Kitchen designers plan colour creations
The popular Franke Kitchen Trend Project will be a veritable ‘Expression of Colour’ as the four chosen kitchen companies bring their best styles to the 25th edition of Africa’s largest décor, design and lifestyle exhibition, Decorex Joburg, presented by Plascon. This enticing #rhythmoflife exhibition will take place at the Gallagher Convention Centre from 8 to 12 August.
The Kitchen Studio’s Sembel-It and Kitchen Spectrum; CHC Kitchens; and Eurofit Kitchens & Cupboards; have spent the last few weeks planning showstopper kitchen installations that incorporate the latest Franke SA range, all hinging on the theme, ‘An Expression of Colour’. Each of the four kitchen models will be assessed by representatives from Franke SA and the Kitchen Specialists’ Association (KSA) with the winning team taking home R15 000 worth of Franke SA kitchen products.
“The Franke Kitchen Trend Project is always an incredibly popular show feature as it expresses the best of the industry’s kitchen trends, styles and appliances in four completely diverse settings,” explained Franke SA’s National Sales Manager, Clinton Soutter. “This year will be a particularly poignant display as the exhibitors will want to capture the essence of this 25-year-old exhibition while also portraying the modern trends that are warming up kitchens across the country.”
Stephanie Forbes, National Manager of the KSA, said that this unique feature was beneficial for both the consumer and those in the kitchen trade: “There is a lot of competition within the kitchen industry which is why this competition is so enthusiastically embraced by formalised and established businesses like the four companies who have been selected to participate this year. By sponsoring this competition, Franke facilitates a platform that may otherwise not be accessible to some companies and gives them an opportunity to showcase their workmanship and design skills to the public.”
Commenting on the Franke Kitchen Trend Project, Sian Cullingworth, Portfolio Director: Design, Lifestyle and Retail Exhibitions at Reed Exhibitions, said: “The kitchen space has evolved so much over the past 25 years and this feature, which continues to set the standard in kitchen design, really captures the incoming trends beautifully. We’re delighted it will be forming part of our extensive features’ line-up for the milestone Decorex Joburg.”
Meet the kitchen creators
Known for their contemporary, warm kitchen design and natural finishes, The Kitchen Studio is set to captivate exhibition audiences with their award-winning craftsmanship.
Commenting on some of the more prominent trends to expect, Dane Maharaj of The Kitchen Studio said: “The scarcity of natural resources has seen kitchen designs incorporating more natural finishes and materials – this was evident in industry shows in Europe over the last year. The design community also appears to be growing tired of high-gloss colours and finishes. For this reason, natural finishes are now being combined with high-quality synthetic materials such as high gloss and matt Crystal acrylic doors. This creates a contrast and interest by juxtaposing natural warmth with synthetic modernism.”
Looking to Decorex Joburg, Maharaj said there would be a focus on a more minimal, modern design trend that still feels warm. This will be achieved by making use of stained and washed natural finishes with square line crystal, high gloss and matte acrylic doors.
Franscois Engels of CHC Kitchens said many clients are now starting to ‘emerge from their shells’, and the safer, two-tone kitchen trend was being left behind.
“A lot of European, particularly Italian trends seem to be making a stronger appearance in the Joburg market,” explained Engels. “Clients are opting for stronger, cleaner and often even more minimalist design features such as open shelves with bold, contrasting colours such as wood and matt black or even bright yellow.”
He said that, rather than two tones, clients are often mixing up to four colours and textures in one area with kitchen islands becoming more of an attraction for those with space.
“We not only enjoy trends that radiate form and function; we love colour and texture as well,” he continued. “We particularly enjoy a mix of bold grey or black tones in a matt finish contrasted against marble or Calacatta-like polished stone for use of worktops, splash panels or down stands.”
When it comes to this year’s Franke Kitchen Trends Project, he said visitors would be overwhelmed by the clever use of materials, colours, textures, light and dimension.
“Through this feature, we want to change visitors into treasured clients so that we can have the opportunity to create spaces they live in and enjoy.”
Another award-winning organisation, Eurofit Kitchens & Cupboards, is excited to be bringing a contemporary design to the 25th Decorex Joburg.
“We’re planning a design with clean lines and warm colours,” explained Ludi Szabo of Eurofit Kitchens & Cupboards. “The trend is that there is no trend, so we offer beautiful kitchens all bespoke to our client’s specifications. You just can’t beat a well-designed kitchen which looks awesome.”
Without giving too much detail, Szabo said this year will be an exciting kitchen design with high quality finishes, the newest hinges and runners from Grass, the new Franke worktops and accessories that visitors will definitely appreciate.
Some of the new features to expect include:
o Rhythm Restaurant + Bar by Seatworks
o She Shed Project
o Design and Textile Elements
o Lighting Elements – brought to you by K. Light
o Natural Elements – brought to you by Neolith
o The Tasting Room Wine Bar furnished by Yard Seventeen
o #withlovefromdecorex Feature brought to you by @home
o EGO Garden of the Future, brought to you by Smith Power Equipment
o The ISCA Bathroom Trends Project
o Plascon Concept Stand and Mono Colour Café
o Win a Kitchen Competition by Curves & Bevels
o Design House Brought to You by Builders
o SA Craft Collective
o The Coffee Cup by Illy
o @home Trend Home presented by Decorex
o Terrazzo Diner + Bar
o Thru the Chair Project
To view these and many more #rhythmoflife milestone décor, design and lifestyle features and products, get to Decorex Joburg for the 25th installation. Visitors will have access to all the exhibition features as well as the collocated exhibitions – the International Sourcing Fair and 100% Design South Africa. Decorex Joburg has further enhanced the visitor experience with the introduction of Necta, a mobile app that consolidates all event information including exhibitor details, specials and competitions. Download the Necta app now, available on all Android or iOS devices, to discover all the products and services on offer at the exhibition.
DECOREX JOBURG
8 – 12 August 2018
10am – 6pm daily
Gallagher Convention Centre
Public holiday: Thursday 9 August
Trade-focused days: 8 and 10 August
Ticket Prices: Adults – R 120
Student/Pensioners – R 100
Kids U12 – R20
Trade – R 100
Exhibitor – R 100
For more information, email decorexinfo@reedexpoafrica.co.za
Visit: www.decorex.co.za
Facebook: Decorex SA
Twitter: @decorexSA
Instagram: @decorex_sa
LinkedIn: Decorex SA
Pinterest: Decorex SA
Blog: http://www.reedexpoafrica.co.za/decorexblog/