The 'invisible kitchen' is garnering tremendous praise from interior experts and decorators for its ability to blend seamlessly into modern homes and apartments. American actress Anne Hathaway's NYC apartment property is the perfect example of an invisible kitchen.
The minimalist kitchen aesthetic has been around for a while, but invisible kitchens take this one step further, intending to conceal as much of your kitchenware as possible to create a sleek and streamlined, ‘barely there’ finish. Wonderfully discreet, invisible kitchen ideas are all about hiding away the conventional parts of a cooking space to let the fabulous parts shine.
It would appear that many people no longer wish to fill their kitchens with a plethora of objects, accessories, and bulky appliances, but instead strip these multifunctional spaces back to their bare essentials.
Sleek, functional, and like a trick of the eye, invisible kitchen cabinet ideas will change the way we design, view, and use the modern kitchen. Handless designs are the simplest way to embrace this kitchen trend.
Recessed or push-touch opening mechanisms allow cabinets to blend into the background. ‘Handleless kitchen design provides a unique opportunity to create simple furniture language without the competing complexities of additional materiality that handles present,’ says Alex Beaugeard, creative director at Lanserring. Lean towards matt finishes to help limit the visibility of fingerprints on cabinetry, or opt for easy wipe-clean surfaces.
The sleek 'hidden' kitchen trend isn’t exclusive to contemporary homes either. Work with your kitchen designer to craft a space that ties in with the property's original architecture.
'Handleless panel molded doors offer a subtle way to disguise the more utilitarian parts of a kitchen, where fridges can be integrated and pantries hidden behind tall units. With open- and broken-plan living so embedded in modern life, this discreet way of approaching kitchen design is becoming widely popular,’ enthuses Oana Sandu, lead designer, at Blakes London.
In Anne Hathaway's home, the kitchen has been uniquely designed by Gramercy Design, a boutique design studio based in New York City, to mimic the surrounding rooms' modern classic style. The room feels like part of the wider space but also a feature in its own right. It's the perfect aesthetic for an open-concept layout. It truly is a visual masterpiece.
Shop the 'invisible' edit
To avoid a predominantly white kitchen – be it invisible or not – from looking cold or clinical, dial up the visual interest with light touches of taupe, sand, and beige tones. I've selected some of my favorite decorative accents to add a final flourish.
Taking inspiration from traditional farmhouse vessels, these stoneware vases will provide a modern accent for your space. Its reactive cream glaze and subtly angular shape would match well with dried botanicals, such as eucalyptus, as a statement on your kitchen shelving.
With an on-trend ruffled rim detail, the Olindo Serving Bowls are a charming addition to your shelf display. Crafted from stoneware with a neutral tone, these unique serving bowls are versatile and timeless.
Coming in a range of sizes and shapes, this octet of stoneware vases lets you play with height, scale, and tones for your tabletop display. Group these vases together, or you can even scatter them throughout a living space to create a cohesive look.
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