Architecturally designed modular kitchens are flexible, as they can fit any space, from tiny bachelor pads to multi million dollar mansions.
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If you think taking your furniture with you when you move house is an ordeal, consider the fact that in Europe people often take their kitchens, bathrooms and closets with them when they move, says Maxim Gotsutsov, president of Leicht Vancouver. Leicht Kuchen have produced German-made, architecturally designed, modular kitchens since 1928.
In Vancouver’s housing market, it is common for people to buy a home, do a quick renovation and sell it, with the new owner immediately ripping out everything that’s just been installed and replacing it with a proper kitchen and bathroom, says Gotsutsov.
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Kitchens shouldn’t be thought of as disposable, he says, like our iPhones and cars have become, but rather as well-designed, durable and versatile, so you can add or take away elements (like kitchen islands or shelving) as your needs change.
Gotsutsov and his team would like to help people start thinking more sustainably when it comes to kitchen design, touting the benefits of architecturally designed modular kitchens as being long lasting, because they’re made from quality materials, and flexible, as they can fit any space — from tiny bachelor pads to multi million dollar mansions. Leicht kitchens are made in Germany, he says, and are shipped and assembled on site in one to four days (excluding appliances and counter tops).
“Unlike a lot of local millwork cabinetry it’s a modular kitchen, so you can add or subtract to your kitchen throughout your life. It’s meant to be taken apart and put together. We have a display that travels with us that’s been taken apart and reassembled 27 times, and it looks the same as the day it arrived,” he says.
Europe still leads the way in kitchen design trends, says Gotsutsov, and the matte grey finishes that became popular in Europe five or six years ago are now becoming so here.
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“Black and white is still popular in kitchen design in Vancouver and there’s a lot of wood used. Mostly oak floors, with walnut cabinetry is what we see from our clients,” he says.
Italian kitchen design and manufacturing company Arclinea design kitchens that are “made to be used”, says Ross Bonetti, founder of Vancouver’s Livingspace Interiors, who carry the brand’s latest models, displayed in a 3,000-square-foot dream-kitchen showroom.
“They’re one of the companies that use a lot of stainless steel, they’re for people who want a working kitchen, they’re easy to clean and durable,” he says.
Some examples of Arclinea kitchens hard at work are the ones found in the Italian marketplace chain Eataly, dotted around the globe, and in the home of the Italian consulate in Washington, D.C., where much entertaining happens, says Bonetti.
The kitchen is the soul of any home, says Bonetti, and Arclinea kitchens are designed to stand out as features, but also set the tone for the design style of the entire home.
“So it’s not such a different space, or different look from the living room, or the dining room, or the rest of the space,” says Bonetti.
Founded in1925, Arclinea initially produced custom furniture, moving into modern day kitchen production in the late 50s. They began using designer architects to design their kitchen products in the late 70s and 80s, such as famed Italian architect Antonio Citterio, and are now considered leaders in this area, says Bonetti. Their custom kitchens reflect the latest in home design trends, like a move towards darker woods in cabinetry and paneling.
“Things are a bit more moodier than they used to be. We’re seeing a lot of black kitchens. We’re seeing cabinetry in black, sometimes mixed with different woods. A lot of matte black kitchens now,” he says.
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