Photography: Dave Wheeler / Styling: Lisa Burden
Kitchen design trends come and go for a reason. Sometimes, we simply grow bored of a certain look or aesthetic, or we realise that the design trend we were so obsessed with doesn’t suit our lifestyle as well as we once thought. Of course, trying out trends is the only way to really find out whether we like them, but some adequate foresight can also save you time, money and stress in the long run and can result in a kitchen design as timeless as this one, which you’ll love for years to come.
If you’re about to embark on a kitchen renovation, here are five kitchen design trends that we’re not entirely convinced of (yet).
1. Servery windows
The past few years have seen a rise in the popularity of servery windows and while these cafe-inspired openings do look sweet, their overall practicality is still in question. Their main purpose is to facilitate an indoor-outdoor connection, helping the person in the kitchen pass food to and socialise with the people outside. However, for this to work, you really have to have great weather and a lack of insects — two things that rarely happen at the same time.
That said, if you’re a regular entertainer and have young kids always needing a snack while they’re playing outside, then maybe they are the perfect design feature for you. This was the case for interior designer Melinda Hartwright, who incorporated this sweet servery window in her grand Southern Highlands home for her young family of five. Finished with a trio of bar stools and a custom bi-fold window, it now offers the perfect link between the family’s indoor and outdoor areas.
2. Butler’s pantries
Whether you use them to store your bulky appliances, prep food or hide your dishes, butler’s pantries have become a popular way to keep our kitchen mess of the sight. While it sounds good in theory, people have started to question the purpose of your actual kitchen if the butler’s pantry is where you ‘do all the dirty work’. Does your kitchen just become a showpiece?
While some people might find the butler’s pantry life changing, others just end up with another room to clean. There’s also the consideration of the additional space that a butler’s pantry can take up, which could be used for extra pantry or cupboard storage, and of course the extra money that goes into creating a second, smaller kitchen.
If you do have the floor space, funds and appetite to include a butler’s pantry, take cues from this smart design by Studio Belle, which helped keep a lid on costs. Instead of repeating the stone used on the main kitchen splashback, budget-friendly zellige-look porcelain tiles grace the splashback in the butler’s pantry. And for a classic yet cost-effective finish, two-pack cabinetry replaces the Polytec ‘Woodmatt’ joinery in the main kitchen.
3. Pot fillers
Pot fillers are another kitchen design feature that sometimes look better than they function. While having the ability to fill up a large pot on your stovetop (without having to lug it over from the sink) is convenient, pot fillers do come with a number of inconveniences as well. Unfortunately, some pot fillers are prone to leaks, which can then damage your range and, without frequent use, they also tend to rust easily. Plus, you still need to carry the pot back to the sink to empty the water.
If you entertain frequently and enjoy cooking up a storm, you may be able to justify including a pot filler. For interior designer Lloyd Hodgkinson, who regularly hosts friends in his Queenslander home, a pot filler proved a handy addition in his maximalist kitchen renovation. In fact, he tells us the striking green space is now one of the most functional rooms in his home.
4. Instant hot-water taps
Taps that offer instant hot, chilled and sparkling water are another kitchen design feature that leaves people divided. While they might be convenient for regular tea drinkers, they can be expensive, noisy and don’t always last the distance. They also require a large amount of storage under your sink, which just simply isn’t worth it for a lot of people.
Still determined to include one? Take inspiration from interior designer Danielle Bonello-Dunsford of Danielle Victoria Design Studio, who made great use of the notoriously tricky corner cupboard space by positioning a hot-water tap nearby in this sleek, stylish kitchen.
5. Cabinets up to the ceiling
Kitchen cabinets that reach the ceiling have become more popular in recent years for their ability to provide more storage and lose the dust-collecting top. The only problem with these tall cabinets is how high they really are, with the top shelf barely accessible for anyone who isn’t six-foot tall. If you’re happy to keep a step ladder in your kitchen, or you’re a particularly tall household, then they might still be worth it.
For kitchens that aren’t blessed with a big footprint, however, tall kitchen cabinets can offer valuable extra storage, which is the case with this timeless cooking space. When you can’t extend out, extending up is a smart move — just make sure you store infrequently used items, such as seasonal platters, on the highest shelves and think of factoring a cute ladder into your kitchen design.
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