New Year, new kitchen

Whether you’re building a new home or breathing new life into an old kitchen this year, you want to get it right. Metricon design manager Ricky D’Alesio and senior interior designer Jacinta Evans share the kitchen design forecast and top trends for 2021 to help you create a kitchen that inspires you.

Cabinetry – It’s easy to understand why many people love all-white kitchen cabinetry – they’re light, bright and timeless. But darker colours and moodier tones are set to be big this year.

You can even use both – your wall and floor cabinetry don’t need to match. 2PAC and matte finishes are on the rise and play with texture such as shaker, V-groove and profile timbers or use reed glass to create interest.

If you want to achieve a harmonious look in your kitchen, integrate your dishwasher, rangehood, fridge and rubbish bin into the cabinetry.

Benchtops – An island bench can transform a kitchen from a place to prepare food to the focal point of an open plan living space. To up the wow factor, choose a stone-look finish benchtop and install pendant lights or track lighting above. The shape of island benches is changing too with L-shapes and curves making a comeback, and don’t be afraid to contrast the island bench from the rest of the kitchen in colours and textures.

Splashbacks – The days of unembellished kitchens are gone – it’s time to spice up your kitchen design in 2021 with a beautiful splashback. While functionality is still important, consider your splashback a blank canvas where you can unleash your originality and make a statement in your new kitchen. Glass and mirror splashbacks are out, while stone, terrazzo and window splashbacks are in. Tiled splashbacks are also still popular, including geometric patterns and subway tiles.

Sinks and Tapware – Undermount sinks and integrated stone sinks help create a seamless look in your kitchen, while oversized sinks are becoming more popular too. Industrial-style taps, knobs and handles are currently trending and for your finishes, choose gunmetal, brushed nickel, black or classic chrome.

Pantries and Storage – While you want your kitchen to be stylish and on show, there are some things that are better tucked away. That’s why having a butler’s pantry is the new norm. However, if you’re low on space, a pull-out pantry is a great option. Compartmentalise your drawers to keep your kitchen tools organised, and what we will see more of is making a feature out of appliances and crockery by putting them on display with open shelving.

Lighting – Spotlights can help create a feature space in your kitchen, while overhead and task lighting help save energy by only providing light where you need it. LED strips are also being used under cabinets to create extra ambience.