Page 18 - Designing Ways 250

KSA

KSA update

e want to start the new year
with a bang. We recently
Wcollaborated with Jason
Wells, of PG Bison, to compile a talk
called “Pimp my Kitchen.” We wanted
to challenge the more traditional thought
processes in combining colour and
texture in a kitchen and what affordable
materials you could use to do this.

Moving through a pandemic has
forced many changes on our lifestyles,
all of which have impacted global trends.
Spaces have become hybrid with work
and home blending. Our timelines have faster than before. The current palettes we colours for smaller spaces, these matt
changed with work and personal lines are seeing embrace aspects of nature and shades work well in smaller kitchens with
blurring. Spaces have been repurposed earth tones, with greys remaining ever good lighting, subduing the intensity of
and reinvented. Digital has become the popular. While accent colour trends may the darker colour, combining well with
new normal. Well-being and mental change, these colours have a longevity other finishes and not overwhelming the
health have been highlighted. The natural that does not easily date. The inclusion space. There is also a very upmarket,
and organic have been embraced. Nesting of more authentic textured and patterned sophisticated elegance to them.
and the enhancement of the home have materials that echo those found in nature
become a key expense focus and we have has also grown. The combination of Two and three tone combinations are
become more aware of thinking and bolder natural texture and patterns adds on the rise with matts being combined
supporting local. a tactile feature to the design, completing with complementary static colours or
the sensory experience. wood grains. What is interesting to see is
These life trends impact material how the new woodgrains are paired with a
requirements and development. In recent There has been a definitive move to variety of solid colours, each solid colour
years, colour trends have been changing low maintenance materials. Many people enhancing different aspects of the grain
find themselves working from home, and natural wood colouring. Combining
often without help to clean and maintain tones is visually interesting and allows
these spaces that would previously have for a greater expression of personality.
been unoccupied during office hours. The combination of solid colour with a
This has seen a rise in demand for easy woodgrain tone also assists in balancing
to clean, durable, anti-bacterial materials. the intensity of some of the popular static/
While the topic of sustainability gains solid colours and helps to create accents
momentum, there is also a new drive or feature elements.
to support local manufacturing and
innovation. The impact of the pandemic This can be even further enhanced by
on the global economy has also increased introducing new tones/patterns/textures
the desire for materials that can achieve through your surfacing choices or feature
a high-end aesthetic, within a realistic, wall cladding. Bold highly variegated
affordable budget. woodgrains and strong marble effects are
becoming more and more popular.
How have we seen these trends and
changes coming into effect in the South Traditionally our kitchens have had
African kitchen? While gloss is still a static/solid white carcasses. The addition
major trend for many local markets, often of coloured materials to the internal
used very effectively in small spaces to elements of the kitchen adds a whole
bounce more light to create scale, a trend new level of sophistication. The coloured
quickly gaining in popularity is the move carcass adds a more finished and polished
toward low reflective, low marking matt look, allowing the transition from kitchen
and ultra matt finishes. These matt finishes space to living space happen more
are particularly popular in darker shades. seamlessly. The ‘surprise’ of opening a
While one would not think of using dark cupboard or drawer and finding a colour

18 Issue 250 • dw