Kitchen trends through the lens of the crisis
The economic crisis is not an obstacle to comfort. Despite another regression, people still strive to make life more beautiful. The correct placement of items, the choice of materials and components will allow you to meet new trends and at the same time save a lot. And since there are no trifles, you should start with the layout of the perimeter. This means that classic U and L-shaped furniture arrangements must be avoided. Such schemes will require corner cabinets with sliding sections "carousel" and, therefore, expensive fittings. Turn to a linear position or adopt an idea with a bar counter. With well-thought-out ergonomics, the functionality of the space will not suffer at all.
Cost and material are directly proportional. Laminate is cheaper than solid, acrylic and varnished surfaces. A kitchen with matte melamine facades is exactly half the price of MDF furniture with glossy varnish applied, and the aesthetic result is identical. With an eye on Europe, it can be argued that low-cost laminate is the leader in consumer demand for a single season.
A custom-made headset will optimally adjust the space, resolve the color dilemma, take into account ergonomic moments and allow interesting combinations of textures. The upper sections with acrylic trim and the bottom of the laminate significantly reduce the cost of equipment. The actual combination is MDF with facades covered with film or paint and panels made of chipboard with a malamine lining inside. And if you replace the sliding system with a swing system, as a result you can get nice bonuses: exclusive and saving. The scheme is typical for all manufacturers of the middle category and is constantly developing in this direction. The most budget option is to apply PVC film to modules and versions with a film chipboard. Please note: varnished wood board is several times more expensive than the previous version. Unlike plastic or varnished surfaces, such a group will not bring much damage to the wallet.
Available options with a base from MDF are inexpensive and practical. Beautiful grooves or figured relief are covered with matte or glossy layers, and their number determines the cost. Varnished smooth surfaces with a mirror effect are more in demand than ever. Each well-known company today produces 1-2 collections with varnished and painted facades.
What else is worth saving
Alertness to budget materials is not justified. The production of premium models and previously announced takes place in accordance with common technical standards and provides for many years of operation. Over time, the idea of changing practical furniture will only be based on the desire to have a fashionable design. By the way, manufacturers often claim that furniture facades are wooden or solid wood. In fact, this is not entirely true. If you are willing to pay for particleboard with veneer lining - this is your right. Finishing from cherry, beech and other breeds - $ 1000 per linear meter. If you multiply the value by the parameters of the kit, you have to think about the appropriateness of the purchase, although in this version the modules look expensive and prestigious.
- Blind doors without fragmentary glass and stained glass inserts, ignoring aluminum frames will pleasantly affect the budget. Enough multi-colored panels, the presence of open shelves to decorate the perimeter and indicate individuality.
- Ignore hinged, sliding and any other non-standard doors. Unlike the classic solution, technical creativity is damage to the wallet.
- One large cabinet is more advantageous than two small ones. It makes sense to look at the option with a solid body and large sections. In this version, cabinets are made of chipboard and MDF, have technological cladding or are decorated with veneer.
- The frame system will cost more, although it attracts with creative design. It is permissible to insert a plastic panel into a wooden structure, and bright melamine into a metal one. The scheme can be repeated the opposite or make another combination.
Replace the stone countertop with imitation. According to certain characteristics, it exceeds the quality of the analogue and is several times cheaper. As for decorative features, a high structural expressiveness is noted. Versions of tables made of tiled materials are practical and affordable, perfectly fit with any group. The only condition is the constant provision of tightness to the ends. Entered water quickly deforms the surface.
High-quality fittings are a guarantee of long service life of modules and it is not necessary to save on shock absorbers, hinges and other details. Skewed doors and drawers pulling tight should not spoil the mood in the morning. With a large assortment of stores, it is easy to buy a standard set of good quality. Organizers for boxes - a functional tool for everyday life. They are priceless in terms of streamlining small things and organizing everyday life, but the earbuds, bottles and a number of similar auxiliary accessories are also pretty decent. But if you refuse prestigious materials like chrome steel and wood, plastic analogues will do the storage task no worse.
Classic design or black creative?
The latest trends are dominated by eclecticism. This applies to materials and the range of external cladding. Finishing simple facades with veneer and enamel, painted surfaces are actual pieces of the season. The growing interest in non-standard solutions is simply explained - in this segment all valid configurations have been in operation for a long time and nothing new has been invented yet. In addition, with such a presentation, it is possible to simultaneously satisfy the requests of all family members in stylistic and textural preferences.
Classic wardrobes from an array are always relevant. Despite the fact that distributors of leading companies are reducing offers on the assortment, thanks to the imagination of designers, interesting options await us. The prospect of the year is patched film facades at an adequate cost.
White color and its delicate shades are a retrospective and the future of minimalist designs. Along with gray and its nuances over the past decade, the achromatic scheme has been actively exploited in furniture displays. Now the attitude to the universal palette has noticeably changed, and dark panels are actively being introduced into the territory of the kitchen. Black-and-white surfaces add dynamic charm to the contrast and create a different format, despite the versatility of the configuration.
By the end of 2014, the time of metal began. In the coming season, the warm colors of gold, bronze and red copper will be replaced by the cold of silver and chrome. Plumbing with gilding, brilliant edging profiles, lamps sparkling with red copper and silver, utensils and tableware in a choral sound create an unbanal composition.
The style in which glass, metal and technology prevail is one of the most sought after last year and is not going to take the leadership position. In the cold "space" there is no place for unnecessary things, wooden facades. Following the principle of constructivism, the gloss of cases and the shape of gadgets are responsible for the decorative component. But not everything is so simple. Reflections of surfaces will now be colored due to the use of bright textured inserts. In this case, the main role is given to the layout of the space, which determines the general perception of the room. And if you like the plot outside the window, instead of the windowsill, attach the desktop panel. The television can be placed on the cabinet door or above the table. In short - an emphasis on creativity and technology.
Overview of current trends
Cubism from art smoothly migrated to the subject environment. The shape of the cabinets, which emphasizes the accuracy of geometric lines, was presented at the exhibition at the end of last year in Milan.
The principle of minimalism has touched even the classics. The restraint and laconicism of panels, the lack of accompanying attributes in the design are considered in time format. Although, in principle, the attitude to the range of colors and accents is democratic. Polychrome and neutrality, laconicism and textural variety in decoration are equally relevant. With the capabilities of 3D relief panels, the kitchen should be considered from the perspective of an art object.
The pursuit of eco-design is another fashion trend that is progressing every year. The successful combination of natural foundations and modern materials impresses with the novelty of the solution.
The development of the furniture industry and the desire for spaciousness merged in a single impulse, and the world saw beautiful sections uniting the living room and kitchen. As a result of the synthesized ideas and their successful materialization, it is possible to come to a smooth integration of functional zones.
Futuristic ideas are needed for comparison. Oval and unusual configurations of the modules are identified with the space future and in support of the corresponding design, open up new perspectives in the world of creativity and high technology.
Summary. In general, preference is given to inexpensive stones like limestone, sandstone and imitations of noble textures. Furniture with raw veneer, thin countertops are also in favor. A special place is occupied by bar structures with supports presented in possible materials.
Mezzanines and pantries in the kitchen area are tiled to become objects and become part of the headset. Niches, open shelves and cabinets are also relevant. Attention to furniture is justified by the desire for compositional unity. Handles, along with a multi-colored profile, transformed into a decorative object and became accent.