2023 Kitchen trends
As PG Bison has been working on our new range, due to launch in 2023, we’ve been researching trends, speaking to experts, exploring what’s happening in other parts of the world and developing some exciting new designs and colours for the local market. We’re excited to show those to you soon! Until then, here are three kitchen trends for 2023 that will ensure your space speaks volumes.
Using colours and clever combinations
Over the past several years, we’ve seen a move towards more individuality than ever before in kitchens. “There was a time when the trend in kitchens was to do everything in white – doors, carcasses and appliances,” recalls Jason Wells, Brand & Marketing Manager at PG Bison. “But over the years, we’ve seen ‘white appliances’ move to a stainless-steel finish. Then we saw the introduction of matt black, as well as retro pastels and even limited-edition designs in partnership with fashion designers or artists.”
He says that kitchen cabinets, carcasses and countertops have also evolved from the all-white approach, through to single-tones and more complex palettes and combinations. “With the availability of fresh new colours and designs that reflect our modern spaces and lifestyles, kitchen design is becoming more and more sophisticated,” Jason says.
“Pale greens, blues and darker grey and carbon solid colours are in vogue and we’re seeing designers mix and match solid colours and wood grains to create visual interest through the combination of tones and textures,” he says.
For example, a popular and effective combination in showrooms and designs exhibitions currently is matt grey paired with a textured natural wood. “Gloss white, which also remains very popular, can be used with a solid colour and a wood-texture as accents for a stylish three-tone space,” says Jason. “We’re definitely seeing designers mixing more finishes, and using a combination of matt, gloss and texture to create a beautiful, tactile experience. They are also adding a new level of sophistication and feeling of luxury in kitchens by using coloured carcasses instead of the traditional white ‘inners’”.
International design shows, such as The Block Australia, Grand Designs and Amazing Interiors, have popularised kitchens with character, as well as retro colour palettes, including pastels.
Surfaces inspired by nature
While marble is enjoying a huge revival, it remains pricey and out of budget for many people. However, with improvements in digital scanning and printing, as well as in manufacturing, it’s now possible to create ultra-realistic marble (and other) finishes in high-pressure laminates (HPL) and melamine-faced boards (MFB). This means more affordable options that capture the look of marble, granite, stone and timber, in a diverse range to suit every taste.
HPL is used for countertops (in products such as PG Bison’s Formica LifeSeal Worktops), while MFB is typically used for cabinetry (products like PG Bison’s MelaWood range, also available in SupaMatt, SupaGloss and SupaTexture).
Jason says it’s important to understand that these products are worlds away from the designs of old, which weren’t necessarily the most realistic reproductions of the original material.
“Modern products look incredibly true-to-life,” he says. “We’re seeing designers incorporating a touch of marble- or timber-look into kitchens in all sorts of interesting ways. These include centre islands, shelving, and backing in cabinets with glass doors and internal lighting. There’s a world of possibilities available, without the heavy price point.”
PG Bison’s Azzano mimics white marble with a black vein, while Caldera mimics dark marble with lighter texturing. Jason says both are proving popular in the market.
Grey in all its shades
“We’re seeing a huge trend towards kitchens in darker colours, particularly in matt finishes,” says Jason.
In fact, PG Bison, has even expanded the range of greys we offer to meet the market demand, with Folkstone Grey, Dunblane Grey, Storm Grey and Kalapana, available in our MelaWood ranges, as well as textured designs with a grey undertone.
“The availability of matt surfaces has made the use of darker tones in kitchens more fashionable,” Jason says. “Matt surfaces don’t reflect light in the uniform way that high-gloss ones do. Because of this, matt finishes subdue darker tones and prevent them from making a space feel oppressive. Matt shades tend to scatter light randomly, reducing reflections to negligible levels.”
What this means on a practical level is that matt surfaces can be easier on our senses and experienced as calming. “They are therefore ideal for creating calm in living and working spaces. Soft matt surfaces also provide a counterpoint to the glare from the many digital devices we’re often surrounded with in our daily lives,” says Jason. “They echo many natural, untouched materials, which many people find soothing.”
Matt products are also versatile in that they can be used to introduce much darker colours effectively whether as a base or as an accent feature. “We’re seeing designers opting for much darker greys and charcoal colours in a matt finish and accenting it with a wood-grain or stone-finish design,” says Jason.
PG Bison’s premium matt product is MelaWood SupaMatt, which adds a touch of elegance to any setting with its silky-smooth look. Find out more on our product pages.
Planning your kitchen space
“For people who aren’t sure where to start, we’ve loaded a range of kitchen designs in different styles – incorporating these trends – into our 360° Showroom to help you narrow down what you like,” says Jason. “If you find something that strikes your fancy, you can even choose to edit the design in our free Kitchen Design Tool to customise it for your own space and needs.”
