9 New Directions for Kitchens From Eurocucina 2022
Held alongside Salone del Mobile, Eurocucina explored the kitchen's transformation into a multi-functional living space
Antonia Solari
23 June 2022
This year’s edition of Salone del Mobile (held in Milan, Italy, from 7 to 12 June) also made room for Eurocucina, the biennial event that focuses on kitchen trends. Now in its twenty-third year, Eurocucina welcomed 82 exhibitors, presenting flowing, hybrid kitchens that break down barriers to blend into the living room.
Now a multi-functional space and the heart of the home, the kitchen has become more important than ever for homeowners. It is also a testing ground for companies working towards sustainability, with increasingly high-performance, environmentally-friendly materials and energy-saving appliances.
In these versatile spaces, benchtops can turn into a home-office desk or a place to gather with friends and rediscover the joy of spending time together. Requests for outdoor kitchens have also increased, pairing a wider yearning for nature with an appetite for entertaining. There were also plenty of solutions for smaller apartments – such as units that fit an entire kitchen in 2.5 square metres – as well as stylish approaches to the traditionally functional space, with earthy tones trending.
Now a multi-functional space and the heart of the home, the kitchen has become more important than ever for homeowners. It is also a testing ground for companies working towards sustainability, with increasingly high-performance, environmentally-friendly materials and energy-saving appliances.
In these versatile spaces, benchtops can turn into a home-office desk or a place to gather with friends and rediscover the joy of spending time together. Requests for outdoor kitchens have also increased, pairing a wider yearning for nature with an appetite for entertaining. There were also plenty of solutions for smaller apartments – such as units that fit an entire kitchen in 2.5 square metres – as well as stylish approaches to the traditionally functional space, with earthy tones trending.
Jeometrica by Luca Nichetto for Scavolini. The product range also includes living room and bathroom elements.
1. Multi-functional and integrated with the living room
Whether for the sake of entertaining or because rooms now need to perform multiple functions – working from home, homework, meals – kitchens are opening up. Islands are becoming increasingly popular, especially when connected to the dining table.
Open shelving, integrated lighting and cabinetry that hides appliances and fixtures all help the kitchen blend in seamlessly with the living room to create hybrid spaces.
1. Multi-functional and integrated with the living room
Whether for the sake of entertaining or because rooms now need to perform multiple functions – working from home, homework, meals – kitchens are opening up. Islands are becoming increasingly popular, especially when connected to the dining table.
Open shelving, integrated lighting and cabinetry that hides appliances and fixtures all help the kitchen blend in seamlessly with the living room to create hybrid spaces.
Cinzia Cumini, co-founder of Studio García Cumini alongside Vicente García Jiménez – the studio collaborates with companies such as Agape, Foscarini, Zanotta and Poltrona Frau – as well as art director for Cesar, told us about the evolution of the kitchen and how the room is connecting to the rest of the house.
“Integrating different parts of the house means using products that are transversal, so we can separate spaces without creating barriers,” says Cumini. “We focus exclusively on the kitchen, but we are working to integrate the room with other elements like we did with The 50’s [kitchen] by Cesar [pictured], in which bookshelves are integrated with the kitchen to separate the working area and the living and dining areas, creating an environment that’s airy, inspired by transparency and communication, with windows that allow people to converse and see each other.”
“Integrating different parts of the house means using products that are transversal, so we can separate spaces without creating barriers,” says Cumini. “We focus exclusively on the kitchen, but we are working to integrate the room with other elements like we did with The 50’s [kitchen] by Cesar [pictured], in which bookshelves are integrated with the kitchen to separate the working area and the living and dining areas, creating an environment that’s airy, inspired by transparency and communication, with windows that allow people to converse and see each other.”
New finishes and setups for Ak_Project, designed by Franco Driusso for Arrital.
Find, follow and see the latest projects from Australian designers and renovators
Find, follow and see the latest projects from Australian designers and renovators
Intarsio by García Cumini for Cesar.
2. Hideaway kitchens
A different answer to the same need to integrate the kitchen with an open space without influencing its identity is elegant concealment.
Kitchens have gone invisible: pocket or folding doors can be opened when it’s time to use the stove, appliances or sink, and then closed again when the room is being used for relaxation.
2. Hideaway kitchens
A different answer to the same need to integrate the kitchen with an open space without influencing its identity is elegant concealment.
Kitchens have gone invisible: pocket or folding doors can be opened when it’s time to use the stove, appliances or sink, and then closed again when the room is being used for relaxation.
Cooking Surface Prime by ABK Stone hides an induction cooking system in its benchtops.
Of course, hiding appliances also means minimising their incursion into the space both visually and aurally. This year, several companies presented solutions for minimising noise produced by range hoods.
Of course, hiding appliances also means minimising their incursion into the space both visually and aurally. This year, several companies presented solutions for minimising noise produced by range hoods.
Falmec NRS (noise reduction system) range hood. The company says that an approach anchored in research into fluid dynamics reduces the noise of the range hood by up to 86 percent.
Àtria by Studio Delineo and Massimo Rosati for Abimis.
3. For the outdoors
A natural response to our growing desire to be outdoors and with friends, at Eurocucina we saw several outdoor solutions: kitchens for the deck, backyard or terrace.
3. For the outdoors
A natural response to our growing desire to be outdoors and with friends, at Eurocucina we saw several outdoor solutions: kitchens for the deck, backyard or terrace.
Cinzia Cumini describes the creative process behind Cesar’s Williamsburg kitchen (pictured): “We approached the outdoor world by creating an enormous countertop. We wanted to create a space for the kind of social interaction that arises in outdoor kitchens rather than in closed spaces. We wanted to design simple bases suitable for the outdoors, something that gives off the idea of joy, and of people coming together.”
Small Living Kitchens from Falper fit an entire kitchen into 2.5 square metres.
4. Mini kitchens
Apartments are getting smaller, while simultaneously performing ever more functions. The key words here are ‘compress’, ‘reduce’, and ‘shrink’. Moving in this direction are several offerings of mini kitchens that, though small, don’t skimp on style or attention to detail.
These include kitchens with an island that takes up only 2.5 square metres, as well as single-wall units no longer than three metres.
4. Mini kitchens
Apartments are getting smaller, while simultaneously performing ever more functions. The key words here are ‘compress’, ‘reduce’, and ‘shrink’. Moving in this direction are several offerings of mini kitchens that, though small, don’t skimp on style or attention to detail.
These include kitchens with an island that takes up only 2.5 square metres, as well as single-wall units no longer than three metres.
Tutto from Fabita integrates washing, cooking, refrigeration and storage functionality.
Versatile appliances make for mini kitchens that do it all: washing, cooking, refrigeration, and storage. An example is Tutto by Fabita, in which the dishwasher also has a program to wash fruit and vegetables, and the induction stove can be hung up until needed.
Versatile appliances make for mini kitchens that do it all: washing, cooking, refrigeration, and storage. An example is Tutto by Fabita, in which the dishwasher also has a program to wash fruit and vegetables, and the induction stove can be hung up until needed.
Zoe by Mario Prandina, Benedetta Di Matteo and Francesca Ippoliti for Plinio il Giovane. It is made by hand with organic materials and finishes.
Mammamia table by Adriano Design for Fabita, presented in 2021 and for the first time at Eurocucina. Mammamia integrates two induction plates right into the table.
Next125’s new Colour Concept range, which features 18 velvet-effect matt and satin shades.
5. Warm tones
From ochre to mustard, rust, or brown, the trend for earthy colors in increasingly warm tones is going strong.
Several exhibits also showcased two-tone versions: bases in one shade and wall units in another, bringing colour into the home without overdoing it.
5. Warm tones
From ochre to mustard, rust, or brown, the trend for earthy colors in increasingly warm tones is going strong.
Several exhibits also showcased two-tone versions: bases in one shade and wall units in another, bringing colour into the home without overdoing it.
Traccia by Febal Casa with ochre and silk grey doors.
Browse beautiful contemporary kitchens by Australian designers
Browse beautiful contemporary kitchens by Australian designers
Tangram by García Cumini for Cesar.
6. 3D finishes
Appealing to both the eye and the touch are 3D cabinets that combine colour, pattern and raised texture. Grooves, inlays, and canneté or ribbed finishes were all on display, on both bases and cabinets.
6. 3D finishes
Appealing to both the eye and the touch are 3D cabinets that combine colour, pattern and raised texture. Grooves, inlays, and canneté or ribbed finishes were all on display, on both bases and cabinets.
New ribbed wood finish from Snaidero.
These effects require a painstaking production process. “The new wood finish requires a highly complex process of milling and joining with aluminium panels to create a technical and dynamic effect,” says Snaidero in the company’s press release.
These effects require a painstaking production process. “The new wood finish requires a highly complex process of milling and joining with aluminium panels to create a technical and dynamic effect,” says Snaidero in the company’s press release.
Lounge from Veneta Cucine with doors in Military Green matt glass and Canneté Oak. A more modular version with new combinations was presented for the first time this year.
Cover HD, a new nano-resin finish from HDSurface.
7. A focus on materials
There are two main goals driving research in the field of kitchen materials: to offer increasingly durable benchtops and to use materials with a low environmental impact, involving recycled or recyclable components with a certified life cycle.
7. A focus on materials
There are two main goals driving research in the field of kitchen materials: to offer increasingly durable benchtops and to use materials with a low environmental impact, involving recycled or recyclable components with a certified life cycle.
Cyclades Blue is the new colour created for VittEr by Filippi 1971. It is a multi-layered composite made by applying high temperatures and pressure to a single raw material: paper from an FSC-certified supply chain.
Salvatore Filippi, CEO of Filippi 1971, explains: “VittEr was was designed to use primary and secondary byproducts … to produce new agglomerated panels”.
Health was an additional motivation for the project. VittEr is made without resin and emits no formaldehyde. It also has antibacterial and antiviral properties thanks to the infusion of silver ions during the production process.
Salvatore Filippi, CEO of Filippi 1971, explains: “VittEr was was designed to use primary and secondary byproducts … to produce new agglomerated panels”.
Health was an additional motivation for the project. VittEr is made without resin and emits no formaldehyde. It also has antibacterial and antiviral properties thanks to the infusion of silver ions during the production process.
Mathera by Diego Grandi for Saib. A thin layer of powders and quartz is applied to a panel made of wood at the end of its life cycle. It’s highly resistant to impact, scratches and other wear and tear.
Puro Marazzi Antibacterial likewise incorporates a silver-ion treatment into porcelain production to offer lasting antibacterial protection.
The Maris Fragranite sink from Franke won a Red Dot Award in 2022. Fragranite is a scratch-resistant granite-quartz mix. The surface is treated with the company’s Sanitized silver-ion treatment.
Smeg’s Galileo Omnichef ovens make it possible to combine traditional, steam and microwave cooking for faster and more effective preparation, which the company says leads to energy savings of up to 25 percent.
8. Sustainable appliances
Companies are also trying a variety of approaches to make kitchen appliances more environmentally friendly, from using sustainable materials in their manufacturing to developing technologies and leveraging smart systems to reduce energy use.
8. Sustainable appliances
Companies are also trying a variety of approaches to make kitchen appliances more environmentally friendly, from using sustainable materials in their manufacturing to developing technologies and leveraging smart systems to reduce energy use.
Smeg SIA1963DS Area induction hob with Eco-Logic Advance, which allows the user to moderate power consumption.
Likewise, stoves increasingly add the ability to regulate the amount of electricity they consume.
Likewise, stoves increasingly add the ability to regulate the amount of electricity they consume.
The body of the Electrolux MaxiSpace refrigerator is made of 50 percent recycled plastic.
Beko Side by Side Refrigerator with HarvestFresh, which helps preserve the vitamin and nutritional content of fruit and vegetables by reproducing the natural 24-hour solar cycle – alternating blue, green and red light and 12 hours of darkness – inside the fruit and vegetable drawer.
9. A new relationship with food
New refrigerators on the market also tackle another aspect of sustainability: reducing food waste by better preserving groceries and their nutrient content.
9. A new relationship with food
New refrigerators on the market also tackle another aspect of sustainability: reducing food waste by better preserving groceries and their nutrient content.
The Abimis cold control system features compartments that can be adjusted independently to different temperatures.
Your turn
Which of these nine trends have you noticed appearing on our shores? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Want more news from great global trade fairs? Get your next dose here with 10 Top Trends in Bathrooms From Salone del Mobile 2022
Your turn
Which of these nine trends have you noticed appearing on our shores? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Want more news from great global trade fairs? Get your next dose here with 10 Top Trends in Bathrooms From Salone del Mobile 2022
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Good work :)
I could be spending hours and hours on that show…. The Italian design is just so incredible beautiful and simple, yet warm and practical. Give me the modular dressing up Cesar system anytime and the the room divider between the kitchen and living area with the tapered legs and tapered connection to the ceiling is just incredible. Those little details make it seem to float. Drop dead gorgeous. Thanks for some beauty with my morning coffee!!!!
Yes l really like these colors for a kitchen. Wow