Integral to the comfort of domesticity is not just its furnishing, but also its functionality and finesse. The contemporary design trend includes a smooth integration or partitioning of living spaces. When it comes to the kitchen, it is not always so obvious how it can be part and parcel of the living room, for instance. And yet, the kitchen is not just about seasoned cooking, casual eating, or microwaveable service, it is also a convivial space, and an encounter with the finer pleasures of life. It is indeed a matter of polish and poise. Our selection of innovative technologies and designs seamlessly integrate all the stuff that makes a kitchen into a sophisticated unit, replete with discreet storage units and high-tech equipment, no frills attached. Taking up a sizeable share of domestic expenditure doesn’t mean the purchase itself has to be unwieldy.
Bespoke offers a glimpse of these state-of-the-art kitchen designs, which may be following a minimalist aesthetic, but the emphasis on modernist practicality does not supplant a vision of sheer style and synergy. Clear lines and clean finishing of wood and stainless steel make for a refined cooking or socialising experience. Here, form is accentuated and bareness is enhanced with luminosity. The distinctive lighting systems and malleable layout patterns offer an openness to all that is “outside” the kitchen. With attention to elegance, precision, and the lightness of high-end materials, the kitchen becomes another centrepiece of the modern home.
Poggenpohl +Artesio
The new +Artesio kitchen by Poggenpohl was designed in collaboration with renowned German-Iranian architect Hadi Teherani. The architectural approach of this modern, minimalist kitchen speaks volumes about the original approach to its design. “The furnishing of a kitchen is not just about fitting it with furniture and equipment. It’s about creating structures that can be lived in,” explained Teherani. “In much the same way as a house opens and closes to the outside world, so too the kitchen communicates with its environment, bringing the room to life.” Slightly over cooking it perhaps, but the +Artesio does successfully break the barriers between the kitchen and the dining room.
Key feature
A functional arch integrating all essential elements for lighting, ventilation and sound.
Our favourite touch
All drawers and pullouts, which are made from sturdy yet light aluminium, light up automatically thanks to energy-efficient LED’s.
www.poggenpohl.com
Aprile by Boffi
Founded in 1934 by Pierro Boffi, the Italian firm maintains a solid reputation as the world’s foremost trendsetter in the field of kitchen and bathroom designs. In the case of its new Aprile, Boffi employed the services of Italian designer Piero Lissoni to create a high-end product that emphasises the value of using natural materials. The Aprile kitchen system uses treated wood finishes, stainless steel, and stone for its worktops and peninsular eating areas. It even has a unique lighting system designed specifically for the worktops. The kitchen as a whole appears to be very elegant and clean, which is just what you want in an area dedicated to food preparation.
Key feature
Clear expansive surfaces and a maximising of space through innovative hidden storage
Our favourite touch
We love how the Norman Foster designed cooktops are so perfectly flush with the countertops. That’s some precision work.
www.boffi.com
SieMatic Beaux Arts.02
Created by Chicago-based Mick De Giulio, who developed SieMatic’s original BeauxArts collection in 2006, this lighter and more linear concept introduces new elements and proportions while incorporating modern touches into a classically themed kitchen. That means you get traditional wooden cabinetry united with contemporary polished nickel handles, flanked by stainless steel and glass doors fronting ebonised walnut cabinets. Stainless steel is used effectively throughout; we particularly liked the handsome drawers and mirrored toe-kick that gives the impression the base cabinet is somehow floating without any grounding.
Key feature
A kitchen with a transitional style, it mixes modernity with traditional themes
Our favourite touch
The 5cm-thick stone countertop’s very attractive elliptical edge has both tactile and visual appeal.
www.siematic.com
Bulthaup B3
The B3 is a new sculptural and minimalist kitchen from the renowned German manufacturer, Bulthaup. We particularly liked the precise, high-quality finish and the lack of joints between rear panels, side panels and worktops, which gives a particularly purist appearance. The independent sections, comprising the island, tall wall, and sink wall, lend themselves to various layout solutions, and the rich material palate can be easily incorporated into many contemporary settings. The B3 is not just a kitchen, it also integrates sitting and socialising and as such Bulthaup created some very attractive floating benches and tables that fit perfectly into the B3 design aesthetic.
Key feature
A minimalistic and extremely lightweight monoblock kitchen solution
Our favourite touch
The wood used is in fact solid wood made with minimal thickness, and executed with a layer principle, which ensures stability for the edges and creates an interesting effect.
www.bulthaup.com
