven’s interior, turning food residue to ash, which is then easily wiped away.
Custom cabinetry
Handle-less kitchen cabinets are set to be a big trend in 2023 as the kitchen takes a more pared-back, streamlined look. The cooking space should be as invisible as possible, with door panels looking like decorative wall finishings and handle-free cupboards and drawers. There is a strong movement towards doors being hidden and the utilization of fingerprint sensors to minimise clunky buttons and handles, allowing integrated products to flow seamlessly with the rest of the kitchen.
A functional island
Kitchen layouts are set to become even more flexible, so the transition from kitchen to dining room to living area is effortless. Thus, requiring a renewed focus on making the island bench functional and fluid.
The use of curved edges rather than the classic rectangle will allow for more ease of movement and flow, with the potential for study nooks and pet-feeding stations to be integrated into islands to increase their multi-purpose usage.
A walk-in or butler’s pantry
Finally, a butler’s pantry is no longer a luxury, but a necessity in a modern kitchen. With an increased focus on keeping storage and cooking areas concealed, pantries are becoming larger and more accommodating. As well as a dishwasher, fridge, and sink, expect to see these grow to include built-in coffee machines, pet-feeding stations, wet/dry bars, and wine storage areas.
So, when it comes to what’s cooking, kitchens have never been more stylish or smart. The kitchen really can sell a home on its own, so it’s worth investing in the right design, finishes, and appliances, to ensure yours will stand the test of time.