Autumn Kitchen Features

Have you ever heard the saying that the kitchen is the heart of the home? It’s true, especially now it’s autumn and winter isn’t too far away! It means we will spend less time outdoors and more time inside our homes, enjoying creature comforts.

Nowadays, many home designs have the kitchen front and centre, making it the main gathering place for family and friends. It’s where we prepare and share meals, have conversations, and create memories that last a lifetime.

While shiny finishes and top-of-the-range appliances can make your kitchen look good, the exceptional design and unique features truly make a beautiful and functional kitchen. That’s why we’ve put together some fantastic kitchen design tips and information to help you create the striking and well-appointed kitchen you’ve always dreamed of.

Unique design + materiality 

At Arden Homes, our kitchens are thoughtfully designed and crafted to be functional and beautiful. And with our range of high-quality inclusions, you can create a kitchen that reflects your signature style.

We recommend selecting high-performing surfaces, fixtures and fittings when considering kitchen materiality. Choosing aesthetically pleasing and durable materials in high-use areas, such as benchtops, splashbacks, kitchen islands, and flooring, will ensure your kitchen remains in tip-top condition long after your move-in day. (A bonus is that you won’t need to worry about kitchen spills or that family member who tends to be messy!).

Benchtops

Benchtops traditionally play a significant role in determining the kitchen’s colour palette and overall design theme as it is the ‘hero’ of the room. Caesarstone provides an authentic and unique profile for benchtops, and variations in colours, tonality, and veining make it easy to layer depth of colour for a luxurious finish.

Splashbacks

Kitchen splashbacks present the perfect opportunity to make a design statement when selecting textured or bold colours and materials. Tiles have grown in popularity over the past few years, as they are hard-wearing and available in various colours and glaze finishes. Tiles can enhance a design through geometric patterns or subtle colour and dimension variation. Alternatively, Caesarstone can be used as a kitchen splashback to seamlessly continue the benchtop material for a neutral minimalist aesthetic or as a stand-alone feature.

Kitchen Flooring 

When choosing kitchen flooring, our talented team of interior designers recommend considering the visual flow of the space, your style preference and your lifestyle needs. Here is a list of materials and their qualities:

Ceramic and porcelain tiles: Ceramic and porcelain tiles are a classic choice for kitchen flooring. They are highly durable, water-resistant, and easy to clean. They come in various shapes, sizes, and colours and can be used to create intricate designs or simple patterns.

Timber laminate flooring:  Timber laminate is a popular choice for those who want the warm look and feel of hardwood but with the added bonus of additional durability. Timber laminate is ideal for families with young children or pets as it is scratch resistant, hard-wearing and easy to clean.

Fittings and Fixtures

Kitchen fittings and fixtures are the hardware and accessories used in the kitchen, such as cabinets, sinks, tapware, handles, lighting, and appliances. As with any design area, kitchen fittings and fixtures are subject to trends that change over time. Here are some of the current kitchen trends we are seeing at the moment:

Minimalism / Modern Industrial: This style emphasises function over form with uncluttered, clean lines that draw the eye. This means that kitchen fittings and fixtures are simpler, with fewer decorative elements and a focus on smooth surfaces. 

Natural elements: Wood, stone, and metallic finishes are all popular choices for cabinets, countertops, and splashbacks when channelling natural elements in the kitchen. When it comes to designing your new kitchen, look for materials that are not only practical and sturdy but also timeless. That’s where Polytec comes in – Polytec provides an array of products in decorative surfaces that can help you create a highly original and bespoke kitchen design. Polytec cabinetry is available in ash, oak, walnut and teak timber colour finishes so you can effortlessly mix and match different kitchen design elements.

Bold colours: In 2023, interior trends are starting to reflect mixed materials and a sense of playfulness with brightly coloured cabinets, splashbacks and tiling showcased. Shades of blue, green, coral and soft-blush pinks are particularly popular.

Of course, these are just a few trends we are seeing in kitchen fittings and fixtures right now. Our Design Lab interior designers will be able to assist and guide you through your entire colour selection appointment to make sure you are 100% in love with your brand-new kitchen.