The Changing Face of Kitchens at Eurocucina 2022
This year’s Eurocucina event explored the kitchen's transformation into a multifunctional living space
This year’s edition of Salone del Mobile (Milan, 7 to 12 June) also made room for Eurocucina, the biennial event that focuses on kitchen trends. Now in its 23rd year, Eurocucina welcomed 82 exhibitors, presenting flowing, hybrid kitchens that break down barriers to blend into the living room.
Now a multifunctional space and the heart of the home, the kitchen has become more important than ever for homeowners. It’s also a testing ground for companies working towards sustainability, with increasingly high-performance, environmentally-friendly materials and energy-saving appliances.
In these versatile spaces, worktops can turn into a home office desk or a place to gather with friends and rediscover the joy of spending time together. Requests for outdoor kitchens have also increased, pairing a wider yearning for nature with an appetite for entertaining. There were also plenty of solutions for smaller apartments – such as units that fit an entire kitchen in 2.5 sq m – as well as stylish approaches to the traditionally functional space, with earth tones trending.
Now a multifunctional space and the heart of the home, the kitchen has become more important than ever for homeowners. It’s also a testing ground for companies working towards sustainability, with increasingly high-performance, environmentally-friendly materials and energy-saving appliances.
In these versatile spaces, worktops can turn into a home office desk or a place to gather with friends and rediscover the joy of spending time together. Requests for outdoor kitchens have also increased, pairing a wider yearning for nature with an appetite for entertaining. There were also plenty of solutions for smaller apartments – such as units that fit an entire kitchen in 2.5 sq m – as well as stylish approaches to the traditionally functional space, with earth tones trending.
Cinzia Cumini, co-founder of Studio García Cumini alongside Vicente García Jiménez – the studio collaborates with companies such as Agape, Foscarini, Zanotta and Poltrona Frau – as well as art director for Cesar, told us about the evolution of the kitchen and how the room is opening up to the rest of the house.
“Integrating different parts of the house means using products that are transversal, so we can separate spaces without creating barriers,” she said. “We focus exclusively on the kitchen, but we’re working to integrate the room with other elements like we did with The 50’s [kitchen] by Cesar [pictured], in which bookshelves are integrated with the kitchen to separate the working area and the living and dining areas. [This creates] an environment that’s airy, inspired by transparency and communication, and has windows that allow people to converse and see each other.”
“Integrating different parts of the house means using products that are transversal, so we can separate spaces without creating barriers,” she said. “We focus exclusively on the kitchen, but we’re working to integrate the room with other elements like we did with The 50’s [kitchen] by Cesar [pictured], in which bookshelves are integrated with the kitchen to separate the working area and the living and dining areas. [This creates] an environment that’s airy, inspired by transparency and communication, and has windows that allow people to converse and see each other.”
Intarsio by García Cumini for Cesar.
2. Hideaway
A different answer to the same need to integrate the kitchen with an open space without influencing its identity is elegant concealment.
Kitchens have become invisible: pocket or folding doors can be opened when it’s time to use the cooker, appliances or sink, and then closed again when the room is being used for relaxation.
2. Hideaway
A different answer to the same need to integrate the kitchen with an open space without influencing its identity is elegant concealment.
Kitchens have become invisible: pocket or folding doors can be opened when it’s time to use the cooker, appliances or sink, and then closed again when the room is being used for relaxation.
Intarsio by García Cumini for Cesar.
Ready to find your perfect match? Search local kitchen designers on Houzz, read reviews and see photos of their previous projects.
Ready to find your perfect match? Search local kitchen designers on Houzz, read reviews and see photos of their previous projects.
Falmec NRS cooker hood. The company says that an approach anchored in research into fluid dynamics has reduced the noise of the appliance up to 86%.
Of course, hiding appliances also means minimising their incursion into the space both visually and aurally. This year, several companies presented solutions for minimising noise produced by cooker hoods.
Of course, hiding appliances also means minimising their incursion into the space both visually and aurally. This year, several companies presented solutions for minimising noise produced by cooker hoods.
Àtria by Studio Delineo and Massimo Rosati for Abimis.
3. Outdoor setups
A natural response to our growing desire to be outdoors and with friends, at Eurocucina we saw several outdoor solutions: kitchens for the deck, garden or patio.
3. Outdoor setups
A natural response to our growing desire to be outdoors and with friends, at Eurocucina we saw several outdoor solutions: kitchens for the deck, garden or patio.
Cinzia Cumini describes the creative process behind Cesar’s Williamsburg kitchen (pictured): “We approached the outdoor world by creating an enormous countertop. We wanted to create a space for the kind of social interaction that arises in outdoor kitchens rather than in closed spaces. We wanted to design simple bases suitable for the outdoors, something that gives off the idea of joy, and of people coming together.”
Zoe by Mario Prandina, Benedetta Di Matteo and Francesca Ippoliti for Plinio il Giovane. It’s made by hand with organic materials and finishes.
4. Mini kitchens
Flats are getting smaller while simultaneously performing ever more functions. The key words here are ‘compress’, ‘reduce’, and ‘shrink’. Moving in this direction are several offerings of mini kitchens that, although small, don’t skimp on style or attention to detail.
These include kitchens with an island that take up only 2.5 sq m, as well as single-wall units no longer than 3m.
4. Mini kitchens
Flats are getting smaller while simultaneously performing ever more functions. The key words here are ‘compress’, ‘reduce’, and ‘shrink’. Moving in this direction are several offerings of mini kitchens that, although small, don’t skimp on style or attention to detail.
These include kitchens with an island that take up only 2.5 sq m, as well as single-wall units no longer than 3m.
Tutto from Fabita integrates washing, cooking, refrigeration and storage functionality.
Versatile appliances make for mini kitchens that do it all: washing, cooking, refrigeration, and storage. An example is Tutto by Fabita, in which the dishwasher also has a programme to wash fruit and vegetables, and the induction hob can be hung up until needed.
Versatile appliances make for mini kitchens that do it all: washing, cooking, refrigeration, and storage. An example is Tutto by Fabita, in which the dishwasher also has a programme to wash fruit and vegetables, and the induction hob can be hung up until needed.
next125’s new Colour Concept range, which features 18 velvet-effect matt and satin shades.
5. Warm tones
From ochre to mustard, rust or brown, the trend for earthy colours in increasingly warm tones is going strong.
Several exhibits also showcased two-tone versions: bases in one shade and wall units in another, bringing colour into the home without overdoing it.
5. Warm tones
From ochre to mustard, rust or brown, the trend for earthy colours in increasingly warm tones is going strong.
Several exhibits also showcased two-tone versions: bases in one shade and wall units in another, bringing colour into the home without overdoing it.
Tangram by García Cumini for Cesar.
6. 3D finishes
Appealing to both the eye and the touch are 3D cabinets that combine colour, pattern and raised texture. Grooves, inlays, and canneté were all on display, on both bases and cabinets.
6. 3D finishes
Appealing to both the eye and the touch are 3D cabinets that combine colour, pattern and raised texture. Grooves, inlays, and canneté were all on display, on both bases and cabinets.
New ribbed wood finish from Snaidero.
These effects require a painstaking production process. “The new wood finish requires a highly complex process of milling and joining with aluminium panels to create a technical and dynamic effect,” Snaidero say in its press release.
These effects require a painstaking production process. “The new wood finish requires a highly complex process of milling and joining with aluminium panels to create a technical and dynamic effect,” Snaidero say in its press release.
Cover HD, a new nanoresin finish from HDSurface.
7. A focus on materials
There are two main goals driving research in the field of kitchen materials: to offer increasingly durable worktops and to use materials with a low environmental impact, involving recycled or recyclable components with a certified life cycle.
7. A focus on materials
There are two main goals driving research in the field of kitchen materials: to offer increasingly durable worktops and to use materials with a low environmental impact, involving recycled or recyclable components with a certified life cycle.
Cyclades Blue is the new colour created for VittEr by Filippi 1971. It’s a multilayered composite made by applying high temperatures and pressure to a single raw material: paper from an FSC-certified supply chain.
Salvatore Filippi, CEO of Filippi 1971, explains: “VittEr was designed to use primary and secondary byproducts … to produce new agglomerated panels.”
Health was an additional motivation for the project. VittEr is made without resin and emits no formaldehyde. It also has antibacterial and antiviral properties thanks to the infusion of silver ions during the production process.
Salvatore Filippi, CEO of Filippi 1971, explains: “VittEr was designed to use primary and secondary byproducts … to produce new agglomerated panels.”
Health was an additional motivation for the project. VittEr is made without resin and emits no formaldehyde. It also has antibacterial and antiviral properties thanks to the infusion of silver ions during the production process.
Smeg’s Galileo Omnichef ovens make it possible to combine traditional, steam and microwave cooking for faster and more effective preparation, which they say leads to energy savings of up to 25%
8. Sustainable Appliances. Companies are also trying a variety of approaches to make kitchen appliances more sustainable, from using sustainable materials in their manufacture to developing technologies and leveraging smart systems to reduce energy use.
8. Sustainable Appliances. Companies are also trying a variety of approaches to make kitchen appliances more sustainable, from using sustainable materials in their manufacture to developing technologies and leveraging smart systems to reduce energy use.
Smeg SIA1963DS Area induction hob with Eco-Logic Advance, which allows the user to moderate power consumption.
Likewise, hobs increasingly add the ability to regulate the amount of electricity consumed.
Likewise, hobs increasingly add the ability to regulate the amount of electricity consumed.
Beko Side-by-side Refrigerator with HarvestFresh, which helps preserve the vitamin and nutritional content of fruit and vegetables by reproducing the natural 24-hour solar cycle – alternating blue, green and red light and 12 hours of darkness – inside the fruit and vegetable drawer.
9. A new relationship with food.
New refrigerators on the market also tackle another aspect of sustainability: reducing food waste by better preserving groceries and their nutrient content.
Tell us…
Which of these trends have inspired you? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
9. A new relationship with food.
New refrigerators on the market also tackle another aspect of sustainability: reducing food waste by better preserving groceries and their nutrient content.
Tell us…
Which of these trends have inspired you? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
1. Multifunctional and integrated with the living room
Whether for the sake of entertaining or because rooms now need to perform multiple functions – working from home, homework, meals – kitchens are opening up. Islands are becoming increasingly popular, especially when connected to the worktops or dining table.
Open shelving, integrated lighting and cabinetry that hides appliances and fixtures all help the kitchen blend in with the living room to create hybrid spaces.