Renovating or building a new kitchen requires an extensive amount of time and thought. As we enter a new decade there are some clear trends in kitchen design, but are they all worth the investment? Natural stone and neutral palettes will always be on-trend when it comes to kitchen design, as the timeless outlasts the transcendent.

These are four of the timeless trends in kitchen design for 2020 and the decade ahead.

Statement stone island bench

A kitchen island with a statement stone is always going to be the hero-piece which can stand alone in a kitchen. With the graphic veining and high contrast colours like that of Dekton Khalo or Sensa Ice Blue, these are great choices for a statement island that doesn’t compromise functionality.

Clad all sides to create a solid block for friends and family to gather around, or use the stone only for the benchtop, keeping the island open beneath to enhance the sense of spaciousness and light. Cabinetry in a neutral, complementary colour will serve as a quiet backdrop so that attention is drawn to the statement stone.

Avant-garde colour

Blue and green hues are the current on-trend colour in interior design, but being inspired by nature, these colours are classic and timeless. They also team perfectly with other natural materials such as stone, timber and concrete and integrate internal and external living seamlessly.

Silestone Et. Calacatta Gold, Dekton Helena or Sensa White Macaubus are all colours which complement an expansive range of greens and blues, from softer minty tones to deep, moody blues. You can create a light and gentle palette or have the impact of contrast by using darker cabinetry.

White marble kitchens

A white marble kitchen will always be on-trend. It’s classic, elegant and timeless. A beautiful marble, whether manufactured or natural, can be a focal point in the kitchen, whether it be traditional with shaker cabinets and warmer toned lighting, or contemporary with metallic hardware and fixtures and sleek appliances.

Dekton Aura 15, Olimpo and Portum have white backgrounds with grey-toned veining of varying levels of boldness and intricacy. Create a cohesive space by using the same material on the island and splashback, or even on the front of the cabinetry to make a bright, white but easy to maintain workspace. Functionality without compromising design is a huge trend and will only continue to expand as the years go on.

Feature splashbacks

Splash out on a feature splashback with a daring stone that contrasts or complements the cabinetry and benchtop. A splashback can tie a kitchen design together, whether in light, mid or dark tones and is the central feature in most kitchens.

Silestone Et Noir will inject some elegant drama, whereas Dekton in colours Orix or Trilium will enhance bronze tapware and inspire an industrial look. A large-format slab will mean minimal seams or joins on the splashback, and the material can be repeated on the benchtop or island to create a dazzling sense of continuity. Bold kitchens are the way of the future!