KITCHEN TRENDS
What Customers Want
Jurgen Wolf
1. Interactive kitchen design: Today,
the kitchen is not merely seen as a hub of cooking and cleaning activities. It has gradually transited into becoming the focal point of families where besides cooking, small family meals are served, homework is done, and friends are entertained and so on. So, like in Europe, the kitchen is becoming the centre of home life and entertainment. Therefore, concepts like open and island kitchens with a small coffee table or dining set-up are gaining tremendous popularity worldwide and India is not far behind in hooking onto this concept.
2. Contemporary countertops: From the
initial and age-old preferences of marble and granite, homeowners are now looking at innovative materials like quartz surfaces for kitchen countertops. Unlike marble or granite, quartz is an engineered stone that can be rendered in many colours and textures while giving the same amount of tenacity and endurance of conventional stone. For instance, the Caesarstone Surface is composed of up to 93% quartz and is,therefore, designed to last.
3. Built-in Appliances are in vogue:
With increasing urbanisation and international trends sweeping the market, 40
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India’s consumer is slowly becoming receptive to innovative home interior ideas. This trend can be attributed to the increased number of international players operating in the market, offering international trends in home fittings and solutions, as well as to the fact that Indians are now increasingly travelling abroad on work and leisure trips and gaining exposure to global trends. As a result of this, many stigmas and stereotypes in home and kitchen fittings and materials are slowly giving way to contemporary trends which are sustainable, well-designed and high on functionality. Here are five key trends that sellers should recognise in order to be in tune with their customers’ needs: new age and modern appliances are gaining predominance. These appliances come with convenience in operation with highlevels of automation and precision. Another wave of novelty that has hit the market in the last five years is the built-in appliances concept; and like anything new, it’s catching the keen eye of the customer. However, the decision to buy builtin appliances is on a slow yet steady upscale. The main reason for this is that the integration of built-in appliances in an existing kitchen requires some amount of back-work (especially if the kitchen is not modular). On the other hand, in case of designing new kitchens, this process is easier. The installation of built-in appliances is largely dependent on the modularity of a kitchen; it follows the same designing principles of modular kitchens where the cabinet heights and depths are standard while the width can vary as per customer requirements. Most of the built-in appliances in the market are available in standard sizes as per the cabinet modules. Therefore, the growth of this segment is directly connected with the growth of the modular kitchen market. For instance,Hafele’sNagold range is designed to complement the modularity of the latest kitchens.
4. Dynamics in kitchen functionality:
I
innovation in kitchen
nnovations are proliferating in the kitchen, for space optimisation, energy efficiency, low VOC, reduced water usage/wastage, and what-have-you. Innovators have come up with products that not only make life easier but also healthier. They are leveraging consumer centric research, investing in R&D, and developing products that are innovative and durable as well as aesthetically superior. Here are some products that we found to be innovative or nearly so, which together go to help customers build a great kitchen. Kent ALPS Air Purifier
The Kent ALPS–HEPA air purifier removes dangerous particulates from air. HEPA filters have the efficiency to catch and trap indoor carcinogens particles like PM 2.5 particulates (removes up-to 99.99%), pollen, allergens, surface adhering mould, fine dust and clinging odours like cigarette smoke, foul smells or pet odour. This appliance comes with a higher
Smart RO Water Purifier
KentSuperb is a first of its kind water purifier which has been crafted from an amalgamation of digital technology and Kent’s patented mineral RO technology.This purifier is touch operated, with an in-built micro-controller which senses water quality on real time basis and displays it on the digital screen. It also displays the total dissolved salts (TDS) in the purified
While ergonomics in a kitchen is attributed to good designing, functionality on the other hand is a direct outcome of the fittings. Functionality is a growing trend in its own sphere – functionality is dynamic and there is no limit for innovation in ‘functionality’. Self-closing drawers, electrical opening systems for cabinets (where shutters or drawers open at the slightest nudge), lift-up systems for overhead cabinets, tall units for grocery and bulk storage, and corner solutions for maximum space utilisation are some trends that are gaining prominence in the spectrum of functionality.
5. A dash of ‘lighting’: Lighting in
kitchens serves a dual role – it can be decorative to enhance expensive crockery and glasses showcased in glass cabinets; and it can be effective (task lighting) to facilitate kitchen chores like cleaning, chopping and cooking. Decorative LED lighting in cabinets, display lights, LED strips are some ideal solutions to enhance the overall colour and design in the kitchen. Under-cabinet lighting, recessed lighting within drawers and overhead cabinets, are ideal for providing effective illuminance to execute every kitchen chore to optimum detail. n The author is managing director Hafele India Pvt Ltd.
CADR and higher capacity of 400 m3/hr which is ideal for an area of upto 430sft. It incorporates some smart features like Intelligent Air Quality Monitoring, filter replacement indicators, child lock, and low noise operations. It is listed at `21,990MRP. HEPA uses three different mechanisms - impact, interception and diffusion - to catch and trap carcinogen particles which are larger than 0.3 micron size and are commonly found in homes - dust mites, mould spores, pollen, pet dander,and tobacco smoke. These carcinogen particles have high shelf life and are highly injurious to health and can cause variety of health hazards including allergy, asthma and lung cancer. Website: www.kent.co.in
water as well as the filter life. It automatically warns users when the filter life is less than 60 hours. If the UV lamp malfunctions, or a filter gets chocked, or TDS levels in the water are not within the prescribed levels, the micro system senses and displays the status for user convenience. The troubleshooting system allows users to diagnose the problem, and even suggests common remedies for it. The smart system of this purifier even records and displays the service history of the appliance. The appliance is listed at `25,000. Website: www.kent.co.in
Top Shield Quartz Countertop
Johnson’sTop Shield is an anti-microbial counter top in quartz that comes pre-fabricated and is ready-to-install.This germSH March-April 2017
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innovation in kitchen
free countertop is manufactured with a special anti-microbial formula which makes it food-grade. It offers the aesthetics of natural granite but without the maintenance associated with
Its application provides that cool handle-less look to the kitchen and furniture. Besides, its use does away with the need for expensive gola profiles, and gives more flexibility in the choice of colours. The luxurious wood grain and high gloss finishes help create sophisticated designs thatsuit modern aesthetic requirements.Incline is edge-banded with special through-feed state-of-the-art edge banders without any joint. Estilo shutters are made of acrylic, and come with a seamless edge finish, and no glue line on the edges. Their new high-gloss acrylic sheet provides a superior appearance compared with laminate, paint or vinyl. It provides a deep high gloss colour without ripples, which makes it the preferred choice for designers and architects.Acrylic is considered technologically advanced and is manufactured using extrusion process.
n
The metal is predictable in size as it is machine processed and accurate,thus obviating the possibility of human error particularly where precise right angles are required. Different sizes of cabinetry can be chosen, to make installation easier and predictable with the avoidance of waste and littering of carpentry work. n The cabinetry pre-drilled holes are reusable with machine screws of standard dimension, and the module can accept hardware and front any number of times. Website: tuskerindia.in
is suitable for integration into their furniture. The lights can be used in several ways, are anti-glare and provide outstanding linear, homogenous lighting. Gera’s spotlights, which come in a square and round version, are characterised by homogenous, well-balanced
Slim Box from Spitze by Everyday
Slim Box from the house of Spitze by Everyday fits perfectly
Website: www.paracasa.in it. Top Shield has a host of other advantages over granite as well - it is as strong but requires no resealing, and is highly resistant to scratches and stains. It is a pre-fabricated drip-free countertop which hugely reduces the hassles of installation and labour cost, hence making it highly recommended for modular kitchens.
SS Modular Kitchen Cabinets
Bengaluru-based Prasara Innotech has filed a patent application for its innovative RTA cabinets. The cabinetsare made of 304-grade stainless steel and are applicable in base, sink, corner,
Website: www.hrjohnsonindia.com
Incline & Estilo Shutters
Paracassa Interio has introduced two innovative products for
wall and tall units. They conform to standard heights used by kitchen manufacturers and assemblers for the five work zones of a kitchen. The company has also applied for trademark for this product. The cabinets boast of advantages of SS over any natural or engineered wood. They are modular in the true sense, and come with prior-drilled hole pattern for assembly of functional hardware.Theyoutlive the hardware installed. the kitchen industry - Incline shutters for handle-less concept; and Estilo shutters in seamless finish with zero glue line on edges. Incline has a prominent groove down the top of the shutter that acts like a handle and looks sublime when fitted. 48
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Why SS cabinets n
304 grade stainless steel, being an alloy, is highly ecofriendly and a safe substitute; the material is recyclable. n SS 304 grade alloy is non-combustible and is the safest alternative to wood.
in any environment, be it kitchen, living room or office. The main USP of the product is its load carrying capacity, which is 65kg and it can be fixed in any carcass width. Slim Box is available in 90mm, 128mm and 175mm heights with 500mm depth. It comes in Matt White and Charcoal Grey, both in matt. Slim Box is a perfect mix of competitive rates at world class quality standards. The company offers warranty for manufacturing defects. This product has been tested for 100,000 cycles.
lighting. Furniture manufacturers can upgrade their products with these spotlight solutions as they are of the same high quality as other products. These spotlights can, for example, also be adapted to daylight situations through white adaptation, and therefore make it possible to light up a room with extremely homogenous yet anti-glare lighting throughout. Website: gera-leuchten.de
Prepstation Sink
Prepstation by SCHOCK, the innovative sink concept, has been crowned ‘Kitchen Innovation of the Year® 2017’. The award was based on the product’s innovation,
Website- www.spitzebyeveryday.com
CabinetLighting
Traditionally, lighting was positioned under wall units or extractor fans; it is now being moved elsewhere. Lighting now has to be flexible to accommodate the change between a living and a working atmosphere. Gera Leuchten’s new under-cabinet light is designed so that it can be positioned either directly below a cabinet or, wall-mounted in kitchens without wall units, which creates additional storage space. With these extremely lightweight and slim under-cabinet lights, the company is offering kitchen manufacturers a solution that
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