EuroCucina 2026 brought together kitchens from around the world, showcasing open spaces, bold use of natural materials, and a more refined approach to design that responds to evolving lifestyles.
Texte: Audrey Larin
On that April morning, Milan awoke to a lingering coolness. The city was slowly returning to its usual rhythm. Terraces were opening, the streets were filling up, and around the Salone del Mobile, a buzz was beginning to build. Visitors from all walks of life gathered there, united by a shared attention to detail and space.
Inside, EuroCucina 2026 brought together kitchens from several countries. An exhibition dedicated to this everyday space, explored through varied yet often intersecting approaches.
Ateliers Jacob was there to observe emerging trends. From one project to the next, connections became increasingly clear. They were evident in the proportions, the choice of materials, and the way functions were integrated.
We share our observations on this common language, perceptible from one project to the next, which transcends borders and offers a glimpse of tomorrow’s kitchen.
At the Salone del Mobile, a softer aesthetic took hold, almost silently. Tone-on-tone palettes dominated. Beiges, earth tones, and mineral shades created calm, continuous atmospheres. Brighter colours gave way in favour of textured surfaces, where the material became more prominent than the hue.
Forms are also evolving toward greater fluidity: small-radius curves softened the angles of islands and wall junctions. Lines extended, guiding the eye without interruption. Handles disappeared into the cabinet fronts, integrated into the material, as if they were seamlessly part of it.
Recessed, slim, vertical panels introduced a light rhythm. A subtle repetition, along which integrated lighting gently traced, revealing the material and the uniqueness of each surface.
In a kitchen designed by Guzzini & Fontana, this approach took on a more tangible form.
Under subdued lighting, the materials revealed a subtle and precise interplay of shades. At the center, the island with its rounded corners became the focal point of the room, with a presence that was at once soft, tactile, and slightly retro.
The countertop and backsplash in Verde Borgogna marble drew the eye with their deep green hue.
The bronze and Brunito metallic lacquer reacted to the light in a more diffuse, almost silent way. The palette featured earthy, mineral, and botanical tones, reflecting an authentic, grounded beaut
Throughout EuroCucina 2026, a subtle thread ran from one kitchen to the next. Wood and stone were no longer limited to a few surfaces. They set the rhythm, structuring the entire space.
An approach that aligns with the concept of biophilic design formulated by Edward O. Wilson. The idea that human beings have an innate tendency to turn toward life and natural processes.
In this Binova kitchen, plants took center stage within the island. They weren’t simply placed there. They were part of the design, just like the stone, just like the wood.
The light remained diffused. It passed through the fluted glass, soft and subdued. Beneath the island, it was integrated into the structure. It revealed textures and highlighted the contours shaped by nature.
The whole exuded a quiet calm. A place where the eye naturally rests, drawn by the soothing beauty of nature.
From one kitchen to the next, the wood changed its rhythm, yet never left the space.
At times, it stretched across large surfaces. Then, a few steps further on, the eye would linger on finer details, crafted into the material.
In this Häcker kitchen, the oak veneer was inspired by Viennese wickerwork. The pattern added a regular, almost textile-like texture to the panels.
The light revealed the lines, the grain, and the porous surface of the wood. The oak retained its essence but offered a new depth. The pattern did not seek to transform the wood, but to reveal it in a different way.
From one project to the next, a common thread emerged: a desire to reduce visual clutter.
Light was diffused with restraint. Wood, stone, and plants were integrated into the space with precision.
The kitchen gradually took on a new rhythm, one that was more enveloping and fluid. It was a space that supported daily life and naturally invited one to slow down. This is how Ateliers Jacob translates design into lived experience.
