Supercar and concert piano stylings rev up Arena Kitchens showroom.
Kitchen design is in a period of transition.
The hard edges and masculine looks of the last few years are being replaced by softer, more feminine lines that offer oodles of va-va voom.
It’s the space that is at the heart of a home and needs to look and feel warm and inviting.
At Arena Kitchens showrooms on Maple Avenue in Sandyford, D18, the German interpretation of this may still look in pictures as if its XY chromosomes are still in the driving seat, but it is only when you touch and interact with the SieMatic designs on display that you will feel the difference.
There are different kinds of buyers, says David Rafter, Arena Kitchens sales director.
“Those that want an iceberg in the middle of the kitchen, making a big presence to a lighter look that more resembles a spaceship.”
The smooth lines of the SieMatic SG6 have garnered it much attention and several awards, including a Red Dot Design award last year for its marriage of form, function and elegance.
Anchoring it is an island that is lighter than many of the monolith designs of old.
There are no hard corners.
Instead, rounded edges soften the look. Countertops are size zero, at just 6mm thick, they are wafer-thin with a sunken drip edge featuring a deep Connemara green quartzite top.
Wall units echo the same curved corners as the island.
The Mondial features mitred filigree handles, with a channel in its handleless doors that contains the LED strip lighting.
The feel is solid brass.
You will feel the same tactility in a certain supercar, but not until next year, Rafter assures, while the lacquered doors are given the same level of attention and coats that a certain brand of concert grand piano gets.
All German, these brands collaborate quietly.
Its island houses amber lit smoked glass cabinets, while the island worktop overtops it to give a curved edge breakfast bar that is a place to perch for breakfast in the morning.
All the cabinetry comes with dust seals to stop particles getting in, and in the case of the bin caddies, odours getting out.
Inside, there is a staggered system of track that allows you to move shelving up and down to your own requirements. The track can also be added to the back of doors.
The track has been designed and built to take weight. It gives up to 30 per cent more volume within.
While entry-level prices start from about €35,000 for an L-shaped design for an apartment or small house-size but, it is very unlikely that you’ll walk away having spent less than €50,000.
Spending on kitchens has tripled, Rafter says. “A new wealth is coming into Ireland from different parts of the world. Some clients spend up to €150,000 on appliances alone.”
Some of his clients buy the same model for their kitchens in all their homes, be it Dublin, Hong Kong, or Milan.
He says this rare breed wants the same look in all their properties.
You can browse the Gaggenau appliances and Occhio lighting ranges that complement the high-end range.
The kitchen selection can then be layered with furniture and furnishings from the French family brand Ligne Roset.
The walnut base Hashira and the Odessa, a rectangular shape with a black lacquered base, are just some of the options available.
To view the collection, visit Arena Kitchens at 120 Maple Avenue, Sandyford, D18
