The Changing Face of Kitchens at Milan’s Eurocucina
Held alongside Salone del Mobile, Eurocucina explored the kitchen's transformation into a multifunctional living space
Antonia Solari
July 9, 2022
This year’s edition of Salone del Mobile (Milan, June 7-12) also made room for Eurocucina, the biennial event that focuses on kitchen trends. Now in its 23rd year, Eurocucina welcomed 82 exhibitors, presenting flowing, hybrid kitchens that break down barriers to blend into the living room.
Now a multifunctional space and the heart of the home, the kitchen has become more important than ever for homeowners. It is also a testing ground for companies working toward sustainability, with increasingly high-performance, environmentally friendly materials and energy-saving appliances.
In these versatile spaces, countertops can turn into a home office desk or a place to gather with friends and rediscover the joy of spending time together. Requests for outdoor kitchens have also increased, pairing a wider yearning for nature with an appetite for entertaining. There were also plenty of solutions for smaller apartments — such as cabinets that fit an entire kitchen in 27 square feet — as well as stylish approaches to the traditionally functional space, with earth tones trending.
Now a multifunctional space and the heart of the home, the kitchen has become more important than ever for homeowners. It is also a testing ground for companies working toward sustainability, with increasingly high-performance, environmentally friendly materials and energy-saving appliances.
In these versatile spaces, countertops can turn into a home office desk or a place to gather with friends and rediscover the joy of spending time together. Requests for outdoor kitchens have also increased, pairing a wider yearning for nature with an appetite for entertaining. There were also plenty of solutions for smaller apartments — such as cabinets that fit an entire kitchen in 27 square feet — as well as stylish approaches to the traditionally functional space, with earth tones trending.
Jeometrica by Luca Nichetto for Scavolini. The product line also includes living room and bathroom elements.
1. Multifunctional and Integrated With the Living Room
Whether for the sake of entertaining or because rooms now need to perform multiple functions — working from home, homework, meals — kitchens are opening up. Islands are becoming increasingly popular, especially when connected to the counters or dining table.
Open shelving, integrated lighting and cabinetry that hides appliances and fixtures all help the kitchen blend in seamlessly with the living room to create hybrid spaces.
Find a local kitchen remodeler
1. Multifunctional and Integrated With the Living Room
Whether for the sake of entertaining or because rooms now need to perform multiple functions — working from home, homework, meals — kitchens are opening up. Islands are becoming increasingly popular, especially when connected to the counters or dining table.
Open shelving, integrated lighting and cabinetry that hides appliances and fixtures all help the kitchen blend in seamlessly with the living room to create hybrid spaces.
Find a local kitchen remodeler
Cinzia Cumini, co-founder of Studio García Cumini alongside Vicente García Jiménez — the studio collaborates with companies such as Agape, Foscarini, Zanotta and Poltrona Frau — as well as art director for Cesar, told us about the evolution of the kitchen and how the room is opening up to the rest of the house.
“Integrating different parts of the house means using products that are transversal, so we can separate spaces without creating barriers,” Cumini said. “We focus exclusively on the kitchen, but we are working to integrate the room with other elements like we did with The 50’s [kitchen] by Cesar [pictured], in which bookshelves are integrated with the kitchen to separate the working area and the living and dining areas, creating an environment that’s airy, inspired by transparency and communication, with windows that allow people to converse and see each other.”
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“Integrating different parts of the house means using products that are transversal, so we can separate spaces without creating barriers,” Cumini said. “We focus exclusively on the kitchen, but we are working to integrate the room with other elements like we did with The 50’s [kitchen] by Cesar [pictured], in which bookshelves are integrated with the kitchen to separate the working area and the living and dining areas, creating an environment that’s airy, inspired by transparency and communication, with windows that allow people to converse and see each other.”
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Intarsio by García Cumini for Cesar
2. Hiding in Plain Sight
A different answer to the same need to integrate the kitchen with an open space without influencing its identity is elegant concealment.
Kitchens have gone invisible: Pocket or folding doors can be opened when it’s time to use the stove, appliances or sink, and then closed again when the room is being used for relaxation.
2. Hiding in Plain Sight
A different answer to the same need to integrate the kitchen with an open space without influencing its identity is elegant concealment.
Kitchens have gone invisible: Pocket or folding doors can be opened when it’s time to use the stove, appliances or sink, and then closed again when the room is being used for relaxation.
Falmec NRS hood. The company says that an approach anchored in research into fluid dynamics reduces the noise of the hood up to 86%.
Of course, hiding appliances also means minimizing their incursion into the space both visually and aurally. This year, several companies presented solutions for minimizing noise produced by fume hoods.
Shop for kitchen range hoods and vents
Of course, hiding appliances also means minimizing their incursion into the space both visually and aurally. This year, several companies presented solutions for minimizing noise produced by fume hoods.
Shop for kitchen range hoods and vents
Àtria by Studio Delineo and Massimo Rosati for Abimis
3. For the Outdoors
At Eurocucina we saw several outdoor solutions: kitchens for the deck, backyard, or terrace — a natural response to our growing desire to be outdoors and socialize there.
3. For the Outdoors
At Eurocucina we saw several outdoor solutions: kitchens for the deck, backyard, or terrace — a natural response to our growing desire to be outdoors and socialize there.
Cinzia Cumini describes the creative process behind Cesar’s Williamsburg kitchen, pictured. “We approached the outdoor world by creating an enormous countertop. We wanted to create a space for the kind of social interaction that arises in outdoor kitchens rather than in closed spaces. We wanted to design simple bases suitable for the outdoors, something that gives off the idea of joy, and of people coming together.”
7 Outdoor Furniture Trends to Watch in 2022
7 Outdoor Furniture Trends to Watch in 2022
Small Living Kitchens from Falper
4. Mini Kitchens
Apartments are getting smaller, while performing ever more functions. The key words here are “compress.” “reduce” and “shrink.” Moving in this direction were mini kitchens that, though small, didn’t skimp on style or attention to detail. These included kitchens with an island that take up only 27 square feet, as well as single-wall units no longer than 10 feet.
4. Mini Kitchens
Apartments are getting smaller, while performing ever more functions. The key words here are “compress.” “reduce” and “shrink.” Moving in this direction were mini kitchens that, though small, didn’t skimp on style or attention to detail. These included kitchens with an island that take up only 27 square feet, as well as single-wall units no longer than 10 feet.
Zoe by Mario Prandina, Benedetta Di Matteo and Francesca Ippoliti for Plinio il Giovane. It is made by hand with organic materials and finishes.
Key Trends From the 2022 Milan Furniture Fair
Key Trends From the 2022 Milan Furniture Fair
Next125’s new Colour Concept range features 18 velvet-effect matte and satin shades.
5. Warm Tones
From ochre to mustard, rust, or brown, the trend for earthy colors in increasingly warm tones is going strong.
Several exhibits also showcased two-tone versions: bases in one shade and wall units in another, bringing color into the home without overdoing it.
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5. Warm Tones
From ochre to mustard, rust, or brown, the trend for earthy colors in increasingly warm tones is going strong.
Several exhibits also showcased two-tone versions: bases in one shade and wall units in another, bringing color into the home without overdoing it.
What’s New in Contemporary Furniture and Design for 2022
Dressup system by Cesar
Tangram by García Cumini for Cesar
6. 3D Finishes
Appealing to both the eye and the touch were 3D cabinets which combine color, pattern and raised texture. Grooves, inlays and canneté were all on display, on both bases and cabinets.
6. 3D Finishes
Appealing to both the eye and the touch were 3D cabinets which combine color, pattern and raised texture. Grooves, inlays and canneté were all on display, on both bases and cabinets.
New ribbed wood finish from Snaidero
These effects require a painstaking production process. “The new wood finish requires a highly complex process of milling and joining with aluminum panels to create a technical and dynamic effect,” Snaidero says in its press release.
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These effects require a painstaking production process. “The new wood finish requires a highly complex process of milling and joining with aluminum panels to create a technical and dynamic effect,” Snaidero says in its press release.
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Cover HD, a new nanoresin finish from HDSurface
7. A Focus on Materials
There are two main goals driving research in the field of kitchen materials: to offer increasingly durable countertops and to use materials with a low environmental impact, involving recycled or recyclable components with a certified life cycle.
7. A Focus on Materials
There are two main goals driving research in the field of kitchen materials: to offer increasingly durable countertops and to use materials with a low environmental impact, involving recycled or recyclable components with a certified life cycle.
Cyclades Blue, a new color created for VittEr by Filippi 1971, is a multilayered composite made by applying high temperatures and pressure to a single raw material: paper from an FSC-certified supply chain.
“VittEr was was designed to use primary and secondary byproducts … to produce new agglomerated panels,” said Salvatore Filippi, CEO of Filippi 1971.
Health was an additional motivation for the project. VittEr is made without resin and emits no formaldehyde. It also has antibacterial and antiviral properties thanks to the infusion of silver ions during the production process.
“VittEr was was designed to use primary and secondary byproducts … to produce new agglomerated panels,” said Salvatore Filippi, CEO of Filippi 1971.
Health was an additional motivation for the project. VittEr is made without resin and emits no formaldehyde. It also has antibacterial and antiviral properties thanks to the infusion of silver ions during the production process.
The Maris Fragranite sink from Franke won a Red Dot Award in 2022. Fragranite is a scratch-resistant granite-quartz mix. The surface is treated with the company’s sanitized silver ion treatment.
Find kitchen appliances on Houzz
Find kitchen appliances on Houzz
Smeg’s Galileo Omnichef ovens make it possible to combine traditional, steam and microwave cooking for faster and more effective preparation, which they say leads to energy savings of up to 25%.
8. Sustainable Appliances
Companies are also trying a variety of approaches to make kitchen appliances more sustainable, from using sustainable materials in their manufacture to developing technologies and leveraging smart systems to reduce energy use.
Likewise, cooktops increasingly add the ability to regulate the amount of electricity the stove consumes.
8. Sustainable Appliances
Companies are also trying a variety of approaches to make kitchen appliances more sustainable, from using sustainable materials in their manufacture to developing technologies and leveraging smart systems to reduce energy use.
Likewise, cooktops increasingly add the ability to regulate the amount of electricity the stove consumes.
The body of the Electrolux MaxiSpace refrigerator is made of 50% recycled plastic.
Beko Side by Side Refrigerator with HarvestFresh helps preserve the vitamin and nutritional content of fruit and vegetables by reproducing the natural 24-hour solar cycle — alternating blue, green and red light and 12 hours of darkness — inside the fruit and vegetable drawer.
9. A New Relationship With Food
New refrigerators on the market also tackle another aspect of sustainability: reducing food waste by better preserving groceries and their nutrient content.
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9. A New Relationship With Food
New refrigerators on the market also tackle another aspect of sustainability: reducing food waste by better preserving groceries and their nutrient content.
More on Houzz
Read more industry show and fair recaps
Find a home professional
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Good work :)
I could be spending hours and hours on that show…. The Italian design is just so incredible beautiful and simple, yet warm and practical. Give me the modular dressing up Cesar system anytime and the the room divider between the kitchen and living area with the tapered legs and tapered connection to the ceiling is just incredible. Those little details make it seem to float. Drop dead gorgeous. Thanks for some beauty with my morning coffee!!!!
Yes l really like these colors for a kitchen. Wow