During a presentation at this year's InstallerSHOW, KBB experts discussed trends that are likely to impact kitchens of the future.
Kitchen design pioneer Jonny Gray and Owain Harrison, business and brand development director at luxury appliances manufacturer Novy, presented their future-proof kitchen solutions to attendees in the Installer Kitchen and Bathroom category at the show.
Gray started with the concept of “soft geometry” and the absence of sharp angles in the kitchen space. “Your actual location is pinpointed by your peripheral vision – not by your eyes looking forward, but by what's happening next to your eyes,” Gray says. “If you can avoid sharp angles, it doesn't trigger the fight-or-flight response mechanism, so you feel more relaxed as you walk around, and your body gets the feeling that there's more space than there actually is.”
This could also influence future kitchens due to the accessible aspect of the design concept, as Gray explained: “Soft geometric shapes are based on the principle of no sharp corners, especially in the centre of the room.
“When we talk about multigenerational design, the beautiful thing is that a person in a wheelchair doesn't move through a rectangle. And neither does a person who doesn't use a wheelchair, by the way.”
Harrison agreed that the concept returns the space to its original purpose, commenting: “It makes the process of using the space automatic, so you can focus on what you need to do in the kitchen, not on the sharp corners. I love that.”
Harrison shared his ideas for the kitchen of the future and commented on how trends are influencing appliances in the home: “We're seeing a return to cooking and the new trend is to use appliances for their intended purpose.”
“There's a clear shift away from ultra-processed foods as people start to think about what they put into their bodies and create the best outcomes for their families. It used to be that microwave meals were a must in the '70s and '80s but I think we're definitely moving away from that now.”
Harrison spoke about the danger of home appliances with fully automated functions confusing people: “Before, it was 'do it for me,' but with home appliances, this has become a blurred logic. Now, I think it's all about 'do it with me.' Designers are thinking about how to use space, and home appliance companies are thinking about how to make it easy for consumers to use their products. So instead of 'do it for me,' it's shifted to 'do it with me.'”
The discussion featured on this year's InstallerSHOW programme of events as part of the new Kitchen of the Future attraction, in partnership with BiKBBi, a series of talks and presentations delivering content curated specifically for kitchen installers.
