Trendy or Timeless? Vol.3 - Kitchen Details
It’s been a minute since my last Trendy or Timeless journal post, a series where I flick through magazines going back as far as 2012 to examine and discuss various interior design related trends and find those that have stood the test of time.
For this instalment of Trendy or Timeless, I wanted to focus specifically on kitchen details. For most of us, the kitchen is a space that is used many times throughout the day and often top of the list when looking to renovate or update the interior of a home. Kitchens can be one of the areas in a property that are most indicative of past design trends, often dating them rather obviously. One of the reasons I first started this series here on the Journal was to help myself (and hopefully you) detect which interior design trends are truly timeless, and therefore save money and time down the track when making significant changes to a space.
So without further ado, here’s five observations that I made on kitchen design trends and which ones I feel are worth investing in…
01 - Subway Tiles
Subway tiles have been around for not only decades but well over a century. Initially designed in 1904 to be used in New York City subways, most commonly made from ceramic or porcelain and therefore making them stain-proof and easy to clean. Perfect for a kitchen or bathroom in modern times!
Subway tiles have definitely proven themselves to be timeless and after the huge resurgence of this classic tile about 10 years ago, we saw them just about everywhere (we even used white and dark green subway tiles in our previous home). Whilst we might have exhausted ourselves with the overuse of the classic white subway tile during this time, the variations in designs, finishes, and colours continue to be used throughout interiors to this day. I think we’ll be seeing subway tiles used in both classic and more innovative ways for many decades to come.
Summary: Timeless-especially in its most classic form of a white ceramic tile with black or white grout.
02 - Colourful Tapware
Often design trends in both bathrooms and kitchens can be most evident through tapware, especially over the last decade with matte black and copper being two of the most common variations. Even looking back to the 90s, where gold tapware was all the rage. These fast cycling trends can sometimes date a kitchen quite quickly.
However, they can also be really fun! I’m particularly loving the matte white tapware I’ve seen popping up lately. The great thing about tapware is that it’s replaceable, so if you are looking to bring a more trendy element into your kitchen, a colourful tap is a pretty low-stakes commitment and can easily be updated in the future as styles evolve. At the end of the day, design is all about personality and finding things that you love, if that’s a bright red tap for your kitchen-do it!
Summary: Trendy-but definitely a lower-stakes commitment and can be easily updated as styles change.
03 - Natural Stone
Natural stone is the definition of timeless, having been around far longer than us and will continue to be popular for as long as we can get our hands on this stunning material. Nobody can deny how truly beautiful a smooth slab of Carrara or Limestone can look in any space and although not cheap, a marble benchtop or splashback can be the focal point of a kitchen.
Where this timeless material enters a more trendy zone is with the use of engineered stone. Whilst undeniably more affordable and easier to install, an engineered or synthetic stone can be more representative of trend cycles. With the majority of these synthetic stone benchtops being influenced heavily by what’s currently “in”, it’s worth doing your research and picking out a variation that has stood the test of time. The simpler the better.
Summary: Timeless-with the exception of engineered stone, often being more representative of current design trends.
04 - Stainless Steel Benchtops
Stainless steel seems to come and go from trend cycles quite frequently, however (in my opinion) it’s a material that always looks classic. Stainless steel is of course deeply practical, initially designed for commercial kitchen use due to its easy to clean/food safe nature. The rise of mid-century modern design then put stainless steel benchtops on the map for use in everyday residential kitchens.
Whether it's used in a thinner profile or the chunkier profile seen more commonly, a stainless steel benchtop is one of the most timeless choices. It can look especially good when paired with natural wood and pops of colour. This material also (much like a classic subway tile) will work alongside almost any new design trends that you might choose to implement down the line, whether that’s new cabinetry or a statement colourful tap!
Summary: Timeless-both for its aesthetic and practical nature.
05 - Kitchen Handles
Kitchen handles can easily fall under the category of trendy, with the various shapes, colours and materials used reflecting what is (or what was) in style. However, they’re also probably one of the easiest things to change out in a kitchen, making them the perfect element to have a little fun with.
Kitchen cabinets can be one of the most obvious signs of a dated style and if you’re not ready to fully renovate or even paint your cabinets, a simple change of handles can make a huge difference in updating the space. They’re both easily sourced and most of the time quite affordable, so let your imagination run wild (just make sure the handles you buy match the dimensions of the current handles, or you’ll be in for a long job of re-filling and drilling holes)!
Summary: Trendy-but low-stakes and one of the easiest aspects of the kitchen to have some fun with as they can be easily updated in the future.