“The kitchen is evolving from a place of function to a place of feeling.” That’s the view of prominent author and futurist William Higham, who shared his thoughts with delegates at an event called The Future Kitchen in London earlier this year. It was hosted by Middleby Residential, whose brands include Aga, La Cornue and Novy, and Mr Higham – the author of the book, ‘The Next Big Thing – Forecasting Consumer Trends for Profit’ – explained how the home was becoming a cocoon, shielding us from the anxiety and uncertainty in the world today.
“The kitchen is becoming the (home’s) social hub – a place to work, eat, talk and share. It’s no longer just a functional space; it’s an emotional one,” he said, predicting that future kitchen layouts would reflect the growing emphasis on sociability, with larger, more flexible spaces blurring the boundaries between cooking, dining and living zones even more than now.
It’s a view that has captured the attention of Reginox UK Commercial Director, Dave Mayer, who says: “It’s a trend we are seeing being increasingly recognised by housebuilders, who can see the importance of the kitchen as a social hub in a new build home, so they are actually beginning to create larger spaces in response consumer demand for open kitchen and living areas.”
Reginox’s constantly evolving range of sinks and taps is driven by paying close attention to consumers’ desires and those of professionals in the sectors it serves – housebuilders, developers, contractors, specifiers, B2B KBB suppliers, DIY retailers, multi-outlet merchants and kitchen furniture manufacturers.
“I strongly believe it’s that customercentric mindset that makes us a major player in the UK – and international – kitchen, building and project markets,” adds Dave.
“We have an unparalleled product offering, and I strive to ensure that our team offer our customers the best quality products and prices all backed up by our service-driven approach that means we operate with a ‘complete, on-time, every time’ philosophy.”
And while housebuilders are recognising the demand for bigger kitchen/living areas, people living in new builds with smaller kitchen areas are also fuelling the trend by knocking walls down and/or having extensions built.
A 2024 report showed that more than 45% of UK homeowners renovated their kitchen to be more open, with a third opting for a completely open-plan design, according to Houzz, the project management, ideas and design website for homeowners and trades.
New collection with futuristic appeal
Another futuristic prediction suggested by Mr Higham is a shift to softer aesthetics, natural materials and designs that invite people to connect with, and enjoy, their surroundings, declaring that ‘luxury is no longer about status or price’ but a more ‘personal, nurturing idea of home’.
Dave Mayer: “Regardless of space, every kitchen consumer and designer is looking to create a wow factor, and I think our range of sinks and taps has a role to play in a kitchen of any size. But, of course, any wow factor calls for quality combined with style.”
The newest addition to the Reginox UK sinks range is a collection of granite sinks designed and manufactured in Italy by one of its long-standing partners. The Reginox-branded Elite Granite Collection offers high-quality, coloured materials combined with stylish designs and differing shapes, bowl and drainer patterns, made up of two different materials – ALTEQ and SYNTEQ.
ALTEQ is a composition of natural granite and acrylic resin, made to exploit the natural essence of quartz. Created through a specialised process, using fully coloured granite particles, ALTEQ sinks are easy to clean, timeless, durable and versatile, with a high resistance to shock and temperature changes.
Innovation is at the vanguard of our SYNTEQ sinks too. It is recognisable by its ease of cleaning with a smooth, zeroporous water and stain repellent surface that provides high resistance to thermal shock and impact, abrasion and UV radiation.
Dave Mayer: “The granite collection reflects our understanding of the importance of hassle-free maintenance and easy cleaning, and our dedication to providing customers with products that combine style, functionality, and durability at competitive prices.”
Models in the collection include
SYNTEQ’S BEST and MULTA, while the ALTEQ collections features QUADRA, EGO and EASY – all with long guarantees. The newly branded granite collections take the current Reginox UK range to 150 sinks in various materials, sizes and combinations. It is complemented by 56 taps – including 4-in-1 and 3-in-1 hot water models – accessories, and other peripheral products sold via an extensive network of strong trading partnerships.
It appears the kitchen of the future is closer than we think, and Reginox is excited to be part of it!
For more information use, www.rdr.link/dbh037
