Let’s fast forward to some new looks and design advice for 2021, shaking off the strangeness of 2020!

The spotlight has been on our kitchens as socialising, working and living spaces over much of the last year. Helena Myers, of luxury kitchen designers The Myers Touch shared some of their trend predictions … ‘We pride ourselves on the careful planning of kitchen and living ‘zones’ so that each purpose of the space increases connectivity and helps blend the focus and functionality of each zone particularly in a larger open space. By incorporating different textures, materials and features we bring individuality, personality and interest to their kitchen design, creating atmospheres which are perfect for our new way of living.” Above: Defined ‘zones’ allow greater connectivity within this SieMatic kitchen scheme. Photography: Martin Gardner

‘There’s an increased need for function hidden storage in kitchen spaces, as we are all spending more time in our kitchens. Streamlined storage systems and pantries maximise space without impacting negatively on the look and style of the kitchen. Above: Pocket doors within a SieMatic kitchen by The Myers Touch – tidy food storage close to the island cooking zone. Photography: Martin Gardner

‘We can enhance the functionality of a pantry room … Space permitting, pantry rooms can also double up as utility rooms, housing larger appliances. This kitchen has a secret door leading to a large walk-in pantry with bespoke shelving and bespoke box unit shelving’.

‘We’re noticing a trend for an increase in comfortable and functional seating within the kitchen space. Asa we are spending more time in our homes, families require more versatile and functional seating with the kitchen so they can work, rest, eat and entertain in comfort. Our designers are regularly incorporating a range of seating in kitchens … we design spaces which include a mix of bespoke tables, benches, chairs and island seating  to allow all members of the family household to use the kitchen comfortable, whether it’s to cook or work at the table or breakfast bar’.

After the shock (well, to some of us!) of the Pantone Colour of the Year 2021 as, in fact, a pair of colours, Pantone 17-5104 Ultimate Gray and Pantone 13-0647 Illuminating it seems that apparently we’re not quite done with grey (or gray) yet, and to counteract, there’s a delicious bold and almost-acid yellow as well. As we brace ourselves for the onslaught of these acid yellow – it has a bit of an edge – and grey influences we were happy to find these softer colour combinations from Original Style and hooray, Hawthorn Yellow, shown here with Dover White and Chester Mews, is their colour of the year.

Carrying on the grey theme, this pendant light from Limelace is the K1 by GANTlights in translucent porcelain in Pastel Grey, which hits the Pantone trend spot perfectly.

Add that soon-to-be-important splash of vivid yellow to a kitchen scheme with the Embossed Mid Century Jug from Habitat in early 2021.

When is grey ‘not grey’? When it’s jewel-like mosaics made with glass and metallics, such as these Grace Mosaicswith backing sheets, from Tile Mountain.

Enhance the colour with a set of Embossed stacking mugs, from Habitat, as before.

We also consulted Kitchens International for their top five must-haves for kitchen trends for 2021. Kitchens International Senior Designer and Studio Manager Ian Goodbrand says ‘These five elements are often the key requests from our clients. Incorporating these items means that the humble kitchen is transformed from a functional room to a dream kitchen, where cooking can be a real pleasure, and  entertaining is a joy, allowing the whole family to get the most out of the kitchen. With more working from home in 2021 the kitchen must be a cooking area, living room, work station and home café all rolled into one’ Above, hidden pocket door storage by Poggenpohl from Kitchens International.

‘Pop up extractors are the way to go … downdraft models, with built-in lights allow the open plan kitchen to be a complete living area without odours and steam, but without bulky overhead extraction too’. This one is  the Siemens  InductionAir downdraft model – brilliantly combining induction hob and extraction.

‘Top of most of the wish lists is a boiling water tap. It’s become one of the most sophisticated additions to the contemporary kitchen, dispensing not just boiling, hot and cold water, but also chilled and filtered water too. Our favoured one is the Quooker CUBE which also dispenses sparkling water. We’ve noticed that this has led to fewer bulky USA-style fridge-freezers with water/ice dispensers are being requested.

‘The kitchen is so much more than a cooking/prep space these days, it’s a centre for family life, entertaining, living and working from home! We are very keen on drinks fridges in the kitchen … not only do they ensure drinks are readily available at the right temperature without having to use up space in the main fridge, they have separately controlled temperature controlled zones for different types of wine or champagne’. This is the SubZero Undercounter Wine Storage ICB424G/S/TH-LH.

‘Steam ovens are becoming more and more requested, we don’t see that trend changing any time soon! It seems that with the success of TV shows such as MasterChef  and The Great British Bake Off, customers are very serious about getting perfect cooking and baking results and a steam oven, such as this one from Siemens, provides quicker cooking with added moisture for excellent results’.