Eurocucina 2014: an overview of kitchen innovations at the Milan furniture show
Apr 17, 2014
Beautiful, sleek, technological and functional. And also wonderfully open, "sociable", able to gather everyone around a large table (preferably equipped with a built-in cooker, as in an Elmar kitchen) and become the emotional centre of the home - in perfect harmony with an Italian lifestyle that seems to suit absolutely everyone.
The kitchens we saw at the Milan Furniture Show 2014 speak the language of both modernity and tradition. They are part of complex, integrated projects in which every detail is studied in detail and created with the aim of making quality of life the central idea of interior design. Hence the emergence of "gigantic kitchen machines", oriented towards maximum performance, equipped with the latest generation appliances, extractor hoods and retractable LED lighting that can be installed directly in the drawers (Snaidero, Cesar, Faber) . And the wooden fronts and shelves are in dialogue with the shapes and finishes of the living room (Ernesto Meda , Dada, Schiffini, Poliform / Varenna).
The materials used in the kitchens were the focus of visitors' and exhibitors' attention. From carefully carved, inlaid and burned wood to concrete, marble and glass. And one of the key trends was the "green" approach to production - reducing waste and reducing fuel consumption.
Finally, there is a clear trend towards internationalisation. On the one hand, this means the export of the Italian tradition, and on the other hand, exposure to influences on a global scale. The KI kitchen by Scavolini, designed by the Japanese design studio Nendo, is representative of this trend, as is the Veneta Cucine kitchen, designed with Chinese cooking habits and gestures in mind.
53 photos of the best Milan Furniture showroom kitchens - click here!
Top 4 kitchens in Milan Furniture Showroom
ARAN IMPERIAL
The Imperial collection, a synthesis of passion, tradition and design, has been enriched by the introduction of new finishes. Elegant patina in gold or silver, the milling and direction of the natural wood grain are combined with gold and silver finishes. The Imperial collection is handmade on an industrial level, bringing together modern production and traditional handcrafted techniques used by master cabinetmakers, true gilding professionals. Dior table, double console island, worktop, sink in perfect harmony with white glossy Covelano marble.
The milling, Corinthian capitals, the direction of the wood pattern, the new metopa model, together adorned with gold or silver, recreate the atmosphere of a royal palace or theatre. Attention to detail, like the carvings on the panel or the gilded mixer tap with a Swarovski crystal decorated faucet, make the composition unique and exclusive.
ARMANI/DADA SLIDE
When designing the Slide kitchen, Giorgio Armani was inspired by the idea of an informal yet sophisticated dining experience. The kitchen becomes the focal point, a gathering place for the guests. Luxury takes on a new form here: the marble worktop on the island slides away freely to reveal the stainless steel worktop. The door panels of the island and the wall elements are in sassafras wood, into which horizontal metal profiles are inserted at regular intervals.
The functional elements are concealed under the worktop, which covers the entire worktop area (cooker, sink, chopping board) while ensuring easy access thanks to a handy pull-out mechanism. The wall units have unconventional proportions and mechanisms: floor-to-ceiling-height panels and electric horizontally sliding doors. The exclusive patented vertical sliding mechanism conceals the oven when it is not in use.
CESAR DIAMOND
This latest offering could only come from deep roots. Diamond is a cuisine commonly understood, with clean lines, soft finishing, reassuring details reminiscent of a kitchen of yesteryear. It has such a strong identity that it is presented as a symbol of furnishing, in Italy as in the rest of the world. Diamond combines international and elegant taste with a natural wood frame with a 45 degree bevelled section framing the central panel
Available with front panels in oak with different finishes, it can have an oak centre-panel which can be individually chosen, or a silk-lacquered or glossy MDF centre-panel. The drawers also have a natural wood perimeter frame, which is smaller in size to give more elegance to the front panels.
Another speciality of this kitchen is the glass door cupboards with thinner frames and worktops in stone, marble, steel, corian and mineral marble. The international market version of the collection can be equipped with special modules for the installation of oversized appliances.
MINACCIOLONATURALSKIN
Natural Skin is a practical kitchen designed for universal use in any living space. With Natural Skin Home you can create island- or wall-type compositions, even in small spaces, maintaining the clean lines and proportions characteristic of the collection. A wide variety of finishes, from wood to stylish monochrome colours, are combined with a range of worktops made from the most diverse and original materials. Column cabinets and monolithic units are also present, which, by concealing pantries and appliances, can replace real interior walls.
From Eurocucina 2014, as an alternative to thermally treated wood, Natural Skin doors can be realized in high-density painted wood-fibre board, a water-repellent and fire-resistant material. The exterior surface can be covered with different types of wood, or it can be upholstered with a fabric or a modern solid coating, whose colour brilliance is inherited from nature. This cladding is a material of different colours, obtained through the use of the latest generation of nanotechnology, which makes the surface matt and soft, ensures that it will not leave any marks, makes the surface resistant to abrasion and scratches, and provides antibacterial and water repellent properties.
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