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In recent years, there’s been plenty of advice about the fact that the kitchen is the new hub of the home. Even in this year’s design trends, the value of creating open-plan and entertainment-ready kitchen focal points is pretty high-ranking. But, there’s another trend emerging that entirely turns this central focus on its head, and it’s that of the concealed kitchen.
This interior trend, which has really hit the kitchen upgrade hotspot this year, is all about subtlety, and kitchens that look almost entirely invisible if you don’t know where to look for them. It’s a sleek, sophisticated option that stands to take homeowners out of their comfort zones in the best ways possible.
In this article, we’ll consider just a few of the top trending secrets behind this new ‘invisible’ kitchen focus.
# 1 - Handle-less Counters
Touch-to-open kitchen counters have been trending in modern kitchen design for some years, and they’re now a central focus in concealed kitchen setups. Equally, handle-less slab doors are a great alternative for a more classic concealed kitchen appearance. In either case, one reality remains the same – there won’t be a handle in sight.
By getting rid of bulky, visible kitchen cupboard handles, it’s far easier to integrate cabinets that are almost entirely invisible to a passing observer. This is the touchstone of more sleek kitchen appearances moving forward and can help to secure a clutter-free appearance in even the most storage-heavy kitchen space.
# 2 - Storage Banks
Speaking of storage-heavy spaces, clutter is very much off the menu in concealed kitchens. After all, how can you keep this space subtle if your sides are brimming with kitchen appliances? You can’t, which is why more homeowners are currently speaking with kitchen remodeling contractors about the idea of ‘storage banks’.
As the name suggests, this involves incorporating large, almost cabinet-style wall-height storage units or sections into broader kitchen designs. Admittedly, these banks are unlikely to look ‘invisible’ in themselves, but they also don’t give kitchen-specific vibes. Instead, most storage banks will look more like integrated wardrobes in a bedroom or other space, all while allowing you to easily hide away those giveaway, unsightly kitchen gadgets you’ve had lying around for too long.
# 3 - Hidden Appliances
It’s hard to achieve a concealed kitchen if you have hefty kitchen appliances on display to give the whole thing away. Hence why hidden appliances are another pressing interior focus right now. So-called ‘appliance garages’ are especially hot this year, and involve enclosed areas which are relatively similar to storage banks, but which incorporate appliances including dishwashers, coffee machines, etc. within fully-functional hidden set-ups.
Inevitably, integrated appliances with an identical look to kitchen cupboards are also set to increase in popularity this year, and provide a great opportunity to hide more bulky appliances like your refrigerator.
Takeaway
The concealed kitchen might feel like a step away from the idea of kitchen design at the heart of your home, but this is an ideal option for lovers of a more minimal kitchen finish.
