The days of merely utilitarian kitchen design are gone. Kitchen designs today including the Parallel kitchen design and L shaped kitchen design layouts are more than functional spaces; these designs have become reflections of an individual’s personal taste and show how they use that space effectively. In the case of parallel and L-shaped kitchen layouts, these two designs will be among the more popular kitchen design requests going forward, as both layouts use a two-tone laminate colour and texture selection effectively. Mixing two different colour laminates (contrasting colours) and contrast in laminate finishes, creates individual zones for modern kitchen layouts, visually creating depth and balance.
Why Two-Tone Laminates Work in Modern Kitchens
The reason for the success of two-tone laminate in today’s kitchen designs is due to the value it adds to the look of the kitchen. A combination of light and dark laminates (colours) creates depth and sophistication to the design. The durability, ease of maintenance and resistance to the everyday wear-and-tear of laminated surfaces make laminates an ideal choice for both Parallel kitchen design and L shaped kitchen design layouts.
Benefits of Using Two-Tone Laminates in Kitchen Design
By using two-tone laminates in the kitchen design, you gain the following benefits:
- Create visual separation of base and overhead cabinets.
- Create depth and character for smaller kitchen designs.
- Give the designer greater flexibility to mix and match textures and colours when designing the kitchen.
- Provide an optional surface to maintain your kitchen’s everyday cooking environment.
Parallel Kitchen Designs Using Two-Tone Laminates
The best kitchen design for smaller apartments and homes is the Parallel kitchen design, which utilises two parallel counters to provide maximum storage and the most efficient kitchen working triangle.
For example, the use of a light-colour laminate on overhead cabinets allows for more variety in the colour scheme, while a dark-colour laminate on base cabinets anchors the look of the room visually. If one side of the kitchen has a matte finish laminate, then the other side should have a glossy laminate finish. This creates visual balance between light levels in the kitchen, and continues to promote a feeling of openness by allowing the kitchen to have an easy-flowing design rather than a feeling of confinement.
L Shaped Kitchen Designs Using Two-Tone Laminates
The L shaped kitchen design is a great design for all types of homes, but small homes. The layout of the L shaped kitchen design can facilitate a more modern and open, airy feeling in a small apartment or medium-sized home.
The use of a dark laminate on the longer portion of the layout and a light laminate on the shorter section creates visual harmony. The use of wood-finished laminates in conjunction with neutral colours gives warmth to the overall look of the kitchen but provides a modern appearance. Further, they provide a way to draw attention to the corners of the L-shaped kitchen and further emphasise the unique geometry of the kitchen.
Design Tips for Two-Tone Laminate Kitchens
- Create a light, bright kitchen atmosphere by using light-coloured laminates on cabinets located nearest to windows.
- Do not mix two glossy-style laminates; instead mix a matte laminate with a more subtle texturised laminate.
- Use matching styles of cabinet handles, knobs, and hardware to create a neat and uniform look.
- Match laminate colour and style with your countertop and backsplash.
Manufacturers like Royale Touche offer great resources to make the decision of which laminates work well together much easier by providing beautiful, durable laminate collections with uniform finishes.
Conclusion
Regardless of which layout you choose-a Parallel kitchen design for its efficiency or an L shaped kitchen design for its flexibility-the two-tone laminate kitchen will add depth, character, and function to your kitchen. If done correctly and creatively, a two-tone laminate design can provide a modern, aesthetically free-flowing, and visually balanced kitchen space.