We’ll admit – our annual trip to the Häcker factory in Germany is always a hotly-anticipated item on our yearly calendar here at Kitchen Design Centre. Like many creative service sectors, kitchen design has always been a very fast-moving industry, so the trip is obviously important to us as designers, as it provides us with a valuable opportunity to keep our knowledge and skills sharp when it comes to the latest trends and technologies in kitchen design. That way, we can always be sure we’re delivering the very best service to you, our customers. What’s more, it’s always fascinating seeing what the latest trends have in store!
If you’ve ever taken the opportunity to visit us in one of our designer kitchen showrooms across the North West, you’ll probably have heard of Häcker. The company is one of the most prestigious manufacturers of kitchen furniture in the world, and a key supplier of ours at Kitchen Design Centre. Häcker’s two ranges include ‘Classic’ and ‘systemat’, and our designers have overseen their installation in some truly stunning customer kitchens.
Since our designers make this pilgrimage every year, we’ve naturally come to expect big things, and we’re pleased to say we weren’t disappointed! In the tranquil little town of Rödinghausen, home of Häcker kitchens, there were some fantastic new displays for our designers to explore. Some of the most recent emerging trends were defined by high-quality materials such as glass and ceramic, which were used to create opulent and brilliantly moody designs. We have to say, we were most taken with the use of glass in particular. The material conveys a beautifully luxurious sense on almost everything it touches.
In fact, black was another common trend amongst the designs we saw. Whether it was being used to create a classy, contemporary effect, or being used to create striking dramatic contrasts, we found ourselves falling in love with black all over again. We particularly loved the most creative uses of it – there were lots of overlays in texture for us to explore, which gave many of the displays a wonderfully tactile feel.
Many of the new designs also showcased the cutting-edge TOUCHfree surface sealing. Essentially, it’s a highly-effective anti-fingerprint coating which ensures that their stunning textured designs always stay pristine – even with all the daily usage it would endure from the busiest of family kitchens. Personally, we think it’s likely to be very popular with our customers here at Kitchen Design Centre. As any parent or pet owner knows, one of the biggest challenges with contemporary kitchens can often be to keep them clean!
There’s lots more from Germany, of course, but if we went into exhaustive detail you’d be here forever! As always, we got plenty of inspiration from our Häcker visit, so if you want to find out how we’re putting it into practice, why not pay a visit to one of our designer kitchen showrooms? We’ve got locations in Blackburn, Manchester and Barrowford, so wherever you live in the North West you’ve never got far to go before you can sit down and have a chat with one of our friendly, talented designers, every one of whom is deeply passionate about helping you to make your dream kitchen a reality!
TRADITION MEETS MODERNITY IN OUR LIVERPOOL SHOWROOM
In our Liverpool showroom, we’ve masterfully blended the best of traditional and modern design elements to create a unique, timeless kitchen display. This space is a perfect mix of classic elegance with contemporary functionality, and the focal point is the stunning L-shaped island, which serves as both a practical workspace and a social hub. Its clever design seamlessly links into a media wall and presentation area, incorporating the essence of modern open-plan living.
The colour scheme is a sophisticated mix of Concept130 Roma Graphite shaker cabinets paired with Montreal light fine oak handleless units and taupe trim handles. This combination offers a perfect balance between traditional craftsmanship and contemporary design, perfect if you appreciate the classics but want something a little more updated.
Standout appliances:
Neff 30cm Wine Fridge
Neff 80cm Induction Hob
Neff Single Oven
Neff Tall Integrated Fridge
Neff Dishwasher
MODERN MINIMALISM AT ITS FINEST IN OUR URMSTON SHOWROOM
Our Urmston showroom display showcases a bold, modern kitchen design that effortlessly blends both form and function. The handleless units create a streamlined, uninterrupted flow throughout the space, perfectly complemented by the ultra-matt black finish on the worktops. This pairs beautifully with the elegant black ribbed-veneered door for the focal wall.
This minimalist design approach offers a chic, contemporary vibe, ideal if you love the clean, clutter-free aesthetic. To enhance this look, we’ve used warm accent colours that break up the monochrome palette, adding a sense of inviting depth and warmth to the overall space. The subtle, extravagant marble panels add a touch of quiet luxury, their natural veining providing visual interest and texture against the sleek black surfaces, especially when lit by warm LED lighting. This fusion of modern materials and timeless elements, such as marble, creates a display that is both stylish and practical!
Standout appliances:
Neff N90 Ovens with premium 6.8” touch screen display and Twist Pad Flex control
Neff Flex Induction Hob
Silgranit Blanco Sink
Quooker Tap
THE BARROWFORD SHOWROOM’S HARMONIOUS AND ELEGANT DISPLAY
In Barrowford, we’ve embraced a calming, earthy palette that combines functionality with elegance. The display features Hampton Ash wood doors painted in a Natural Umber shade, mixed with Scala Olive green flat doors, and completed with a mix of antique brass handles. The warm, neutral tones of the Natural Umber give this kitchen a wonderfully cosy feel, making it a welcoming space for both cooking and entertaining.
One of the key features of this display is the 30mm Vanilla Noir quartz worktop, which stands out with its dark, characterful design. The designer bench seating includes pullout storage to maximise space without sacrificing style. The bifold worktop unit and sliding doors on the island showcase smart storage solutions. Finally, the open shelves add a touch of rustic charm!
Standout appliances:
Neff Collection Oven
Neff XL Fridge Freezer
Quooker Classic Fusion Tap
Double Bowl Tartufo Sink
THE BLACKBURN SHOWROOM’S SLEEK AND MODERN MASTERPIECE
Our new Blackburn display is a testament to a modern, streamlined design. It features a bold black and oak colour scheme, seamlessly blending practicality and contemporary aesthetics. The tall units are clad in a Black Velvet Oak, adding depth and contrast to the sleek black wall units. The Toronto base units and matching worktops are finished in Natural Vintage Oak for a beautiful and cohesive end result.
One of the standout elements of this display is the quirky curved breakfast bar, a unique feature that blends functionality with style. Raised planters behind the bar add a touch of greenery; perfect if you love bringing natural elements into your kitchen.
Standout appliances:
Neff 60cm CombiZone Black Induction Hob
Integrated Design Hood
Neff Fully-integrated dishwasher
Neff Integrated Frost Free Under Counter Freezer
More from the team’s annual trip to Germany to the headquarters of Hacker Rodinghausen showroom.
Staff from all of our showrooms attended to view the new exciting ranges of kitchens and colours that are available from now. They were given a full factory tour & took part in product workshops. It was an intensive 2 x day trip however they had a fabulous time.
Head to our stories for more details or head over to our website to book your free design appointment
#kitchendesign #kitchenremodel #kitchenrenovation #kitchendesignideas #kitchendesigner #teambuilding
