Homeowners are becoming braver with their kitchen colour palettes and are increasingly selecting kitchen designers who are not afraid to inject some character into their designs. With the introduction of a Ice Blue into the Minerva range of solid surface worktops, we asked two experts how they would use this as part of a larger kitchen design.

Matt Heywood

Kitchen Designer

Matt’s experience in the interior design industry provides award-winning Studio 10 Kitchens with a wealth of product knowledge, understanding and application experience. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for great design, Matt believes in British manufacturing, pushing the boundaries of design and creating memorable spaces.“We wanted to create a harmonious blend of eye-catching details; nothing that would detract from the final environment, but a balanced combination of expertly-crafted and individually striking textures and materials. The deep Oxford blue is the colour of the moment, especially when paired with brass accessories, making it a perfect partner for the midnight blue flecks in the Minerva worktop. The brass mesh detailing, paired with the GRAF furniture knob, creates a feel of industrial luxury; this is a trend we’ve seen rise in popularity in the Capital, fast-becoming a favourite for homeowners who are brave enough to make the statement.”

Kate Emsley

Häfele Area Sales Manager

Kate Emsley has worked as a Häfele Area Sales Manager in the North East of England for the last 3 years. Kate brought a rich background in the kitchen industry to the business, having previously worked at a Kitchen Studio, both designing kitchens and in account management.

  “I’ve opted for Farrow & Ball Railings as my accent colour and Farrow & Ball Wimborne White for the remaining kitchen furniture and walls. Keeping the main theme of the kitchen natural and matching the background colour to the beautiful Minerva worktop allows for a daring dark island, accenting the striking blue flecks.”

  “When it comes to introducing colour to kitchens, neutral shades have historically been the preferred choice, with bold accent colours added to give instant personality. When using dark colours as a statement, natural materials such as wood and stone complement perfectly as a neutral colour palette.”

Perfectly matched with…

Terrene LED Ceiling Pendant Light

Available in a single light and up to a cluster of 20, the Terrene ceiling light in gold can be a real kitchen centrepiece. This elegant light adds drama to any kitchen: not only creating a visual effect but giving great illumination to any surface.

Smeg Portofino Range

Injecting a vibrant colour to the scheme is a great way to add personality and originality. Reflecting the worktops’ warm gold flecks, the vibrant orange Portofino Range cooker by Smeg with matching hood makes a great statement. Bold feature colours are very on trend at the moment and coupled with some smaller orange accessories (tins, utensils, crockery), it’s easy to create a stylish statement in the space

Smeg Small Domestic Appliances

    The Smeg 50s Retro small domestic appliances are a simple way of integrating your chosen colours into the kitchen. Choosing the white options for kitchen essentials like kettles or toasters really complements the palette of this kitchen.

Pewter Finesse Salvador Handles

    Hand finished to give a unique patina, which offers an understated but warm and lustrous quality, these handles give your kitchen design a real sense of character.

Flooring

      Soft white painted walls and furniture contrast perfectly with the warm, natural tones of timber in a mid-to-dark oak finish.

Minerva Worktop from Sylmar – Ice Blue

This new worktop is perfect for anyone opting for the fashionable deep blue colourway, paired with beautiful, bold brass. It lends itself to an array of styles, including dark or light, big or small, traditional and modern. With all the benefits of a solid surface – hard-wearing, scratch resistant and long-lasting-   Minerva worktops are flexible and easy to install. Seamless joints and smooth finishes make them a perfect choice for a central island which has become an incredibly desirable feature. Some solid surfaces have restricted sizes and unsightly joints, which can create limitations within the design.

Perfectly matched with…

GRAF Furniture Knob

Brushed Brass

    The GRAF knob’s textured finish gives an industrial feel and the super trendy brass finish adds a contemporary edge to any piece of furniture – perfect for subtly including metallics into your design.

Vauth-Sagel Planero Storage

    The Vauth Sagel kitchen storage range is now available in a lava grey finish. The planero design includes strong metal baskets that move effortlessly during use and ensure that design is carried right through to cabinet interiors.

Häfele Double Belfast Sink

    If you’re looking for an industrial finish but don’t want to compromise on quality and craftsmanship, the Belfast Sink in anthracite is the perfect solution. Designed to imitate concrete, the sink comes in double, single and one-and-a-half variations.

Smeg Linea, Built-In Stream Assist Pyrolitic Single Oven

    Smeg’s Linea range in black features appliances that will blend into dark cabinetry. The range also comes in a silver colour, providing a grey finish to help make sure even your appliances are a design feature.

Find out more about the latest trends in What’s New: The Autumn Edit