From materials to functionality.
International kitchen show, LivingKitchen, will return to Cologne, Germany in January 2019 with Blanco, Bora, Haier, ILVE, Sharp and Sirius all in the mix of exhibitors.
LivingKitchen director, Bernd Sanden said, “At LivingKitchen we show the whole product world of kitchens. That’s why it will be so exciting for visitors: the Cologne kitchen event combines business and trend research, the addressing of new target groups and the discovery of new developments in the kitchen. And that on a high international level.”
At LivingKitchen, all components of the kitchen will be on display from worktops and sinks to extraction systems and ovens.
When it comes to worktop surfaces and patterns, popular current trends include imitations of natural materials, for example with authentic-effect wood pattern, and the concrete look. In addition, a number of suppliers add anti-bacterial materials to their surfaces. Kitchen worktops made of solid wood from sustainable sources are also very popular.
Functionality is the priority at the kitchen sink: water at the press of a button or with an arm movement – it’s vital that users can wash, rinse or fill the pan with water easily and automatically with just one hand.
Tap manufacturers at LivingKitchen have come up with a number of innovative solutions for custom-designed kitchens: taps with LED-illuminated water stream (Gessi), tiltable taps in front of windows (Blanco), taps with pull-out hose and with the option of drawing boiling-hot water (Quooker). With new surface finishes, more and more colour is now being injected into tap design (Nivito, Carlo Nobili), and several tap manufacturers now offer a colourful mix-and-match of taps and accessories (Caressi).
Kitchen sinks are available in a range of materials from stainless steel and granite to cast mineral and ceramic that can be flush-mounted in the worktop to form a holistic look with the kitchen cabinets. The trend for customisation is also gaining ground in this area.
A quantum leap has been made recently in the field of extraction systems. Not only do extractor fans now look more stylish and are increasingly becoming part of the architecture (Berbel), they are also being cleverly integrated into existing kitchen elements (Bora). Smart-home technology is also increasingly being introduced in the kitchen (Elica).