Kitchens merge with with living areas in Europe, too
Arrital-kitchen-Grass hardware-EuroCocina.jpg
Arrital kitchen with Grass hardware displayed at EuroCucina.

MILAN - Two trends dominated EuroCucina 2016, the kitchen-focused show adjacent to the Salone del Mobile in Milan, Italy. Like the U.S., kitchens and living areas are continue to merge, and they are also becoming more individualized, say designers.

The EuroCucina 2016 at the Salone del Mobile in Milan, Italy, drew to a close with a new visitor record: more than 370,000 were registered at the Salone del Mobile, which makes Milan the international hub of the furniture world every year. The trends for years to come are set at the exhibition, and in the various showrooms, as well as at special exhibitions in central Milan.

Grass hardware and movement system were reported to be widely used by manufacturers in furniture and cabinetry. Grass says its products were being used by almost 50 EuroCucina exhibitors.

Grass notes that for some time now kitchens and living areas have been merging together, a trend seen frequently at EuroCucina. It was demonstrated in the colors, materials and the way that kitchen furniture is integrated into its environment.

Dark, warm, earthy tones are combined with accessories in copper or gold were observed. Shelf elements were used to break up the rows of kitchen units. The cooking areas were either prominently displayed or discreetly concealed.

The German manufacturer Leicht Kuchen, for example, had a kitchen on display that was only recognizable as a kitchen when the doors were opened. Otherwise the Leicht exhibits stood out from those of other suppliers, whose stands mainly featured dark color schemes, and light and lively niches were the themes that hallmarked the design of the Leicht products. Inside the furniture, the Grass Nova Pro Scala Crystal comprehensive drawer system continued this approach.

Linear, geometric forms were the distinguishing features of Dada that used Grass Tiomos hinges and the cubist Vionaro drawer system. One highlight of the Dada show presentation was the Armani kitchen that combines solid materials such as marble and metal.

Stosa demonstrated how individual kitchens can be as the exhibits featured almost every kind of style, ranging from contemporary hipster kitchens with a rustic style to neoclassical models.

One system, flexible but easily customized, was a concept that Grass implemented with the Nova Pro Scala displayed at the Valcucine stand. The fronts and drawers of the models made by this Italian company can be replaced with minimum effort.

German manufacturer Hacker Kuchen exhibited a completely handle-free kitchen in which the Grass Sensomatic permits opening of regular and pot drawers with a gentle push.

Different surfaces and a combination of a wide range of materials are a way for customers to create the kitchen of their dreams and express their personalities, and they are also an expression of the new touch-and-feel trend.

The surfaces at the EuroCucina 2016 were not simply rough or smooth; they were finely structured, coarse or ribbed. This new sensuality was to be found, for example, in the material mix of the Italian kitchen furniture manufacturer Arrital.

The Tuscan wood specialist Toncelli provided another tactile sensation. A $425,000 kitchen was displayed that was made of fossilized wood that is 2,500 years old. Toncelli fully equips its kitchens, reportedly working "only with the best supplier." The luxury kitchen, which combines craftsmanship with art, features Vionaro with an aluminum profile.

ranks among the world’s leading specialists in movement systems. As development partner and systems supplier to the furniture industry, GRASS has been creating products which inspire its customers for more than 65 years. GRASS slide and drawer systems, hinge, flap and corner cabinet systems are brand-name products that move the furniture of prestigious brands.

For more information about Grass, see www.grassusa.com.

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Karl Forth

Karl D. Forth is online editor for CCI Media. He also writes news and feature stories in FDMC Magazine, in addition to newsletters and custom publishing projects. He is also involved in event organization, and compiles the annual FDM 300 list of industry leaders. He can be reached at [email protected].