Kitchen Design Think Tank

The kitchen has evolved into a shape shifting, functional art installation and this conceptual showroom sculpture by Silestone proves that fluidity of form can captivate the human imagination! The domestic application of this fantastic design may need a little tweaking though! The Mogul approves!

Confidence can be displayed in many ways and here we see a kitchen demand attention by nonchalantly commanding the space around it!! It is as though this kitchen has marched into the room, slammed the door and demanded that all the blue M&M’s be removed from the bowl! This kitchen is a transformer; a shape shifting reflection of functional art where form disguises function and the manipulation of shape, colour and texture is used to define a way of life!!  You don’t own a kitchen like this unless you have some serious style confidence. The defining feature is the launch pad table complete with solid rocket boosters hovering overhead!  This is a bold cross over statement and showcases how the modern kitchen can be everything to everyone, not only delivering on its primary functional requirement but also providing the modern family with a place to live, work and play! Kitchen design has exploded out of its architectural incarceration and become a ser...

This design teeters on a counterweighted equilibrium causing the viewer to question if this is kitchen or art!   Functional performance is enhanced through levitation with storage being restricted to an ergonomically efficient hot zone.   Variance of height and depth are used to provide aesthetic interest and contrasting colours and patterns provide an avenue for artistic flair. A text book example of contemporary kitchen design by Valcucine!   Love it!

Kitchen design is a play with shapes; a medium for delivering functionality while satisfying artistic curiosity.   This design has defied its architectural incarcerator, delivering a standalone design presence amid restrictive surroundings.   By manipulating only one of the 3 dimensional planes this design stands out from the crowd.   In this instance variable height is used to create interest and increase functional performance. The island is elevated allowing the floor to become un-masked; the removal of low level cabinetry also allows items to be stored within an ergonomically efficient hot zone. The elevated, table area allows this design to morph between states of use providing the user with the flexibility of casual dining and the aesthetic interest of a transforming shelf.   Consider how the feature looks when the table is retracted and not in use!   The cantilevered shelf hovers, causing shadows to manipulate the white surfaces and the ...

Kitchen design is a functional art form with the ability to influence the surrounding architecture in a way that can encourage harmony and balance.   Dramatic material choices can help to categorise functional art but it can also alienate the human desire for comfort and practicality. This design is certainly impressive, boasting a futuristic influence upon its regressive and minimal architectural surroundings.   The kitchen is allowed to sprawl out beyond its natural position with an additional line of cabinetry creating a sheltered harbour of functionality for the kitchen.   The free hanging and cantilevered cabinetry also helps to deliver a bold and interesting visual experience. But is it possible that this design has overstepped the mark, becoming art first and kitchen second.   Kitchen design is about creating an aesthetical and artistic impression but it is also about satisfying our pre-programmed desire to be subconsciously soothed within our private livin...

The kitchen pales into insignificance awaiting functional resuscitation within a sanitised architectural space. We see the kitchens functionality diluted and absorbed into the architecture with only the island presenting influence upon the space. Both kitchen and architecture are submitting to the imposing influence of nature.   Possibly a little human animation required here?!

The Mogul has long argued that the modern kitchen can now be defined by its island, with the taller more cumbersome elements being absorbed by the surrounding architecture or being cloaked behind transforming cabinetry.   The kitchen is in-fact an island with some modified architectural cabinetry in support. So it is interesting to see how this design and an increasing number of others are detaching the island from the floor, creating a floating centrepiece which is only tethered to the architecture by the services required for function. This design accepts that there must be unity between kitchen and architecture but it also expresses an understanding that there must be a connection with the other pieces of furniture sharing an open plan space.   The T-shaped island unit is like a functional docking station, able and willing to accept elements that can temporarily enhance the functional experience without permanently polluting the aesthetic influence of the kit...

You can expect to see more and more of this in 2011, but to be honest it may take until 2012 before this type of thing really takes off!   This kitchen design by Grattarola shows how the human imagination can manipulate the eye, to trick the brain into following the most obvious visible contours of a design, leaving the actual functional elements of the kitchen disguised...or at least less obvious! 3D kitchen art is moving from the realms of concept to the mainstream arena.   And its about time too, as for too long the simplicity of making flat kitchen doors has created an economic reason for churning them out.    This concept creates some real interest for the viewer, light and shadow just drip from every raised element, inviting you to look and investigate the design further.   This idea works brilliantly in a room that gets lots of natural light and it would also be a lighting designers dream.     This idea is so simple and yet so effectiv...