What’s the most functional room in your house? For a great majority of us, the answer to this question would be our kitchen. Every element of this space serves a specific function, from the lighting and tiling to the assortment of appliances that you keep. But functionality alone doesn’t make for an effective kitchen. Interior designers agree that the best kitchen spaces use principles from select styles to naturally boost that space’s sense of cohesion and organisation. We’ve put together a few of the most effective styles that you can use when rethinking your kitchen design.
Modern European
Australians love to prepare for huge family dinners, and our homes are usually arranged around an expectation to host. That, in a nutshell, is why Euro appliances are becoming a natural addition to more modern Australian homes. These beautiful, monochromatic features may be effortlessly styled, and can act as accents in a myriad of other established interior design styles, from modern Scandinavian-inspired styles to urban industrialism and virtually everything in between, with the right eye!
Alongside this, these kitchen additions are incredibly easy to maintain, and their stainless steel bodies are rapidly replacing outdated porcelain features that are prone to cracking and discolouration over time. And in that material fact lies the greatest quality of Modern European design: these sleek styles will stand the test of time. What more could you want from your kitchen design?
Classic Victorian
Classic VictorianMany of the homes found in the inner suburbs of Melbourne and Sydney were built during the late nineteenth and early twentieth century in a style reminiscent of the Victorian era, but with some small ‘tropical’ twists like large, airy balconies to make them suitable for the temperate Australian climate. These homes, dubbed ‘federation homes’, are generally characterised by their high ceilings, narrow hallways, and decorative wainscoting and archways, both in their interior as well as their exterior. One major downside to these homes are their small and ill-equipped kitchen spaces, a quality which forces many homeowners to renovate their spaces and lose precious elements of that traditional Victorian facade.
On the surface, it seems as though classic Victorian-style homes and functional kitchens are mutually exclusive, but rest assured there are ways that you can make these kitchens work! For instance, tall walls just scream an opportunity to install stylish and functional high shelving, as well as a plethora of other nifty, space-saving tricks, like magic corner pull-out cupboards, and storing your pots and pans on charming, traditional pot racks rather than in cabinets. Fitting the walls of these kitchen spaces with some coloured or patterned tiles can also help highlight your home’s Victorian charm and aid in making your home’s layout feel naturally balanced and complete.
Contemporary Minimalism
Contemporary MinimalismSpeaking of space-saving, interior designers across the globe believe that minimalist kitchens are becoming the next big thing. But itself has experienced a mixed reception in the western interior design world, specifically becaminimalism use this groundbreaking style (and lifestyle) goes directly against our need for self-expression in our personal spaces. What we need to keep in mind is that adopting contemporary minimalist style principles in our home environments is actually an incredibly powerful form of self-expression, because every lone element is chosen with great purpose, with this purpose being unique to the designer themselves.
This is precisely what makes minimalist kitchens so special. Every decision you make, from selecting appliances to fine-tuning your colour palette and choosing your signature materials (i.e. unpolished wood, monochromatic stone, frosted glass), is imbued with your personal touch.
Not to mention that minimalist spaces also provide some stellar benefits when it comes to our personal health and wellbeing, as they promote mindfulness and boost our natural organisational skills.
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The designs we’ve explored here are just some of many potential styles you can use to maximise both the functionality and innate personality of your kitchen space. Be sure to think about exactly what elements you’d like to incorporate into your space during your own interior design planning!