Kitchen Design Think Tank

  Amongst the chaos there is order! And here we see a vibrant mix of functional art that inspires the onlooker to delve deeper into this design and realise the complex levels of thought that have inspired such a flagrant disregard for convention. Excitement can be conjured by the exotic, and this design by Gitta Gschwendtner for Schiffini floats the notion that functionality can become an artistic experiment.   To some this may just be a series of boxes but to others this could be seen as an attempt to deliver a functional revolution through artistic evolution. The Mogul approves!

In order for kitchen design to keep pace with the evolution of human existence we must consider new ideas and innovations.   By rejecting the surrounding architecture as the divine design influencer kitchen designers are free to explore diverse shapes and forms which allow the kitchen to perform its primary functional role but also encourages new interior design and social trends. This kitchen is a play with shapes, a simple combination of forms which helps to maximise functional performance while delivering aesthetic desire in a compressed form.   By Including a book shelf this free standing design even manages to consider how it can replace traditional living room furniture.   It’s reassuring to know that even though our living spaces and kitchens are becoming more compressed designers can still find room for the ever essential wine cooler!!   Cheers!!

Only light is allowed to influence the purity of this design.   The subtle contradiction between linear form and textured finish creates an interesting proposition for any architectural space.   The split level cantilever with unobtrusive supporting element gives the design an edgy feel and allowing this feature to penetrate through the surface material is a real master stroke! The Mogul likes this one!

A breathtaking fusion of kitchen and architecture which delivers a crescendo of visual stimulation whilst achieving quiet functional order!

This kitchen is like a functional thread, using its smooth curvature to stitch together polarised architectural styles.   The kitchen is being used like sophisticated design cartilage, preventing friction and using its irregular and undulating shape to soften the sharp distinction between architectural styles.       This approach works well using contemporary cabinetry as the minimal nature of the design allows the period features to shine though without fear of being up-staged.   Likewise the understated detailing flows seamlessly into any minimally styled room. Great job!!

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?!

Reflective surfaces cause unavoidable introspective contemplation.   With this design there should be no regrets! It is fabulous!

The kitchen is a time capsule, a piece of functional furniture which can become an emotional trigger for our senses, encouraging us to relive our childhood memories and reminisce about people and friends who are no longer with us. It seems appropriate therefore that the adeptly named 1956 kitchen presents a very nostalgic approach to kitchen design. The design embraces some very innocent looking features that could be perceived as being potentially un-commercial in the refined mainstream market.   This kitchen is certainly quirky, with a homemade look, but it is also very different, allowing itself to be openly influenced by nostalgia and embracing the simpler materials and textures of yester year. Are we now going to see the development of an economic and socially influenced trend where mainstream style becomes perceived as being vulgar and kitchen design becomes influenced by re-runs of “The good life”! But no matter how much this design looks over it...

The Mogul is unsure about this design!   From a positive standpoint you have to see this as a bold and deliberate attempt to make kitchen design progressive, more artistic and generally more interesting.   The abstract breakfast bar shape casts a futuristic shadow against the compact and relatively neutral kitchen.   This significant design feature displays integrated lighting; surface orbs of various sizes which add a quirky interest to the concept.   All of this is brilliant and should be highly commended but is it possible that this fantastic feature and its particular placement could become a functional obstruction to the cabinetry placed above and below.   The Mogul will let you decide if a balance between artistic expression and function has been achieved!