Ask an expert

Smeg’s Tony Lee offers his opinion on current trends, design-savvy consumers and his forecast for the future

1. What have been the main challenges facing the kitchen industry up until now?
I think it has really been what are the main challenges facing the prospective customer of the industry’s talents. Until recently, and full marks to organisations, particularly KBDi, there has been very little collective identity of quality design, construction and marketing. It has been a very untidy area to venture into for a novice renovator, in particular.

2. What do you think the future holds for the kitchen industry?
Extraordinary growth, particularly in the quality middle and upper budgets. We, all being consumers of information, are continually being exposed to quality design through so many arms of the media. We have a voracious appetite for good design through magazines and television and are, even unwittingly, becoming very good critics.

3. How influential do you think overseas trends are?
Strong, particularly, from Europe and east Asia. We certainly don’t follow because it is laid down by their industries, but we do successfully filter long-term style from hip fashion. Our audience (and consumers) are more mature, life experienced and, honestly, more world weary of trends.

4. What do you think the next 12 months hold in terms of emerging trends?
We are all aware of Eurocucina and similar, though smaller, celebrations of design. We are all aware of the avante garde that struts itself at these fairs. It is from these wonderful expos that we are very rapidly becoming aware that absolutely anything goes! There seems to be so many legitimate threads of design that are in vogue. This is wonderful. What I’m enjoying is the use of texture in all materials, the wider use of glass for unheard-of, until recently, surfaces such as cabinet fascias and benches, and the incredibly specialist compact appliances that can be tailored into a client’s kitchen ensemble. May I be forgiven for not trumpeting the “green” angle to everything. I’m sure we should let this sit firmly with the material manufacturers and let us get on with great design.

5. What does the future hold for Tony Lee?
Surprisingly, the “anything goes” aspect of design (and materials) is actually quite liberating. It’s good not to belong to a school of thought. Professionally, I’m extending myself into the designers’ sphere more and more as I do find their candor refreshing and very, very practical.

6. Any final thoughts?
How about a final wish? Cool Hunter creates a kitchen design category!

 

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Image courtesy of Smeg

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