The pandemic meant greater visibility of kitchens due to Zoom calls, and since Covid the outbreak there’s been a return to the age of the dinner party with homeowners looking to spend social time with friends and family.  Dave Mayer of Reginox looks at how these factors are affecting kitchen design.

An industry survey stated that three-quarters of consumers are planning home improvements over the next 12 months, and we are already seeing a considerable demand for products across retail and housebuilder sectors, which is an encouraging sign.

Further research revealed that there was already a 24 per cent year on year increase in kitchen renovations in the last 12 months, so this is clearly an area of growth that’s set to continue. When looking at the key drivers for people renovating or simply updating their kitchen, it’s no surprise that many people cited the potential increase in the value of their property being the main factor for completing the work. According to the research, a new kitchen can increase the value of a property by anything between £6K-£10K.

Unsurprisingly, other key factors in changing the kitchen include improving functionality and eliminating inconvenience and upgrading to meet the family’s needs and personal lifestyle. These certainly reflect the concept of kitchens becoming multifunctional spaces now and people wanting to style it to accommodate the new demands placed on the centre of the home – the kitchen. 

SO WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR THE KITCHEN INDUSTRY?

Kitchens have always been considered as the heart of the home and the focus point of every house, but in the new climate the kitchen has come under the increasing spotlight as people welcomed their colleagues into their home, and parents they welcomed children’s classmates and teachers via the likes of Zoom and MS Teams video calls. So, with this unexpected ‘extended invite’ into people’s homes – attention quickly turned to transforming the space and making it look its best. 

INVESTMENT PIECE

Investing in a kitchen not only adds value to your house when considering selling it, but will no doubt increase the value of the room to your everyday life due to the amount of time you will spend appreciating and benefiting from the modifications completed. When considering changes within a kitchen – people need a clear plan of what they are wanting to achieve as this will dictate some key purchases for example the ‘white goods,’ and fixtures and fittings including the sinks and taps. One of the biggest pressures is on space – so space-saving kitchen essentials are likely to be welcomed. 

In terms of design, sinks are mirroring the overall trend for minimalism in the kitchen. Slab-sided sinks with clean modern lines, softened by gentle curves, are continuing to grow in popularity, in line with the trend for linear kitchens featuring curved end units. The emphasis is on simple but striking designs that are easy on the eye. 

Inset sinks remain the most popular as they are easy to fit and can be installed into any worksurface material. Integrated sinks are equally easy to fit and can provide a sleeker, more streamlined appearance than inset models (Undermounted or flush mounted sinks look the best when installed but can only be fitted into solid surface materials, such as timber or granite).

MAKE A STATEMENT

Taps are the most used appliance in any kitchen, so why not turn them into a ‘feature’? Brass is hugely popular at the moment due to the ‘industrial’ look being in vogue, matched with other kitchen design elements including door handles, cupboard door knobs and even sinks. 

THE COVID EFFECT

One of the main impacts of Covid-19 has been the ‘awareness of touch’ – spreading germs – and the need to keep surfaces clean. Surfaces cluttered with accessories and equipment is simply an invitation for visitors to touch them, pick them up and potentially spread germs. By removing as much as possible from workspaces – it removes the chance of germs being passed around – and enables the more thorough cleaning of surfaces to take place.

One example of tackling this is the introduction of a ‘4-in-1’ tap which removes the need for a kettle and water filter jug straight away!

Similarly, another area that has seen significant change in is the material choice for kitchen equipment and accessories. Choice of materials in terms of kitchen appliances is becoming increasingly important due to their cleaning qualities.

THE FUTURE

Kitchens are going to continue being used as versatile spaces, with people opting to use their kitchen as combined dining, school, work and relaxation space. However, there is a real sense that the kitchen will reclaim its position as the heart of entertainment with family and friends, the theme for kitchens is certainly stylish and functional.

Bold colours will make a comeback; there’s already increased demand for striking blues and greys. By inserting a pop of colour, the crisp white look that so many have opted for can be broken up to show some of the owners’ personality.

The demand for minimalism and space saving both visually and functionally is certainly continuing. Minimal furniture and household appliances are favoured, such as the ‘4-in-1’ tap. 

Dave Mayer is commercial director at Reginox