In the halls of the biannual Eurocucina, part of the 2014 Salone del Mobile, kitchen and appliance manufacturers preferred substance over style with their new offerings. Here are five new innovations that stressed new uses of materials, long-awaited low-risk designs, and subtle technological innovations.
Known mostly for their bathrooms, Italian brand Antoniolupi introduced the aptly named La Cucina, an ultra-linear kitchen by Roberto Lazzeroni with one continuous countertop in Corian. The light strip in the design is meant to highlight the work done on the countertop, with the ability to customize the unit to any length and with any accessory or instrument inserted into it. The unit comes in both wall and island versions.
The artery-like Ye hood by Fabrizio Crisà for Elica is sleeker than anticipated, thanks to the new use of material in hoods, Cristalplant: an easy-to-clean composite. Its double suction source is augmented by LED spotlights.
Traditional French manufacturer La Cornue has released their first new kitchen model in 30 years, the slender and surprisingly contemporary La Cornue W. Architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte introduced slender legs to the design, but retained all the bells and whistles that the brand is known for: towel rails, large cooktop area, and a vaulted oven.
German luxury brand Miele added a simple interface to their new G6000 dishwashers. Just tap the front door of these handle-free units anywhere twice for it to open automatically.
In an effort to bring more personalization and dimensionality to the fridge-freezer pair, Whirlpool partnered with upholstery and wallcoverings brand Jannelli & Volpi—known for their collaborations with Marimekko and Armani Casa—to create Atelier, a unit with three different raised-pattern options affixed to the appliance’s front doors.
