Cool curves. Clean and green. Sleek and sumptuous. Linear and luxurious. Designer kitchens and bathrooms are stepping it up in style

Words Carrol Baker

The hottest design trends this year are focused on splashes of colour, beautiful textures and sophisticated looks. They’re not just pushing the boundaries but rewriting the rule books with playful adaptations and clever materiality.

A kitchen needs to be practical and functional. It can also be beautiful. It’s where you can feed the hungry hordes after school, pull up a chair and have a cuppa with a friend, or host a gathering of epic proportions. Bathrooms are all about serviceability. Yours might be a busy multi-use family bathroom, a private couples space, a room with a touch of luxe or a wellness sanctuary to unwind. Functionality and beauty can co-exist in style, offering dynamic spaces you’ll love.

Hooked on Handles

One fabulous new way to create a unique look in your kitchen or bathroom is through handles. Designer Kate Lawrence says sometimes it can be the seemingly little things that can have the biggest impact. “You can have a lot of fun and experiment with handles in the kitchen or bathroom to give it a little extra flair,” she says. Whether they’re arched, bar, cupped, nobs, pulls or more, there’s a huge variety of handle styles.

Get Playful with Powder Rooms

Statement powder rooms are gaining traction in the design industry. Kate says it’s one space you really can have fun with. Try bold wallpaper to add a splash of contemporary cool, or a more subdued botanical print. “It’s a small space so easy to change down the track if you need to,” notes Kate. “It keeps things upbeat and fun for families and friends coming to your home.” Among Kate’s favourite looks is micro cement. “I love it; you can trowel it different ways so it adds texture, and it’s customisable with different colours,” she says.

Create playful spaces with wallpaper. Image Prue Ruscoe. brookeaitkendesign.com.au

The Light Source

Beautiful lighting that once graced the entry foyer has now made its way into the bathroom. Lighting can help you to create a stylish oasis at home. Designer Brooke Aitken says it’s a new concept that is adding a frisson of glamour to bathrooms.

Brooke points out that in the past, you were limited with what lighting you could use. “Lighting wasn’t IP rated for wet areas, but with LEDs the world is your oyster, and not an oyster sconce either,” she laughs. “Your lighting can now be almost like jewellery pieces on the wall; it can serve as a focal point.”

But of course, practicality still reigns supreme. Task lighting is also important. One new look in bathrooms is lighting in a mirror cupboard. “Always put a light in the mirror cupboard that shines out; when you open half you can still see yourself in the mirror, it’s very practical,” she recommends.

The Ultimate Family Kitchen

The girls at Three Birds Renovations say they’re loving the rise of freestanding island benches in place of built-in cabinetry. “We’ve just used one in our latest kitchen renovation. They add flexibility and character, channel that vintage farmhouse charm, and can easily adapt as your family’s needs evolve.”

The girls add that there’s been a shift away from all-white cabinetry, with more kitchens embracing warm neutrals and deeper hues. “Textured layers of cream, beige/greige, deep greens, blues and even browns are not only beautiful, they’re also super forgiving when it comes to fingerprints in a busy family kitchen,” Three Birds Renovations say. “That said, if you’re renovating a Hampton’s-style home, a fresh white kitchen will never go out of style.”

threebirdsrenovations.com

Look Up

In bathrooms, another surprising trend is rethinking the ceiling. Joey Phommaseng from Birdblack Design says ceilings are in for a treat. “Traditionally seen as just a flat, white surface, the bathroom ceiling is now being treated by designers as a fifth wall – an opportunity to add visual interest and cohesion. Whether through bold paint choices or creative tiling, the ceiling is becoming an extension of the room’s design,” he notes. It’s a shift away from ultra-safe design towards more personal, luxurious choices – people are designing for living, not just resale,” he adds.

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