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How to choose your kitchen: style, colour, materials

8 ottobre 2024

The kitchen is the beating heart of any modern home. It is the place where you prepare your meals, share moments with your family and friends, and it often becomes the centre of your daily activities. Choosing the right kitchen is not just about style. It is also about functionality and comfort. In this guide, we will take you through the most important points to consider when choosing the kitchen that best suits your needs.

The first things to consider when renovating or buying a new kitchen are:

The space available
Your lifestyle and cooking habits
Your favourite design and style
The quality of the materials and finishes used
Your budget

In the following sections, we will look at each of these points in more detail to help you make an informed decision.

A new kitchen: how to choose between a modern kitchen and a classic one?

The main choices are between modern and classic designs when it comes to choosing a kitchen. They both have advantages, and your choice will largely depend on the overall style of your home and your own personal taste.

The key features of a modern kitchen are:

A sleek, minimalist design
Innovative and easy-to-clean materials
Flexible design and customisation

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On the other hand, classic kitchens offer:

A timeless design, featuring stylish and decorative accents like frames and mouldings
Traditional materials such as solid wood
A warm and cosy atmosphere that evokes the warmth and comfort of a home

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Whatever the style, a key element to consider is the space you have available. Both modern and classic kitchens offer space-optimising solutions with different layout configurations:

Linear kitchen: ideal for narrow or small spaces
L-shaped kitchen: great for making use of corners and increasing workspace
U-shaped kitchen: perfect for those who love cooking and need a lot of space
A kitchen with a central island or peninsula: it adds a functional and social element to your kitchen, ideal for open plan spaces

The layout you choose will depend not only on the size of your kitchen, but also on your lifestyle. For example, if you like to entertain guests while you cook, an island or peninsula – whether modern or classic – could be the ideal solution.

All of the Ar-Tre kitchen collections have been designed in a variety of styles.

If you are looking for a design that efficiently supports your daily activities, check out our ideas, tips and practical examples for furnishing your kitchen.

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How to choose a colour scheme for your kitchen: from soft tones to bold colours

Choosing the colour of your kitchen is crucial. It creates the mood you want and reflects your personal style. Colour trends in modern kitchens are constantly evolving, offering a wide range of possibilities.

Here are the latest trends in modern kitchen colour schemes:

Sophisticated neutrals: white, grey and beige continue to be popular colours because of their versatility and brightness.
Earth tones: sage green, midnight blue and brick red are becoming increasingly popular, bringing nature into the kitchen. That is why they are also the colours we have chosen for our new Elite modern kitchen collection.
Bold contrasts: combinations such as black and white, or light wood and steel, create a contemporary and striking look.

Your choice of colour should take into account your personal taste as well as the psychology of colour in the kitchen:

White conveys a sense of cleanliness and spaciousness – ideal for small kitchens.
Grey adds a touch of sophistication and is easy to combine.
Blue can have a calming effect and is perfect for creating a relaxing kitchen environment.
Green evokes a feeling of freshness and nature.
Brick red is earthy. It conveys energy, warmth, stability and security.

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Don’t forget to consider the natural lighting in your kitchen: colours tend to look different under different lighting conditions. If your kitchen does not get much natural light, choose lighter colours to keep the room light and airy.

To create a harmonious look, don't forget to mix and match:

For a warm and cosy look, combine neutral colours with wood finishes.
Use accessories to add a splash of colour and a touch of personality without committing to a permanent bold colour.
Also consider the floor and wall finishes, which should harmonise with the main kitchen colour scheme rather than compete with it.

How to choose a quality kitchen: focus on the materials and finishes that are made to last

Choosing a quality kitchen is essential to ensure durability, functionality and long-term satisfaction. Here are some key factors to consider:

Doors: choose from materials such as melamine, veneer, lacquer or solid wood.
Worktops: choose from quartz resin, ceramic or new generation materials like HPL and Fenix.
Hinges and runners: do not underestimate the importance of these components. At Ar-Tre we select only high-quality hinges and runners that are made to last.
Plinth: consider a height of 12 cm or 8 cm. For example, with the 8 cm height option in the Fly Evo Flo Evo modern kitchen collection, you can increase the internal volume of the base unit, the depth of the worktop and the work surface.

In addition to selecting suitable materials, the quality of the workmanship is a crucial factor. At Ar-Tre, we use an advanced production process. This includes the use of polyurethane glue for the edges to ensure durability against external agents, manual painting for handcrafted elements, robotic painting for high precision finishes, and strict quality control procedures. Our bespoke finishes, such as the 6-pin assembly in the wall unit frame for enhanced stability, and the incorporation of lighting systems and metal reinforcements, ensure that our kitchens are functional, stylish and durable. Find out more about the production process of Ar-Tre kitchens.

Choosing a table, chairs and appliances to complete your kitchen

Choosing the right accessories is essential to make your modern kitchen or classic kitchen complete, functional and in tune with your lifestyle. Here are some key points to consider when choosing key accessories:

How to choose a kitchen table

As well as size and shape, the most important thing is the material, which needs to be durable and blend in with the rest of the kitchen. This is why Ar-Tre allows you to use the same finish as some of the kitchen cabinet doors or the worktop as a tabletop.

We also offer a range of materials for the chairs, from fabric, imitation leather and velvet to wood and polypropylene.

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How to choose your kitchen appliances

A fully equipped kitchen includes essential appliances such as a hob, an oven, a dishwasher, a hood and a fridge. At Ar-Tre, we also offer advanced solutions for easy gourmet cooking. These include blast chillers, wine cellars and steam cooking equipment such as ovens and vacuum drawers. For an even sleeker style, we design and manufacture bespoke furniture to ensure the perfect installation of your appliances.

Other accessories to consider when choosing your kitchen

Lighting: combine general lighting with specific lighting for the different work areas. LED strips under wall units can be both functional and decorative.
Accessory organisers: spice racks, magnetic knife holders, and drawer organisers can make all the difference to everyday functionality. Read more about our guidelines on how to organise your kitchen.

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Choosing a kitchen: the importance of trusting a designer

Choosing the perfect kitchen can be a complex process, which is where the importance of relying on a designer you can trust comes in. An expert can make the difference between a kitchen that just gets the job done and a kitchen that truly enhances the experience of your day-to-day life.

That is why our selected dealers possess:

Experience and expertise: our dealers have a wealth of knowledge about materials, trends and functional solutions that may not be obvious to the untrained eye.
Space optimisation: our dealers know how to make the most of every inch of space available, using our design tools to create solutions tailored to your specific needs.
Save time and hassle: working with our design and production department, your dealer will manage the technical and logistical aspects of the project, leaving you to focus on creative decisions.
Access to exclusive resources: our dealers have access to a range of resources to help you choose and design your dream kitchen.

Ar-Tre understands the importance of quality professional advice, and relies exclusively on a network of carefully selected dealers. These partners have been selected based on their expertise, professionalism and ability to understand customer needs and provide the best possible service.

Remember: your kitchen is a long-term investment. Relying on a trusted designer means investing in the quality, functionality and lasting beauty of the very heart of your home.

How to choose a kitchen: a few final tips

Choosing the perfect kitchen requires attention, planning and a bit of creativity. Let's review the key points we have explored:

The choice between a modern and a classic kitchen should not only reflect your personal taste, but also the style of your home.
The colour you choose is a key factor in setting the mood in your kitchen.
The quality of the materials and finishes is essential to ensure durability and long-term satisfaction.
It is important to choose your accessories carefully – from the table to the electrical appliances – to make sure they are both functional and look great.
Customisation is what makes your kitchen unique and truly yours.
Relying on a trusted designer, like those affiliated with the Ar-Tre network, can make all the difference to the end result.

Remember that the ideal kitchen is the one that perfectly suits your lifestyle, needs and taste. Ready to choose your new kitchen? Ask for your nearest dealer now.

 Ask us about your nearest Ar-Tre dealer