A Foretaste of Nolte's In-House Fair 2018

Every year, Nolte gives its customers and retailers an opportunity to espy the latest collection of kitchens. This year too, the annual In-House Fair 2018 which took place in Lohne, Germany from 15th to 21st September also had to offer the new collection and a class of elegance. The theme of the fair was "My life. My Style. My kitchen." People from 64 different countries came together for the fair to witness the kitchens with personality.

Individuality and uniqueness are expressed in the way we furnish our homes. We want to adorn our homes with natural materials and colours, which give us a feeling of timelessness. Some like it stylishly elegant, while others prefer the expressively emotional side. Therefore, this year, Nolte has selected Oak, a new natural material which is able to represent both, giving the kitchen an individual character. For instance: TAVOLA with an Oak Pinot veneer shown in a MatrixArt handle-less design. Oak can be combined with white for contrast. But there is freedom to vary the design from a range of different shades, a choice between cool and warm white. What's trending is the matt door fronts available with a laminate that turns fingerprints invisible, thus further enhancing the overall appearance.

Details make the difference. This is also true when choosing the handles – or deciding to go without them! If the kitchen is handle-less all the focus is on the surfaces.

The latest fronts also are expressively emotional like the Flame Scarfed Oak from the ARTWOOD range provides the frame for FEEL in Sahara. The decor is also used on the island, creating a fluent transition to the dining area with matching shelves and thus enhancing the living room ambience.

Another noteworthy mention at the fair was the VIDA Cotton Papyrus, a new door ranges made from recycled materials – from the fibre board through to the decor paper used – making it a lasting contribution as part of the environmental protection.

Flamed wood is becoming increasingly popular. It lends an original, rough charm to the kitchen and the adjoining areas. Using real wood or an impressively realistic decor as the alternative remains a matter of taste, just like the choice of contrast. The latter can be a natural shade or an accent using a favourite colour, which is likely to be found among the 20 nuances of Nolte’s Matt Lacquer Concept. The kitchen, designed seamlessly with harmonising worktops, panels and living room elements, is guaranteed to be an individual statement.

The fair also had a master chef event, a live band show, vox populi, the latest collection and product innovations.

Team India at Lohne, Germany

Watch the video for the major highlights.

The Open Kitchen Arguments - Breaking Assumptions

Imagine if kitchens were people, they would say, “Throwback Thursday to 1980s or 1990s, those were the days when we were located inside four walls and had no access to the other rooms. Very few people came to visit us and even if they did food was the only reason they would drop in and move back to the living room. Thanks to the open kitchens, there’s so much fun and freedom now.” Well, we are sure modern open kitchens feel that way and are the happiest.

But let’s just not jump guns, instead have a productive debate and go a little bit in-depth and share what the arguments are.

Based on our research, we have stated some of the major reasons why people choose closed kitchen over an open kitchen. Also, we have provided a counter argument and solutions with insights.

1. In an open kitchen, people come whenever they please and disturb your peace. So cooking in a closed kitchen is great because you won’t have any disturbance or interruption. 

Solution: Imagine having guests over to your place and you can’t help but be in the kitchen and cook. Aren’t you going to be missing all the fun? While everyone else is swapping stories and telling funny anecdotes or jokes, you’re completely left out the entire time. Not only are you missing out on all the fun, you are also left to operate in a potentially cramped area. With an open concept kitchen, you can join in the conversation, get help from friends and family and do a lot of things which you really can’t when you are in a closed off space.

2. In an open kitchen, the smells could spread across the living room, whereas in a closed kitchen the foul smells are confined within the space.

Solution: Another way to look at this is that the closed kitchens are poorly ventilated and receive less natural light simply because they are surrounded by a number of walls. Therefore, having an open kitchen with windows is the best solution and these days, modular kitchens do have electric chimneys and exhaust fans which prevents the infiltration of kitchen smells and smoke and absorbs them effectively.

3. Open kitchen showcases all the mess while a closed one hides them.

Solution: When you decide you want a open kitchen it’s quite clear that you are aware of the fact that open kitchens require more space than a closed one. When there’s plenty of space there will be plenty of place for cabinets and drawers to organise your Chinaware, kitchenware and appliances. If you’re worried that your guests will be terrified when they see the kitchen waste, or things lying out, don’t fret, Nolte kitchens have a garbage bin in the lower cabinet that has both wet and dry section. This will allow you to clean the mess easily. And if you’re worried about the clutter Nolte allows you to customise your kitchens so that if want more cabinets to hide your pots and pans consider it’s done.

4. More walls means more storage.

Solution: Whoever said open kitchen means less storage have a faintest idea of the concept. The idea of an open kitchen design creates the illusion of more space. When areas are divided by walls, they appear to be smaller than they actually are. An open concept kitchen removes the barrier between the cooking area and the entertaining area, allowing one to flow seamlessly into the other. So what if you don’t have a wall, there’s some much more you can store in the wall shelf or island with cabinets. For example, Nolte Legno is an open kitchen with wall-sized cabinet doors that hides all the clutter and gives you more storage space leaving your kitchen uncluttered.

5. Closed kitchens keep sound confined to the kitchen space whereas open kitchens do not. 

Solution: Even if you have a closed kitchen the sounds of chopping, washing, sauteing, frying, cooker whistles, appliances like mixers, dishwashers, the noises will still disturb the conversation or decorum of the house. Some aspects cannot be controlled all the time but only to some extent. For instance, if you have appliances that have a silent features that will solve most of your problems. In addition, Nolte drawers and cabinets come with a soft close features which means there won’t be any slamming noise of the drawers.

The brighter side

Open kitchen means limitless possibilities. You have a bigger space at your disposal with no dividing walls. Homeowners today have started experimenting a lot. They are getting inclined towards the open form of kitchen primarily because it lets them spend more time with their families and guests and makes serving them drinks and snacks easier. They can keep a better eye on their children or guests who are in the other rooms. This layout allows you to interact with your guests while you’re preparing the food. Open kitchen includes kitchen-diners, multi-purpose cooking, eating, living areas and large family kitchens that act as a nerve centre for the entire household. It's a place where everyone can muck in together to prepare a meal, sit down to eat it and clear up afterwards. One can entertain themselves even while cooking by watching movies in between. It's where children can absorb some of the basic skills involved in cooking through sheer proximity to the main focus of activity; where parents can keep an eye on youngsters playing or doing their homework. It's somewhere friends and visitors can drop by and instantly feel welcome; inevitably, in households where there are pets, it's also where you'll find the dog basket or the cat curled up in a patch of sun.
Open kitchens today have become an informal space where one can entertain, cook with family and friends and host informal brunches. It’s more of a Social Kitchen as we call it.

But then, eventually, you’ll just have to figure out what’s best for you, your family, and your lifestyle. There’s no set formula as everyone has different needs and preferences, so list down your likes and dislikes, and work around them. Your choice of kitchen design should also depend on the amount of space you have!

A Panel Discussion on Social Kitchen and the Future of Kitchens

The IIID (Institute of Indian Interior Designers) Bangalore in association with Nolte, organised 'The Social Kitchen', event on February 23rd, 2018 at the flagship store in Koramangala Bangalore. The event was filled with spirited discussions, amazing insights, and fun around the kitchen. For “On The Grill” session, Celebrity Chef Manu Chandra (Executive Chef at Olive Bar & Kitchen Bangalore), Architect Gayatri Shetty (main coordinator and Immediate Past Chairperson IIID, Bangalore), and Architect Sandeep Khosla (Founder & Principal- Khosla Associates) were the key persons for the discussion.

Today's kitchens are much more than a kitchen, they are smart and larger part of a family's living space. Nolte's definition of The Social Kitchen - It's the place where the family gathers, where children play, and where friends are entertained. Where thoughts are shared and memories made. It's the multi-faceted heart of the beautiful home. Here's an insight into the sizzling conversations.

Gayatri: We are going to discuss, debate, converse about the kitchen being a social space, and of course, the next session we will talk about the future of kitchens.

Gayatri: I am going to ask Manu to just talk a little bit about himself and all the reference, yeah?

Manu: Well, so I think I am sure a lot of people here have kids who are growing up and want to be a chef. That's how it started with me. We had no cable TV, in fact, we had no TV at home for five years because the folks decided that we were terrible students which we were. So the refuge for me was the kitchen and when you had nothing else to do you finished your homework, you went into the kitchen and that was really where the love fair with food started. I studied at St. Stephens in Delhi. After college, I went off to New York where I studied the culinary arts, worked few years, outstanding experience. And came back under due rest to India in 2004 and became head chef in Bangalore for a restaurant called Olive. (Today is Olive Bar And Kitchen)

Gayatri: So I just wanted to get started with Sandeep saying can you just give us a couple of words, you know, since we all know now that the kitchen is the new social space. What are your thoughts while talking to families and clients about this space in a home?

Sandeep: Well, the kitchen has, of course, come out of the closet. It's come from the back of the house as we saw in the presentation to the front of the house. In the 1930s, Frank Lloyd Wright designed a kitchen with glass looking into the kitchen. It was a scandalous idea at that time to look into the kitchen, to see pots and pans. But, he designed these homes which were for the middle class and that's what spurt this kind of entire revolution of the kitchen which was brought into the front of the house which interacted with the living and dining spaces of the house and actually then that wall and that barrier also got broken and it got integrated completely into the house.

So when I got clients it's pretty much, you know, they are talking about various age groups, the nuclear family especially are the ones that want the open kitchen, the social kitchen. They want to show off to their guests, they want to entertain their guests, the kids want to do their homework on the kitchen table. They want to be efficient during the weekday and cook gourmet meals on the weekend because everyone is now a master chef and so it really has become that kind of hub, the space has become a lot more collaborative and everyone wants to cook, all the age groups want to cook and everyone wants to be together doing this activity. It's a creative activity. It's fun and it has become therapeutic to cook and a great experience for the family as well as with the guests.

Gayatri: Yeah. While we are talking about cooking let's ask Manu what his thoughts are on the food, you know, I mean how things have changed from what it used to be years ago to now.

Manu: Cuisines constantly evolve, food constantly evolves and kitchen therefore constantly evolves. And how you behave and operate out of the kitchen is basically an extension or a function of that. I look around at most of these kitchens and I am thinking I can more easily put out a gourmet meal from here than I can from some of my own because they are just so fantastically laid out (referring to Nolte Kitchens). There is so much thought and science and technology that's gone behind each one of these. It's feeding into a greater aspiration and also setting up in a fairly holistic way for the future. So it's already a kitchen of the future at many levels because the kitchens like these which were shown in that slideshow, I could actually relate to most of these kitchens as I grew up in a kitchen like that. We had the storeroom next to the kitchen which was this giant room, some of it was locked, but mostly occupied by these humongous vessels which were never used or everything was cooked in bulk and therefore then stored away. All that has fundamentally changed and a lot more can be stored today in a modern kitchen than you could in those giant stores.

Gayatri: Sandeep. I wanted to just ask you what are your thoughts on kitchen spaces really getting into offices as well. Pantries and food especially big campuses have these huge spaces. What are your thoughts on that?

Sandeep: As far as offices are concerned I think co-working spaces are probably showing the way because forget about campuses with canteens, okay that's a function which most campuses have to have but I think co-working spaces with the sexy counter in the center with a coffee machine and the cookies, the free cookies and the beer being served day in and day out that has really caught on and that has kind of stirred everyone's imagination and pretty much now every office you go to globally and now all the offices that you seem to be designing here have that experience of the hub, the space which is the counter, the space where you can kind of hang out and socialize and meet and have a cup of coffee or have a drink in the evenings. So the social hub has come to the office for sure.

Also, there has been a big evolution in office design and it has become more residential. People are wanting offices that are more residential and more hospitality based. So the typical corporate interior is kind of being flung out of the window. People want warmer, more engaging spaces, so I think this whole – the kitchen and the social kitchen and the lounge and the living room and the living spaces all feed into that idea of the residential office.

Gayatri: When getting back to the home, luxury homes have two kitchens, do you still see that continuing or do you see that just kind of coming into a more compact space? Next thing that I wanted to ask you was about homes. Luxury homes and kitchens and as against things which are now getting a lot more functional and lot more effective in apartments as well. So how do you see the two?

Sandeep: In India, we have this kind of complex social structure of joint families and tradition is still a major part of the family structure in a lot of families. So, when you are talking about the nuclear family, of course, we are talking about people who are more open to the idea of the open kitchen, but people are still very concerned about smells of Indian food and a lot of other cuisines. So a lot of people are opting for two kitchens, the so-called wet kitchen and then the kitchen that they kind of bake and cook their pasta. The open kitchen is collaborative, everyone is cooking in there but then the close kitchen where you have stuff unless you get rid of that aspect of our lives and it will probably – well it will go in a decade. We also have got the huge issue of Vastu in India and if you are talking about bringing the kitchen to the centre of the house it ain't happening in a lot of houses. When you are talking about these kinds of things in India and it's very complex. Dealing with joint families and all lot of the times we are dealing with these double kitchen concept where the open kitchen is for light cooking, you have got your exhaust. You are not worried about the fumes whereas a closed one is for those who are worried about smell or fumes going into the living room.

Manu: We are a country which is rooted very deeply in its traditions which I do sometimes think terribly misplaced. But functionality needs to be the key and that's a problem with a lot of what I see of and that fumes point is very pertinent, the new exhaust systems are fantastic which is what makes life just so much simpler. What causes so much odour, that's the question. And again when you are in the science of cooking you understand that there are things that are more different which cause greater smell in a kitchen and most of it now has been eliminated through technology and technology is actually solving that not only in the modern kitchen but generally even in my own kitchen.

Gayatri: How apartment kitchens have got so compact and the gadgetry that is being used. Have you used the steamer in any of your kitchens? We still have to get there, I guess the healthier options.

Manu: What's happening is now the gap has really shortened. There was a time when I could be proud of the fact that I had really an advanced equipment in my kitchen, my industrial kitchens. I had a combination oven. I had one which had combi steam etc. I had industrial everything and that's why restaurant kitchen is always just so many leagues ahead of let's say home kitchen. Thanks to these plants guys who are standing around here somewhere. They have completely eliminated that gap. And I was astounded to see that every single piece of technology that I have in my kitchen already exists at a home level. I couldn't believe it. That combination oven is already in a home.

Gayatri: What's your wacky idea for a kitchen in a home?

Sandeep: I think the refrigerator was probably introduced to Indian kitchens in the 1960s so we are talking about 50 years now you can probably look at recipes on your fridge and look at the weather on a screen and but in the next decades you are definitely going to be talking to your fridge and I think the future of kitchens is going to be led by the appliance manufacturers and not by architects in terms of smart technology but artificial intelligence is here to stay, I mean there is no doubt about it. We have got your Amazon Alexa, you are speaking to Alexa and I mean all my friends in New York when I went there, they had Alexa permanently on their kitchen table and they were ordering all their groceries with Alexa directly through the app. So your blender is probably going to be connected to your smartwatch and it's probably going to say that okay I will make you a smoothie based on your diet and how many steps you have taken today and it's probably going to link to your fridge that will order your groceries for you and the right kind of banana that will go into your smoothie and I think that's where the reality smart technology is going to – which is here to stay.

Manu: There is a new gadget which again all the chefs are picking up but I give it about a year before it becomes part of a standard kitchen is called a thermo-mix. Itblends, cooks, weighs, and steams. So essentially you just throw everything in there and it weighs it for you and you put the lid on, you press the button and put a timer on it, you can come back six hours later and your soup will be ready. So it's already happening. We are heading into future where your fridge will tell you whom to date. If your fridge told you who to date I mean that's just how quickly we are moving forward.

The Social Kitchen - the Bangalore episode

As the sun set and the clock struck 6:30 on Friday evening of 23rd February 2018, one could see the Nolte Studio in Koramangala Bangalore filled with the buzz. The IIID (Institute of Indian Interior Designers) Bangalore in association with Nolte organised 'The Social Kitchen', an event filled with spirited discussions, amazing insights, and fun around the kitchen.

Chef Manu Chandra (left), Architect Gayathri Shetty (centre), and Architect Sandeep Khosla (right)

Just as the crowd settled with a drink and sumptuous food, they braced themselves for an insightful presentation on 'Evolution of Kitchens'. Architect Gunjan Das gave a presentation on how kitchens have evolved from the traditional setting which allowed only the close family to enter and considered it as a sacred place opposed to the modern kitchens where the kitchen has become a social gathering for family and friends. The presentation also threw light on the kitchen designs wherein the traditional kitchens were a closed place as opposed to the modern kitchen like Nolte which has an island and an open kitchen design. The open kitchen allows one to share thoughts, ideas, and indulge in meaningful conversations.

A beautiful presentation by Architect Gunjan Das

After the sweet and short presentation, the crowd was led to the Neo kitchen where the sizzling conversations began. "On the Grill", was the second session where Celebrity Chef Manu Chandra and Architect Sandeep Khosla spoke about ideas around the kitchen. Architect Gayatri Shetty was the coordinator and was able to get some amazing kitchen stories from Manu's and Sandeep's lives.

Sizzling conversations

Manu's thoughts on the social kitchen:
Manu Chandra said that "Just as habits evolve, even food evolves and so does a kitchen. Nowadays people want warmer and more engaging spaces and the modern kitchen meets these demands. With technology, the kitchen has solved functionality to a great extent with the ease of cooking and storage. I have always been of the opinion that kitchen is the heart of the house and even from a design philosophy aspect it is becoming the heart of the house. And, people want to gather around the kitchen. I grew up around a kitchen and suddenly there was a time when the ethos disappeared and it has come back in a very strong way. And the design is actually leading it. It is amazing how design can dictate the way families interact and come together. That's really what we want, we want everyone to come back together and a well-designed kitchen facilitates that."

The chef shares his experiences

Sandeep's thoughts on the social kitchen:
"From the design perspective kitchen has come front from the back of the house. Today, we see that modern kitchens have nuclear families interacting, kids doing their homework in the kitchen, cooking happening on weekends, space has become collaborative. With music around the kitchen has become a therapeutic place to cook, plus offices have kitchens and it has developed into a place to socialise." Being an architect himself, Sandeep shared his ideas on what future kitchens would be like. He said, "In future, we may have refrigerators displaying recipes, or telling the weather forecast. We would also be talking to the fridge in the next decade just like how we talk to Alexa the intelligent personal assistant developed by Amazon. Ordering grocery would be easy with smart technology which is going to stay."

The architect shares his point of view

The session was interactive with the audience being asked to give out some whacky ideas for a kitchen design. The audience actively participated sharing their thoughts.

The Stage for the event

The event ended with Stand-Up Comedian - Satish Perumal tickling the funny bones of the audience with his act on “Entertainment in the Kitchen”.

The funny man kept the audience alive

There was much laughter to spread all around. And of course, conversations, cuisine, and merriment.

The Future of Smart Homes is here - An Installation At IMM Cologne

As the world becomes increasingly complex, there is a growing need among consumers for energy-saving devices, security, lifestyle, convenience, and entertainment. In this day and age, technology has shown its supremacy through smart phones, smart cars, smart TV, smart watch and now there's something called smart homes as well. This demands for designers who can simplify and streamline our lives. At the recently concluded IMM Cologne (Jan 15th - 21st, 2018), the most important international interiors show, “Let’s be smart” – the future of intelligent homes was a smart home installation displayed at the fair to showcase how a functioning smart home would really look like today.

The smart homes had forward-thinking exhibitors whose design work aesthetically dealing with future problems in unexpected ways. The installation showcased the current state of the art and future solutions in terms of products, projects, and real-time scenarios related to accessible living, the home office and lifestyle and entertainment.

The installation was in the form of a real house that is open for visitors to enter and explore. The concept was aimed to showcase smart home solutions for accessible living.

The fair comprehensively presented the upholstered and case furniture segment, the kitchen industry, the office furniture sector and outdoor living as well as the innovations of the furniture supply industry.

The smart home generally refers to the intelligent networking of electrical appliances in the home, including building services heating, ventilation, air conditioning, cooling and sanitary installations as well as communications and security technology. The smart home can be controlled in the residence itself via built-in interfaces or on the go via a Smartphone or tablet for convenience. Self-learning devices  that adapt to their owners’ usage habits is what will be seen more in the coming future.

Many partners and companies collaborated on the installation, which ties in perfectly with the architecture-related ranges such as lighting and bathrooms. Partners who participated include Rehau, Rohr, smart3, smartblock, betula manus, VDM, THS, Connected-living, controLED, Clage, Grohe, Biffar, Miele, Artomé and Nolte.

Nolte was happy to be a part of the event and having presented modular kitchens that demonstrate how tomorrow’s future can be practically experienced today. Nolte kitchens presented innovative conceptual approaches in the area of Smart Living, bringing together technology and living space design. As a forward thinker in terms of kitchen living space, Nolte, with its concept 'Living in the kitchen' demonstrates the merging of design, comfort, and technology. The installed kitchens inspire and give a sense of having all the options open to the customers to design individual kitchens as a living space – and to achieve this independent of budget. Nolte Kitchens showcased an innovative ceramic worktop featuring an invisibly integrated induction hob. The unique worktop provides the ultimate in minimalist design. The robust construction allows the ‘hob’ area to be a multi-purpose zone, suitable for many different purposes other than cooking.

Nolte partnered with Sony mobile to present the Xperia Projector which received a lot of attention from the audience at the fair. The Xperia Projector is compatible with many different apps so the projector can create totally new interactive experiences, e.g. gaming, cooking, travel planning or enjoying music together. According to Nolte, the projector was presented in various everyday scenarios on its stand illustrating how this unique smart product can transform the kitchen habitat by providing a totally new way to communicate and interact. Overall, the kitchens were an innovative combination of technology and living space working together in harmony. Showcasing the versatility and flexibility of the range in the various styles was one of Nolte’s declared aims at the fair.

Nolte bedrooms were also a part of the smart homes installation. One can summarise the bedroom experience to 'A place for everything'. When it's a Nolte bedroom you're never short on choice. A bedroom that's personalised to your taste - comfortable and robust beds, wardrobe and cabinets available in a choice of colours, finishes, and fronts to match your decor. Embedded LED lights, motorised doors, more storage, more space and more style. The options are limitless.

Other eye-catching smart technology includes ‘Mygdal Plantlight’ by Nui Studio, smart controller Nuimo by Senic, ‘Masa Table’, ‘Mark II’, ‘Meta Side Table’ by New Tendency, ‘The Frame TV’ by Samsung, ‘Angle’ Coat Rack, ‘Clock Bin’, ‘Colour Wood Side Chair’, ‘Scout Chair’, ‘Colour Wood Table’, ‘Castor Dining Bench’, ‘Castor Stool’, ‘Castor Low Chair’, ‘Soft Triangle’ et al, by Karimoku New Standard.

Meet the 2017 New Kitchen Collection

The kitchen is a place where we meet and connect with family, friends, and as a couple. It is a place where we cook, eat, enjoy, read, write, email, philosophise... in other words: it is where we live. This year the new collection largely revolves around the concept 'Living in the Kitchen'. The kitchens also made their first appearance at the world famous international fairs like Cologne, Maison&Objet, and the response got from the audience were “inviting” and “imaginative”. The highlights such as handle less fronts, silent drawers, and illuminated handle strips are some of the features a Nolte open plan kitchen displays and by all means turns out to be promising when it comes to versatility and flexibility.

1. Nappa/Soft Lack
Anyone who likes elegant and sophisticated, who loves exclusive materials and is looking for the special and extraordinary, will find the right choice in the combination of Nappa and Soft Lack. The Leather effect Brazilian brown on the kitchen front resembles to the colour of a chocolate brown lava cake. The Soft Lack Lava soft matt goes on the top cabinets and on the side cupboards.

2. Soft Lack
Classical black and white kitchen never goes out of style. This Soft Lack kitchen has a front in white soft matt and black soft matt.

3. Portland/Glas Tec Plus
Fashionable and elegant, the Portland kitchen island cabinet fronts and worktop are in Cement Anthracite. Along with wall cupboards in Glas Tec Plus high-gloss arctic white fonts. Cement is the new material with an authentic look and feel.

4.  Lux
White is never archaic. The Lux kitchen in white high-gloss gives it a heavenly look. You can march in and out effortlessly just like a galley kitchen does.

5. Stone/Feel
A really extraordinary and fascinating contrast is created when Feel arctic white is combined with Stone Beton concrete. The extremely authentic recreation of a concrete surface is by no means inferior to the original and is also available in copper oxide. We have significantly expanded the colour spectrum for the lacquered laminate fronts Feel and Lux. Strong colours such as Rosso or Ocean blue have also joined the collection.

6. Nova Lack/Legno
A broad spectrum of planning your kitchen is at your disposal with matching decors such as Nova Lack and Legno. For the neutral palette lovers, Nova Lack Quartz Grey high gloss with worktop in Glass quartz grey will be a quite favourite. The top cabinets are in Legno Oak Truffle front. However, less is more applies to our concealment door cabinets at first glance. Closed, like in the new colour Nova Lack quartz grey, they create a tidy living space with a sophisticated design. Opened, however, they offer a range of options and a functional workstation emerges.

7. Artwood
Your kitchen can look even more harmonious in combination with the Artwood walnut cuba and Feel papyrus grey. The worktop is in walnut cuba wood decor. Unique feature of the Artwood surface is that it creates a homely atmosphere in the kitchen.

8. Windsor lack
If you want to get a contrast look in the kitchen, Windsor is your steal.  A country house character with a touch of the modern. Black soft matt front with handles in stainless steel look.

9. Portland/Soft Lack
Chic and contemporary, the Portland and Soft Lack open plan kitchen has the island front in cement agate grey and the kitchen cabinets in soft paint black soft matt. Those who appreciate cutting-edge designs and flexibility, this is a apt kitchen for you.

Nolte Neo range of kitchens is premium and has characterful hybrid designs. It is a visionary concept that redesigns life in the kitchen. It is spontaneous, flexible, brightly-coloured, in a constant state of flux, progressive design, innovative use of space, and accommodates to individual requirements. The Neo-concepts are seen in the three kitchens: LOFT, CHALET, and SALON.

10. Neo Loft
After the 1940s, the vacant warehouses and industrial buildings in London and New York City were converted into apartments. This led to the birth of the concept loft. Neo Loft makes direct reference to the urbanity, free spur-of-the-moment design and open nature form of living.

11. Neo Chalet
“Chalet” is derived from the Latin word “cala” meaning “a safe (protected) place”. It originally meant “Alpine hut”. Neo Chalet re-interprets the style and original materials of this form of living – and translates both into the kitchen.

12. Neo Salon
Salon is not a purely spatial term. It is both a place – a large room or meeting place – and a cultural event. Neo Salon reflects both aspects and reproduces them in great detail. The kitchen as the centre of opportunity.

You may be amazed looking at our new kitchen collection, but the feeling will be richer when you personally come and drop into our stores to experience our new modular kitchen collection.

Nolte Kitchen: The highlight at the IMM Cologne 2017

When we say flexibility, living comfort and quality living, we’re referring to around 700 square metres of floor space taken over by Nolte Küchen (Nolte Kitchen) booth at Living kitchen (part of IMM Cologne 2017) in Germany. Living Kitchen which concluded recently is the core of IMM Cologne 2017 international design event and a worldwide event in the realm of kitchen industry.  Just as hundreds of brands presented their new collection and design, Nolte was happy to be part of it too exploring the undiluted kitchen lifestyle. For those of you who missed the event, here’s what Nolte came out with.

Nolte Booth at Living Kitchen

An attractive stand, enthusiastic visitors, keen media attention is what one would've noticed at the booth. Feedbacks from the visitors include “inviting” and “imaginative” and visitors acknowledging a successful presentation true to the motto “Living in the kitchen”. Showcasing the versatility and flexibility of the range in the various styles was one of Nolte’s declared aims at the fair. The intention for both trade visitors and end consumers was to take home with them one thing above all: inspiration and the sense of having all the options open to them to design individual kitchens as a living space – and to achieve this independent of budget.

This year no less than twelve kitchen designs were spread across the booth floor which also proves extreme versatility with a never-seen-before continuity and a feel of atmospheric open-plan stand.  One of the main themes of the stand is the interpretation of conceptual product line Nolte Neo. The modular approach results in fresh ideas for individual kitchen designs that, while making a statement, remains totally affordable. Moreover, due to systematic additions the Nolte core range has reached an unprecedented level of continuity and versatility.

Characterful hybrid designs with Nolte Neo

The Neo series from Nolte gives the kitchen an interesting metropolitan vibe, featuring designs with polished and mirrored surfaces complemented by classical and bohemian accents. The designs are focused on simplicity and the sensual contrasts between different materials, finishes, textures and forms. One of the main themes of the stand is the interpretation of conceptual product line Nolte Neo which includes Loft, Chalet, and Salon. The Neo kitchens give a new meaning to the idea of cohesion, the series being more focused on harmonious contrasts and similarities. With Nolte Neo, kitchen designers will experience a great planning freedom and new options. Regardless of the customer’s respective environment: By integrating neo-modules into core range designs experts will be able to realise characterful kitchens on a mid-price level also.

More flexibility in the core range

Further designs show the many facets of the Nolte Kitchen core range itself. The exhibition booth in Cologne will make it clear that there is no need for customers to trade off design and comfort for price when keeping an eye on the budget. Not only does this freedom of choice involve the colour and material trends of the new season, the consistently extended range of units also adds to the options. The 900mm base unit height for example was showcased in various ways, with the new drawer variants thrown in for good measure.

Smart life in the kitchen

Design freedom, with all the little pieces fitting together, makes Nolte Kitchen an ideal partner in the area of ‘Smart Home’. Nolte presented innovative conceptual approaches in the area of Smart Living, bringing together technology and living space design which was showcased with its cooperation with Sony Mobile on the occasion of the fair. The exclusive presentation of the Xperia Projector received a lot of attention and put an emphasis on “Living in the kitchen”.  In addition, as a highlight during the public visiting days, Nolte Kitchen brand ambassador Eva Brenner was also present.

New features

Quite exciting and revolutionary this year, was the induction worktop of Nolte kitchens. Nolte showcased an innovative ceramic worktop with invisibly integrated induction hob, which has been newly added to the product range for 2017. This compelling solution was used live at the fair for catering purposes and was met with keen interest from all sides. The work surface in the kitchen becomes the demand of hot plate, which works on the principle of induction.

The open-plan kitchens are getting more popular combining kitchen and dining space, Nolte is well versed in this area with its wide collection of open plan kitchens.

Style Perfection with Nolte kitchens

The Nolte kitchens revive the country style and give it a modern twist. The country style of today is infused with contemporary details and aims to create inviting decors with pleasant and relaxed atmospheres. The designs featured in this series transform the kitchen into a natural center of the home. The Nolte kitchens are simple and with a profound timeless character resulted from a blend of styles. Simple and clean lines and angles are complemented by unexpected touches of color or intriguing accent details. Glass-front cabinets bring nostalgic flavour into the kitchen, reviving a trend specific to country designs and traditional spaces. The elegance and familiarity of subway tile backsplashes is revisited and given a modern twist.

The experience

CEO Eckhard Wefing delighted with the successful presentation: “Nolte Küchen received a lot of attention at the fair and our visitors felt comfortable throughout. The stand got to the heart of what our range is capable of, which our retail business partners confirmed. For the team this was of course very motivating; the atmosphere was great.”

Marketing Director Axel Brinkmann: “The world is changing under the influence of digitisation that affects all areas of life. This of course doesn’t stop at kitchens. Leading the way with innovative concepts we at Nolte Kitchen actively proceed with this subject matter also. At the fair we demonstrated how tomorrow’s future can be practically experienced already today.”

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A beautiful experience as it was, we can’t wait for what’s in store next year. See you at IMM Cologne 2018.