The Quiet Luxury Appliance Trend — What Designers Choose Now
A few years on from the trend’s conception, our obsession with the quiet luxury aesthetic is yet to die down. Elegant but not showy, welcoming while still elevated, it’s everything we hope to emulate in our interiors, especially in the kitchen. But it seems the designers are one step ahead of us: while we’ve all been focusing on the best materials and color palettes, the experts have found a whole new wave of quiet luxury in the kitchen, and this time, it’s all about your appliances.
The quiet luxury kitchen is all about the intersection between chic and discreet, and that applies to appliances just as much as the design. You could have the most luxurious marble counters and the most spotless tiled floors, and it would all mean nothing if your appliances aren’t up to scratch.
These appliances aren’t just about elegant, seamless design though; they’re also about premium performance. And the top designers have shared the appliances they’re seeing in every quiet luxury kitchen at the moment.
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1. Extra Width Fridges
A two-door, concealed fridge is the ultimate flex in quiet luxury kitchen design.
(Image credit: Naked Kitchens)
Sometimes, bigger is better. Or, at least, it is when it comes to your fridge.
A step up from the average refrigerator, nowadays, kitchen designers are noticing a growing desire for extra-wide fridges in luxury homes.
Explaining the shift driving this kitchen appliance trend, Richard Moore, creative director of luxury kitchen design brand Martin Moore, shares, “We have seen a marked increase in our clients entertaining at home and multi-generational cooking, often inspired by gap-year travels. As a result, we often specify capacious 1200-wide fridges to store a multitude of specialist, fresh ingredients.”
These extra-wide designs, often described as ‘American-style fridges’, don’t just offer a larger capacity; they often boast various other features, too, like integrated ice-dispensers and even wifi connectivity, if you opt for a smart kitchen tech design.
Post-pandemic, hosting has become more central to the way we design our kitchens than ever before, and these extra-large fridges are a testament to that fact. Plus, as fresh ingredients become more of a commodity, this too is being reflected in the world of luxury kitchen design.
Richard Moore
Established back in 1975 by husband-and-wife duo, Barbara and Martin Moore, the eponymous kitchen brand has a rich history of luxurious, British kitchen design. Over 50 years on, it remains a family business, with Richard and Mike Moore running the show.
Haier
Freestanding 60/40 American Fridge Freezer
An affordable choice compared to most American-style refrigerators, this design provides plenty of space, with an impressive 520L capacity, and looks just as smart and sleek as any other more costly alternative.
LG
InstaviewFreestanding 60/40 Non-Plumbed American Fridge Freezer
One of the most luxe fridges on the market, the LG Instaview offers smartphone compatibility, super generous proportions, and, thanks to the Instaview feature, you can see inside your fridge without even opening the door.
Samsung
Series 7 Freestanding 70/30 American Smart Fridge Freezer With Spacemax
If maximum capacity is your biggest concern, this Samsung fridge could be the one for you. The SpaceMax design uses thinner walls to allow for increased food storage. Plus, the dual ice maker keeps you stocked with two different types of ice at all times.
2. Integrated Tech
Smooth, seamless cabinetry with a concealed fridge helps create a more elegant finish.
(Image credit: Dave Wheeler. Design: Smac Studio.)
So much of what makes the quiet luxury aesthetic is the understated elegance of it all. Nothing is too obvious or too showy. It’s all about discretion. And nothing epitomizes that quite like an integrated appliance.
When comparing freestanding vs built-in kitchen appliances, built-in designs will always create a sleeker, minimalist kitchen feel, with the opportunity to design uninterrupted runs of kitchen cabinetry.
As Bronwen Lee, designer at Harvey Jones, explains, “Integrated designs help maintain a calm, uncluttered aesthetic, allowing the architecture of the space to take center stage.”
Integrated appliances seamlessly blend in with their surroundings, their functionality hidden behind a pristine cover. This has become particularly popular with the rise of open-plan living, with people increasingly driven to create kitchens that don’t necessarily look like kitchens.
“There’s a growing appreciation for appliances that blend seamlessly into the wider design, reflecting a broader move towards refined interiors that are designed around how people live rather than how a room should be used,” explains Bronwen.
This is being reflected in the launches from top kitchen appliance brands, too. Just take Miele’s stunning Beige Pearl oven as an example; with its lovely soft neutral finish and sleek design, it’s a clear expression of the market demand for more seamless, elegant-looking appliances.
3. Invisible Hobs
The invisible hob lives up to its name, only detectable via the two small control knobs on the edge of the countertop.
(Image credit: Roundhouse)
“Another example of hidden appliances is the invisible hob,” says Isabella Pacelli, a designer from Roundhouse. A step beyond integrated appliances, these undercover invisible hobs are the future of luxury kitchen design.
Made using Dekton kitchen worktops, these futuristic hobs aren’t just discreet; they’re invisible. Typically installed within the kitchen island, the hob is completely undetectable when not in use, making it a particularly appealing choice for those who want their kitchen to resemble a swanky home bar rather than a functional cooking area.
In a similar vein, Isabella also notes the growing popularity of vented hobs, drawing particular attention to the circular, integrated extraction style used by Bora. “Vented hobs eliminate the issue of unsightly extraction hood systems, especially when a client wants their hob to be situated on the island,” explains Isabella. “They are incredibly efficient and have become a favourite in luxury kitchen designs.”
4. Range Ovens
At this years WOW House, Martin Moore used a sage green Officine Gullo range cooker.
(Image credit: James McDonald. Design: Samantha Bartlett and Martin Moore)
One of the most iconic traditional kitchen features, the range oven was once thought of as a feature exclusive to countryside, rustic kitchens, but over recent years, we’ve seen these designs pop up in just about every luxury kitchen project around, and we couldn’t be happier for it.
From La Cornue’s stunning Parisian ovens to the classically English look of an AGA, there are countless options within this category, each containing its own unique charm. If you’re looking for a “custom design to match your bespoke kitchen furniture,” Bronwen says, “Officine Gullo have a wonderful range of colors and finishes,” while a Lacanche is ideal for creating a luxe, chef kitchen effect.
These ovens are growing in popularity, especially within large, family homes, where the kitchen is designed to be the center of family life. There’s something inviting and timeless about a range oven, and it brings a vintage warmth to any space.
As much as I still love the look of a quiet luxury kitchen, there’s a new trend that’s entered the scene that could steal its spot: introducing the quietly dramatic kitchen. Taking the foundations of the quiet luxury aesthetic and adding a little extra oomph, we can’t get enough of these kitchen designs.
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