European kitchens “light up”

In recent years it has become evident that lighting is becoming a major part of kitchen design. Lighting is no longer only about functionality and task oriented illumination, but ‘mood lighting’ is now also finding its way into European kitchens. Like many trends, this new approach on lighting has its origin in Italy.

Following the Italian style, lights become smaller, more elegant, thinner, more economical, more stylish and even easier to mount. Many varieties are available, including flush mounted and surface mounted. These new design lights give your kitchen a final touch and make it truly special. The kitchen is becoming more and more a focal point of the home and a symbol of pride for the owner. Given this, great lighting design is now more essential to satisfy the customer’s needs for something special and new.

The modern kitchen provides plenty of opportunities for the creative use of lighting in niches and plinths – we can use strip lights or spot lights, flush mounted or surface mounted LEDs and halogen lights. Effect lighting has been around in museums and galleries for years, but it now comes into the home and kitchen in order to highlight items against their general background. The selective use of lighting is effortlessly effective to draw attention to special features. Adding glass to the equation makes the design possibilities even more interesting; LED’s and glass create amazingly elegant and stylish cabinetry.

Also available now are light control systems which enable the adjustment of lighting to suit different situations. There is more than just “on” and “off”. Dynamical light management creates lighting comfort according to individuals and saves energy. The European trend of setting a course by integrating lighting fixtures to give the kitchen an emotional touch is now coming to Australia. As well as the “handle-free” kitchen design, this trend is very attractive for the Australian design community. The idea of an open plan living environment makes the kitchen a major part of the living area and it is therefore much more important to get the kitchen into the “right light”. The new LED lighting technology is ideal for this as the lights have minimal energy consumption, a very low heat built up and extremely long economic lifetimes. LED’s are also safe and easy to handle.

The recently launched “magic” lighting range from Hettich is accommodating these latest European light designs and is the perfect touch to compliment and complete any project. All Australian approved with an easy plug together system, the Hettich “magic” range offers all possibilities of creative, elegant and emotional kitchen lighting.

Make kitchens “sparkle” and more appealing to the customer: “Design with light!”

To see the magic for yourself, click the link on the right to view our interactive flip catalogue which showcases the entire range.