Design That's Pleasing to the Eye and Touch

Varying the textures and shapes in your kitchen design is a great way to add interest to the room. Consider a range of materials to provide contrast from a visual and tactile perspective. Laminate, stone, glazed or unglazed tile, stainless and wood grain can all make a unique contribution to the final product. Blend curves and straight angles to produce a fresh and even unexpected result. Keeping colors and patterns warm and soft can also help create a welcoming environment.

Extend the concept of contrasting textures to the accessories you choose. Glass or colorful ceramic bowls and vases on wood countertops, and wood or earthenware items on a marble or granite counter, for example.

In the Neff of Chicago kitchen shown, beauty meets practicality. The simply elegant design leverages the visual interest of curved counters and contrasting textures of wood laminates and stainless.

The dark wood of the lower cabinets is European Walnut from the Neff Euro-Laminate line. The wood pattern is vertically grain-matched between the drawer fronts. A high gloss top coat finish completes the look. Upper cabinetry is Cream Rift Oak Euro-Laminate with a horizontal pattern and a textured finish.

The brushed stainless steel used for the hood, cook well and metal drawer fronts was fabricated at the Neff factory. The hood’s two outer panels open like doors to provide additional storage. The ventilation grates/filters are fitted with handles that make them easy to remove for washing.

The overall clean look of the cabinetry is maintained by incorporating a channel system in the doors and reversed hinged push touch hardware on the drawers, eliminating the need for handles. Arched lighting above the upper cabinet doors operates via a touch dimmer under the cabinetry so lighting can be adjusted to fit the task and set the mood.

And what if the mood you want to create is distinctly less modern? Instead of stainless, a metal of choice in a more traditional look might be copper or brass. A hand-painted tile backsplash might be twinned with custom white cabinetry.

The concept of contrast and textural interest is one that can be effectively and beautifully translated into any kitchen style.