Minimal kitchen design grew out of the apartments of Europe and into the largest mansions and architectural designer homes. Initially designed to fit into small apartments, these kitchens now command the biggest rooms in the house.
The Ninja Kitchen
To get more impact, leave as much open space around the kitchen as you can. New visitors to the house should come across the kitchen almost accidentally. Hiding all the storage behind large handleless doors or sliding panels makes the space nondescript, and a featureless kitchen island should be the only clue to the actual purpose of the room.
Minimal Colour
The most common coloured minimal kitchen is white. Not a cream or pale neutral, but a cool crisp white. This is used for the cabinetry, counter tops and even accessories. But not all whites are the same. You will need to be very careful when mixing materials that the same white is used throughout the space. Check your samples of cabinetry and countertops against each other to ensure the closest match possible.
Not so common is the black or very dark kitchen. Remember the same rules apply of keeping the same colour consistent throughout the entire space.
Texture
Texture should be smooth and flat. No panelled doors, no anti-spill lips on the counter tops and even no handles if possible. Electric opening drawers and doors are now available to help you achieve this.
Painted glass splashbacks are the easiest way to get a smooth finish, but be aware that common glass has a green tint to it. The colour you paint the back will not be the same as the colour you see through the glass. Either use a low iron glass, which is clearer, or change the colour of the paint to allow for the green tint.
Appliances
All appliances need to be integrated into the cabinetry or behind doors. The hardest appliances to hide are the cooking surface, or hobs, and the extraction unit. The best looking cooking surfaces are either ceramic electric tops or induction cooktops; these nearly always come in black.
Be creative with the extraction units. If the cooktop is against a wall it is possible to use a concealed power pack. The other option is use a down draft extraction unit that sucks steam and odours into the counter top. If all else fails, make a feature out of the unit. There are some stunning designs available that resemble art pieces more than extractors and it is with these that you can really have some fun.
The devil is in the detail with these kitchens, and it is important not to compromise at any stage of the design. Be focused in what you are trying to achieve and stick to your guns. It is when you say near enough that it all begins to go wrong.
Finally be prepared to change when the next big idea comes along, as these kitchens are definitely the trend of the moment.
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