80s Kitchen Aesthetic Returns with modern Refinement
PARIS, FRANCE – Immaculate white kitchens, a hallmark of 1980s design, are experiencing a resurgence in popularity, but with a distinctly contemporary twist. Rather than the shiny laminates and stark lines of the original era,today’s iteration emphasizes complex materials and subtle contrasts,according to a recent report in Le Journal de la Maison.
The shift includes matte cabinet façades replacing lacquered finishes, natural stone worktops superseding Formica, and a focus on revealing nuanced shades of white. Roundhouse’s Urbo range exemplifies this trend, utilizing “subtle variations of white” to create both bright and inviting spaces.
“most homeowners appreciate the benefits of testing colors on site,but with white,it’s crucial,” explains Ben Hawkswell,senior designer at Roundhouse. “Here we used Hardwick White from Farrow & Ball, an off-white that transforms into a soft gray depending on the light.”
Alongside the return of white kitchens, glass cabinets are also gaining traction, offering visual lightness and a way to structure space. Designers like Jayne Everett of Naked Kitchens note that glass cabinets “visually lighten a kitchen, to highlight selected objects and soften the impact of massive storage blocks.” Sebastian Cox’s Brogan Cox views them as “a window to what gives us pleasure, a way to give character to a functional space,” while Tom Howley highlights their benefit for smaller kitchens, maximizing light and creating an “illusion of depth.”
