How to Give Your Kitchen Some Curve Appeal
Functional, straight lines often dominate in kitchen design, but it doesn’t have to be that way...
Entire walls fitted with units, blocky islands, floor-to-ceiling pantries – kitchen design is so often about straight lines, which is odd, really, since curves can work on both a practical and aesthetic level in this busy space.
In these cleverly designed kitchens, curves have been incorporated on worktops, breakfast bars and even extractor hoods, introducing movement and softness, and cutting down on the number of sharp edges.
In these cleverly designed kitchens, curves have been incorporated on worktops, breakfast bars and even extractor hoods, introducing movement and softness, and cutting down on the number of sharp edges.
The kitchen island has a worktop with rounded edges, while the extractor beyond picks up this curved theme and its shape softens a wall of traditional units.
Under the window, rather than stopping at the end of this row of units, the worktop curves back towards the wall. This provides useful additional surface space alongside the sink, but without it looking blocky or sharp.
Tour the whole of this bright kitchen.
Tour the whole of this bright kitchen.
Make waves
While some islands have a curved worktop but traditional ‘straight’ units below, this design goes one better, incorporating a sweeping, textured curve in the base. The shape is echoed in the wall unit behind.
The team at Australia-based Space Craft Joinery suggested this soft shape to the homeowners, who loved the idea. The curved form is contrasted by the straight lines of the timber slats, made from Tasmanian oak.
See more of this beautiful Australian kitchen.
While some islands have a curved worktop but traditional ‘straight’ units below, this design goes one better, incorporating a sweeping, textured curve in the base. The shape is echoed in the wall unit behind.
The team at Australia-based Space Craft Joinery suggested this soft shape to the homeowners, who loved the idea. The curved form is contrasted by the straight lines of the timber slats, made from Tasmanian oak.
See more of this beautiful Australian kitchen.
Zone an island
You can use curved shapes in your space to create zones. This kitchen island, by Kettle Co Kitchens, for example, has a circular worktop adjoining it, clearly separating it from other areas.
The adjacent quartz surface is for prepping food, while the rounded section with an oak worktop is a lovely spot for eating or relaxing. The oak feels warm and inviting, making it ideal for this sociable portion of the island. It also warms up the cool grey and white scheme.
You can use curved shapes in your space to create zones. This kitchen island, by Kettle Co Kitchens, for example, has a circular worktop adjoining it, clearly separating it from other areas.
The adjacent quartz surface is for prepping food, while the rounded section with an oak worktop is a lovely spot for eating or relaxing. The oak feels warm and inviting, making it ideal for this sociable portion of the island. It also warms up the cool grey and white scheme.
Soften a small space
Curves are your friend in a compact kitchen – no sharp edges to knock into; no blocky shapes to clutter the space. This skinny breakfast bar has a curvy end (seen in the next photo, too). It’s a simple design detail that really helps it slot neatly into the petite kitchen.
Curves are your friend in a compact kitchen – no sharp edges to knock into; no blocky shapes to clutter the space. This skinny breakfast bar has a curvy end (seen in the next photo, too). It’s a simple design detail that really helps it slot neatly into the petite kitchen.
The curved end of the breakfast bar also makes it easy to manoeuvre around while working in this small kitchen.
Find a kitchen designer in your area and read reviews from previous clients.
Find a kitchen designer in your area and read reviews from previous clients.
Go round the bend
Use rounded shapes to add features without allowing them to protrude into the space. Here, a dinky curved cupboard provides a pinch of extra storage to the short run of units, designed by Humphrey Munson.
Importantly, the worktop’s curving shape mirrors the sweep of the pantry door as it opens outwards, and extends the useful surface space.
Use rounded shapes to add features without allowing them to protrude into the space. Here, a dinky curved cupboard provides a pinch of extra storage to the short run of units, designed by Humphrey Munson.
Importantly, the worktop’s curving shape mirrors the sweep of the pantry door as it opens outwards, and extends the useful surface space.
Add a surprising semi-circle
Here’s another unobtrusive extra. A curving end unit adds a practical surface and also brings a twist of the unexpected to this traditional kitchen, designed by The Secret Drawer.
The rounded edge of the chopping area shows off the texture of the wood and injects some natural warmth into this grey and white scheme.
Here’s another unobtrusive extra. A curving end unit adds a practical surface and also brings a twist of the unexpected to this traditional kitchen, designed by The Secret Drawer.
The rounded edge of the chopping area shows off the texture of the wood and injects some natural warmth into this grey and white scheme.
Gather round
You don’t need to change classic, straight kitchen cabinets to inject some curvy style into your kitchen – simply work it in with furniture.
This compact circular table has four chairs that tuck in against it. Its neat design makes it the perfect dining solution for the small kitchen, designed by Joy Flanagan Design, and its curves are a nice counterpoint to the straight units.
Tell us…
Could any of these ideas work in your kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
You don’t need to change classic, straight kitchen cabinets to inject some curvy style into your kitchen – simply work it in with furniture.
This compact circular table has four chairs that tuck in against it. Its neat design makes it the perfect dining solution for the small kitchen, designed by Joy Flanagan Design, and its curves are a nice counterpoint to the straight units.
Tell us…
Could any of these ideas work in your kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments.
This kitchen by Nicky Percival has incorporated curves in several places, and they lend a fluid feel to the room. Here, built-in banquet seating is curved to echo the shape of the circular table.