Interior Design Blog

According to the report, one of the main drivers for changes in kitchen design is a reaction to a consumer trend for hyper sobriety, caused by the recession. 'This trend for money-saving means consumers are coming up with new and creative ways to spend less,' commented Jasmine Birtles, founder of moneymagpie.com. Oliver Heath agreed, and explained how this is already affecting design choices. 'This creative trend for make-do-and-mend has increased the popularity of upcycling in product design, as it means less material is thrown away,' he commented, referring to Original BTC's teapot lights and Squint, the chic young company characterized by its furniture upholstered in a colourful patchwork of multiple fabric offcuts. According to the panel, what this means for kitchen design is that consumers will expect their kitchen to be more sustainable, bespoke and personally interactive. IKEA has responded with the Intuitiv kitchen design (above), a concept that uses materials with longevity while considering atmosphere and mood.

The future kitchen is also predicted to be a return to nature. Gerry Dufresne, kitchen strategist for IKEA, described how our society's behavioural changes would affect the future of kitchen design. 'People are cooking from scratch a lot more,' he explained, 'and using more fresh food, which requires more refrigeration.' IKEA's solution is the Elementara kitchen concept (above), which considers the inclusion of an indoor-to-outdoor vegetable garden, more storage for crops and an abundance of sustainable materials and appliances. Donna Dawson, well-known psychologist, said, 'our home is being redefined, as our society becomes increasingly health conscious.'

Promising to bring our kitchens to life with smart technology, IKEA has also come up with the Skart kitchen concept (above), which includes features such as responsive monitors for energy, water usage and food nutritional values, plus self-cleaning surfaces. Oliver Heath, known for his dedicated eco-lifestyle, enthused, 'we are so much more connected to our kitchen with technology like energy and water monitors, as our kitchen tells us when we're overusing.' Martin Raymond, co-founder of The Future Laboratory, agreed. 'A lot of our problems are because our designs are not intuitive,' he commented.

So with heads full of dreams for the future, especially those self-cleaning worktops, the audience spilled out of the seminar and into The Surreal House exhibition, a labyrinth of rooms exploring Surrealist art in it many forms. From Salvador Dali and Marcel Duchamp paintings to giant grand pianos hanging upside down from the ceiling, this eclectic and exciting exhibition is not to be missed. Look out for the Surrealistika kitchen sculpture, created by IKEA for the event.

(The report was based on a quantitative survey of consumers, extensive research and a series of interviews with industry experts)