As any good designer knows, the modern kitchen is the hearth of the home. More than ever in our fast-paced lives, the kitchen is the place where families and friends gather to debrief about their lives. It needs be functional but it should also be a welcoming and well-thought out space, brimming with warmth and élan.

The Kitchen Conservatory

Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen a huge emphasis on using indoor greenery cleverly. Vertical gardens have been popping up in unexpected places, including bedrooms and bathrooms. 2017’s Pantone Colour of the Year, Kale, reflects the deep thirst in design for a verdant lushness in the midst of our urban lives. With its primal functions, this is the perfect place to introduce live plants, turning it into a conservatory-cum-kitchen.

Vertical Garden in the Kitchen. Image: West Elm

Vertical Garden in the Kitchen. Image: West Elm

Recycled Materials

Sustainability is a welcome buzz-word in design right now; it was the key theme of the 2017 Australian House & Garden International Seminar Series at Decor + Design this year. Design leaders from Sibella Court to Victoria Redshaw of UK Trend Forecasting agency Scarlet Opus spoke of the increasing trend in interior design for fabrics and materials to be up-cycled or recycled from discarded materials. For example, tiles made from recycled television sets featured at the Scarlet Opus trend hub, as did fabrics made from environmentally-friendly fish leather.

It’s something that the bigger brands are listening to, including kitchenware giants Temple & Webster. Their Ecology tabletop range is made in Australia with minimal impact to the environment. Its philosophy is to reduce the environmental impact of products and packaging.

Arya Flint Jug, Ecology Range

Arya Flint Jug, Ecology Range, Temple & Webster

 

Statement Table Linen

The discerning entertainer has always had a penchant for gorgeous linen. Australian handmade textiles are going to the next level, with designers such as Anna Spiro, Bonnie & Neil and Shilo Englebrecht having huge success overseas as well as at home. Shilo’s beautiful table napkins will create a kitchen table setting to remember.

Table Napkins - Shilo Englebrecht

Table Napkins – Shilo Englebrecht

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