A well-designed kitchen is good for far more than cooking. Both a hosting hub and family gathering destination, it's one of the most important rooms of any home. And when it comes to aesthetics and functionality, the small details – materials, finishes, and appliances – make all the difference.
When designing your own culinary space, it can be tempting to follow fads, but redesigning (or even just sprucing up) the kitchen can turn into a hefty investment. Often, classic and enduring designs are the better way to go. But on the quest to curate a timeless space, you shouldn't have to ignore this year's hottest kitchen trends – they're well-loved and appealing for a reason. That's where Smeg comes in.
With over 70 years of kitchen appliance design under its belt, Smeg is known for its stylish and sleek kettles, coffee makers, and more. Recently, Smeg's new managing director, Daniel Hadley, sat down with H&G to share how small, well-made appliances can make a huge difference in the kitchen – whether you'd like to follow the trends or stick with timeless standbys.
'I arrived in March, and one of the big things that attracted me was the heritage composition of [Smeg], because what it has enabled us to do is be innovative and playful but still stick to heritage,' says Daniel. 'I think that's really what's brought us through.'
In 1948, Smeg was founded by Vittorio Bertazzoni Sr. in Guastalla, a town in Northern Italy. And over the course of the brand's 70-year history, it hasn't shied away from its Italian heritage, and has displayed it through premium coffee expertise and cooking prowess. Daniel says one of his priorities as managing director is embracing an 'unapologetically Italian' mindset – 'that's us, and that's a point of difference,' he says.
'We've moved with the generations by being colorful, playful, and fun, but we've stuck to heritage design in the background. I think the big thing for me on heritage is you have to remain true. If you try to be a heritage brand without having heritage, you're not remaining true to who you are,' he says.
1. Using bright, bold appliances as accents
After an era of gray and white kitchens galore, designers and homeowners are looking to bring a bit more color into their culinary spaces. But often, when it comes to selecting bright and bold shades, our eyes prove bigger than our stomachs. Picking a color and running with it can feel a bit intimidating, and many get cold feet before going through with a new coat of paint or colorful tile backsplash install.
Appliances often offer the perfect solution to this dilemma – Daniel says that Smeg's selection and accessibility makes introducing brighter hues a bit less overwhelming. Instead of investing in a new countertop or kitchen island, opt for a bright Smeg kettle or statement-making toaster, says Daniel.
'What Smeg allows you to do is put color on your worktop at a far more achievable price point,' he adds. 'That puts a pink kettle on your worktop where you probably thought about having pink on your walls, got a bit anxious about it, and probably moved away from that.'
Daniel agrees that the tides are changing when it comes to color in the kitchen, sharing that his parents would 'never' have bought the brand's bright orange range cooker, but now we see bold appliances appearing more and more frequently. This want for color ties into an increased tendency to host and entertain in the kitchen, too. By expressing yourself through your kitchen's design scheme, you're able to show off your personality to friends and family as they visit.
'You go and buy new-build homes and they've all got open-plan kitchens now, because they are the heartbeat and people entertain in their kitchens. Drawing rooms are a bit of a thing of the past,' says Daniel. 'I think it's about bringing heritage products into those more playful settings for enjoyment and being expressive in those moments.'
2. Going retro with your appliance style
Retro style is another trend making waves in interior design this year, and Smeg's iconic designs fit right in. Daniel says he believes people are especially drawn to the nostalgic look in the kitchen. Just like in fashion, the kitchen trend cycle repeats itself, and certain design styles come back again and again.
The key to getting the retro look down is blending old-school charm with modern-day design sensibility, and appliances offer a fitting route to achieve this balance. Daniel says that Smeg is constantly trying to achieve this transitional design, allowing homeowners to decide how trendy, nostalgic, or modern they'd like to go.
'We need to bring the heritage brands to be associated with more modern design for some people, and allow people to make that choice. Because people will make that choice – they'll vote with their wallet,' he says.
3. Creating entertaining spaces with select appliances
Although Smeg has a wide range of appliances, spanning from stand mixers to washing machines, Daniel has a current favorite piece: the newest Semi-Professional Espresso Machine.
'La Pavoni is a brand that Smeg owns, and it sits again, right at the heritage of Italy,' he says. 'We've taken that heritage and combined it with Smeg, and created a coffee machine that's easy to use but delivers an extremely good, semi-professional coffee.'
Not only does the machine make high-quality espresso, but it also brings Daniel's friends and family together in the kitchen. A rising priority in kitchen design schemes, this community focus guides Smeg's ethos as well.
'I think more and more people are inviting people over to their homes,' he says. 'If you look at kitchens now versus what they used to be, they’re now big and expressive, and it’s all about enjoyment. It’s the heartbeat of every household. And actually, we're all about entertaining.'
'Whether that be round for coffee, whether it be about cooking your favorite dish for your friends, we want to be individuals. We want to be personalized in those things and create these dishes, those coffees for our friends,' he continues.
This chic, sleek toaster fits breakfast for the whole family, and its high-quality design was up to the test – when Homes & Gardens gave it a try, it provided 'even toasting' and 'easy tactile controls.'
If you're not quite up for the semi-professional, manual espresso machine Daniel recommended, this one's more streamlined and to the point – while still making excellent coffee.
This small yet mighty kettle received a near-perfect score when we put it to the test, gaining points for quality, a quiet boil, and an easy clean.
Whether the retro, colorful look is just right for your space, or you're looking for something more classic, Smeg's selection has functionality and sleek aesthetics front of mind.
