A COOK'S delight

Modern kitchens are wowing designers with their organic curves, state-of-the-art appliances, butler’s pantries and more. We take a look at what’s hot right now

- CARROL BAKER

INSPIRED BY NATURE

An organic kitchen is, by virtue of design, one that sits harmoniously in a space, is earthy and contains naturebased influences. Organic shapes are not precise or perfect and therein lies their uniqueness and natural beauty.

Raw earthy materials such as warm timber benchtops, or concrete countertops that can be crafted to any organic shape, often feature, as does quartz or reconstituted stone benchtops as these are also derived from natural materials.

Colour tones in an organic kitchen are soft and muted; creams, toffee, mocha, cool whites and pale greys feature.

There is usually ample natural illumination that bathes the space in light. Large windows welcome in warmth and their openings allow cross ventilation, capturing cooling breezes in the summer months.

An earthy kitchen can be minimalist with clean lines, or more contemporary with open shelving to store and display items. Plants feature as they introduce cleaner, greener air into the space, or potted leafy produce and aromatic herbs such as lemon balm, lavender and rosemary offer sensory appeal.

Nature is all about texture, so introduce textured finishes to kitchen tiles and splashbacks. Try layering rustic textures and add pre-loved or repurposed light fittings, kitchen chairs or bar stools.

BUTLER’S PANTRY

Let’s face it, food preparation and the subsequent clean up creates mess. With open-plan kitchens and living spaces dominating modern architecture, it’s good to keep visible mess to a minimum, so when entertaining, all you see is your sparkling clean kitchen.