SLEEK CABINETS AND EXOTIC ISLANDS MELD BEAUTY AND FUNCTION
Got lacquer? If you have contemporary, Euro-styled cabinets you probably do.
Glossy, sports car-look finishes are a hallmark of European kitchen lines by makers such as Pedini, SieMatic and Bulthaup. The decadently thick lacquer finishes can be solid colors, such as black, white, red or robin’s egg blue. But they can also be applied over exotic wood veneers such as zebra.
Eurocucina is the most prestigious kitchen trade show in the world, held every other year in Milan. Geri Higgins, owner of Portfolio Kitchen & Home, attended this year’s show in April. Higgins says organically shaped islands were prominent at the show. “The dishwasher and the cooktop were all floating in this island with exotic wood below,” Higgins says.
Integrated wall systems for the kitchen were also a big story at Eurocucina. “That’s a very strong trend that’s coming to the U.S.,” Higgins says. The systems feature huge sliding door units that conceal appliances, storage and work areas.
“They close up so you have this sleek backdrop to what’s in front of it, which is usually a beautiful island,” Higgins says. “The kitchen transforms itself from a highly functional space and integrates itself into the living area.”
Sue Shinneman, co-owner of the recently opened Kitchen Studio: Kansas City, says European kitchen lines such as SieMatic, from Germany, are beginning to win fans here. “
SieMatic is sleek, with lots of great interior storage areas and beautiful laminate fronts,” Shinneman says. The shiny, easy-to-wipe surfaces are even winning over fans of traditional design. And some lines blend traditional styling with modern function. One piece on the showroom floor at Kitchen Studio looks like a red lacquered Chinese wedding cabinet, but it houses a Sub-Zero fridge and freezer.
Bilevel designs, with a higher level for cooking and a lower level for dining, or even lower for sitting at a TV or laptop, are another big design trend, Higgins says. As far as equipment, in-a-row burners look chic and are practical: No reaching over one hot pot to stir another.
Finally, range hoods are becoming ornamental to the point of looking like sculptures, Higgins says. Some are big squares that look architectural, while others are free-flowing.
RESOURCES
Kitchen Studio: Kansas City, 520 Avenida Caesar E. Chavez
Portfolio Kitchen & Home, 8027 State Line
Going with the flow: The Integra series, by Pedini, features curved island and peninsula cabinetry for the ultimate flexibility in a free-flowing space. It satisfies the cooking and social prerequisites for a modern lifestyle. Available through Portfolio Kitchen & Home
Style with substance: Mark and Debbie Haas wanted a sleek, contemporary design for their Country Club Plaza condo kitchen. Portfolio director of design David Zebley utilized the Pedini Quadra series cabinetry to give them the look and functionality they desired. The aluminum-edged doors and drawer fronts give the cabinetry a stylish accent with added durability.
On a curve: This multifunctional island — the Artika series by Pedini — features a high-gloss finish. The operative area of the kitchen is concentrated in a small, curved arrangement, creating a cozy environment for cooking and entertaining. Available through Portfolio Kitchen & Home
- Cindy Hoedel, The Kansas City Star