Systems are important, so are efficient easy to use appliances. At the same time designers are taking a fresh look at kitchen functionality in an effort to get the best of both worlds, smart appliance integration and great looks.
With the shift towards open plan living, consumers are demanding their kitchen appliances and fittings not only act smart but double as feature pieces reflecting the overall design of the household.
Katherine Watson, designer, Poliform Australia, says that there is a trend for people to treat the various elements of the kitchen as pieces of furniture, opening up demand for chunky bench tops in stainless steel or stone.
"With appliances there is a tendency to go more integrated, concealing the fridges and dishwashers behind the cabinet doors," she says.
Colin Kippax, principal designer at A La Carte Design – importers of Poggenpohl Kitchens – concurs that design of the kitchen is becoming increasingly important as a reflection of its new role as an entertainment area.
The company is currently seeing increased demand for large island benches made of quality durable materials, which serve as a centrepiece of the room. Large, simple cupboards fitted with an interior system for ease of access and organisation are also in vogue he says.
Rudolf Niemoeller, product manager of domestic appliances at Miele, thinks that consumers are looking for products that offer a combination of functional design, simple and self-explanatory controls and low maintenance.
Cafe culture and lifestyle aspirations is having a profound influence on the expectations that contemporary Australians have of their kitchen and associated appliances, explains Richard Hoare, head of design at Breville.
As a result, consumers are demanding appliances that emulate the performance and the style of commercial grade appliances. "Also, they don't want to have to shut away after use so it's essential that they are designed as ‘stand alone' statement pieces for the kitchen bench top," he says.
