International kitchen trends revealed by expert

Mal Corboy, international kitchen designer and newly appointed brand ambassador for Hettich Australia, has revealed his interpretation of the latest trends from Eurocucina 2010.

"The latest designs from Europe range from classic kitchens to increasingly modern and bespoke kitchens," Corboy says.

"They’re characterised by variety of lines and materials, from plastic laminates to wood, metal, brick and lacquer some featuring soft curves through to sharp industrial cabinetry, it’s all about finding a look specifically to suit the individual and not be driven by fashion.

"Also apparent is the spectacular use of lighting and the creation of kitchen space that can be used as much for socialising as it can for cooking."

He says kitchens with lounge areas and day beds were strongly evident, as were tones of yellow and green through to bold pinks and oranges were carried throughout many of the clever designs.

"An interesting concept was the repeat of the cantilevered benchtops last seen in 2008, which have been modernised by use of more natural wood tones and the seamless integration of both work and living areas by cleverly hiding work spaces behind doors which open and then slot back into the cabinetry," Corboy says.

"Lots of lighting, particularly within cabinets with LED strips and dramatic colour changes brought about by clever lighting solutions really resonated with me as many of my designs depend heavily on the use of glass and lighting to highlight design features."

Corboy, who has used Hettich products for most of his career "because they’re reliable, and have always been innovative and work beautifully", also noted the quality of kitchen fittings and their adaptation to today’s high standard of living.

"On an international stage, we can be confident that the Australasian kitchen design and technology industry are at the cutting edge of European design."