Engineered stone company Cosentino Australia has expanded its Dekton offering with the launch of six new industrial-inspired shades and the super luminous Dekton XGloss which, like the rest of the Dekton range, can be used to create countertops, flooring and cladding and can be used outside too.
XGloss bench tops in Blaze
The new XGloss range retains the same technical features as the brand’s other offerings (think stain and thermal resistance and water-repellence) but offers high shine. “This commitment stems from an awareness of a growing demand for lustrous, dramatic colours in the world of design, and the realisation that the high-shine materials available in the market until now do not perform well. We therefore wanted to combine beauty with high durability and stain resistance,” says Cosentino product and innovation director Valentin Tijeras.
Floor in XGloss Lumina
The XGloss collection comes in five colours ranging from pure white to solid black. Halo is a a bright white colour with crystal shine that reflects light, making spaces seem larger while Splendor is a restrained soft grey, ideal for modern kitchens. Dark grey in colour, Blaze has a lovely, subtle metallic finish and Lumina is a very warm, earthy brown.
Dekton Valterra Flooring and Sensa Orinoco countertop
Inspired by natural and industrial finishes, the new Dekton colours are an interesting bunch too. Ideal for industrial-themed interiors, the new Dekton Blanc Concrete shade looks like concrete but, unlike the real thing, it won’t deteriorate over time. And for those wanting a truly original finish, the Dekton Trilium option is inspired by metal oxides – a mix of volcanic colours it features intense grey and black tones speckled with light contrasts. We love the matte finish.
Dekton countertop in Trilium
The new colours extend into a wood-inspired offering too – Dekton Valterra combines cream with brown hues in a lineal design while Dekton Aldem is a gorgeous gray wood finish.
I hope you enjoy this week’s roundup of my favourites!
Clockwise from top left: I’m swooning over this 2016 calendar by Melbourne illustrator Sarah Hankinson, chock full of seasonal botanicals ($40) | Now I have a crawling baby pulling himself up on everything, I can’t have things with sharp corners, which is no doubt why I keep falling in love with pieces like this Max Sparrow French Symmetry Side Table (on sale at $795). NOT FAIR! | This The Rise Vase from Art Club Concept is fresh and different ($59.95) | This Dekton in Aura is one of my top choices for our new kitchen benchtop (we’re moving on Friday, yay!).
Ruba Jaajaa, colour expert and showroom manager for Cosentino, shares the following tips…
1. Blue is the new black
Blue hues will replace the traditional use of black for a bolder and warmer look in the home. Black tones can often look harsh and overpower other colours, whereas blue is the perfect complement to any space without compromising depth or style. It’s a new look that is both chic and daring!
2. Matte finishes are a must-have
Matte finishes lend a stylish feel to any space, offering a modern edge that will add greater interest to the overall style. You can add a subtle, elegant touch to your home with Silestone® Suede finish, a unique matte texture, perfect for modern designs. Suede is available in more than 30 colours across Cosentino’s signature Silestone® range. From the celestial, cool tones of Lyra,to the earthy hues of Blanco Capri!
3. Nature knows
Nature-inspired design has become a popular part of home styling, which will only grow in 2016. Incorporating natural,warm, earthy tones of the beautiful Dekton Sirius and Keranium worktop is a perfect example of how to bring a contemporary nature feel into your home!
Photo Credit: The Japanese Kitchen Studio
4. Traditional goes modern
Don’t feel that you need to remove those traditional favourites from your space, instead try and give them with a modern twist! Take inspiration from winning couple on this season of The Block, Shay and Dean, who updated the Scandinavian look in their apartment to make it a crowd favourite! The couple used contrasting benchtops in Blanco Orion on the island and Cemento Spa with a suede finish.
Photo Credit: The Good Guys Kitchens
5. New neutrals
Neutrals are a key component of creating a comfortable and sophisticated atmosphere in your home. In 2016 neutral trends will continue to grow, highlighting the beauty of muted hues that offer a timeless look. Tones such as Makai from Cosentino’s Dekton Spring Colour range, complement a neutral palette perfectly!
Last week saw THE event of the interiors calendar Salone Internazionale del Mobile (the international furniture fair) in Milan, and I was lucky enough to go for the first time. Within this mega fair sits Eurocucina, a kitchens-only showcase bigger than most Aussie trade fairs and full of beautiful things (read about the top trends I spotted here).
A display at Eurocucina in Milan
Freedom Kitchens sent a team of 10 of their designers to Milan to be inspired by Europe’s latest trends, innovations and materials in kitchens. Because they have their own Australian factory, this inspiration can become reality in customers’ kitchen within months — weeks even. This flexibility and freedom to move fast is what keeps their kitchens cutting edge and fashionable, as you may have seen on The Block Sky High.
Matt and Kim’s Freedom Kitchen from The Block Sky High
At the fair, Freedom Kitchens’ national sales director Susan Hasler said the kitchens at Milan were darker and moodier than last year with a lot of highlights in timber veneers and more matt than gloss finishes. “Some of the Dekton surfaces were very interesting and there was a lot of the concrete look and feel. It’s all a lot about texture. Touch and feel is really important.”
Cabinetry was perhaps more vertical than horizontal with taller pull-out drawers containing several internal drawers. Another trend she noticed was for integrated handles rather than a completely handle-less look.
Large drawer storage seen at Eurocucina
Freedom Kitchens will be able to translate these innovations and trends to the local Australian market very quickly, while remembering that not everything will be popular or appropriate to our lifestyle. “We will be able to update some of our designs within a couple of months due to us manufacturing in Australia. We can do smaller runs, move quickly and see if things work and are popular,” Susan says. “It’s really important for us to come here to things like Eurocucina. Australia is sometimes thought of as being behind the times. You’re going to have a kitchen for a very long time so it’s important we’re ahead of the game. You don’t want to invest in something which is already a couple of years out of date. We have 10 kitchen designers here which is a big investment but it’s worth it for what we can bring back and the level of credibility it gives us. It’s about us bringing that fashion look at a value price.”
It’s not as simple as copying a load of ideas and expecting Australians to accept them as the latest and greatest, by any means. “It’s about adapting ideas to the Australian market and our way of life,” Susan says. “In terms of the differences between Europe and Australia, we entertain outside a lot, with kitchens often leading out onto decks or yards, or other entertaining areas. This lends itself well to the single wall and island design of kitchen.”
Kitchens were moodier, with more timber veneers and matt surfaces at Eurocucina
While people are often tempted to play it safe on a room which costs a lot of money and they hope to keep for years, Susan says a good kitchen designer can help them to be braver without wasting money or making an unwise investment. Her advice for a ‘safe’ yet fashionable kitchen is to stick to neutral cabinets and be bold with things you can change every couple of years (if desired) like wall colours (wallpaper even!), pendant lights and even splashbacks. You can make a real difference with how you accessorise (the great thing about Freedom Kitchens being that you can pick up Freedom homewares in store too). “We love being able to show customers how to accessorise and style their kitchens with our examples in our showrooms,” Susan says.
In terms of the strong presence of timber veneer at Milan, Susan doesn’t think many Australians will opt for that look in a big way. They may, for example though, choose to do their base cabinets in timber veneer and top cabinets in white, or just their end panels for example. These are all flexible options Freedom Kitchens can offer. “We also have to bear in mind that something that looks great here in Europe may not translate well in Australian light. It’s very different.”
Timber veneers seen at Eurocucina in Milan
The previous snobbery about veneer is disappearing these days, due to the huge advances in quality. “The new ones are so good you can’t even tell they’re not solid timber. They’re also more durable and hygienic which makes them a smart choice for kitchens.”
Look out for more expert tips on kitchen storage and how to get the most out of working with a kitchen designer on the blog next week.
Photo Credit: The Good Guys Kitchens
