Key trends in modular furniture design

01 Jul 2019 Editorial Team

Godrej Interio provides modular kitchens to leading developers such as Godrej Properties, Lodha, Omkar etc. Key trends in this space span design, materials used and finishes, says Manoj Rathi, AVP and Head, U&US Home Design Studio. “Kitchens are opening up into living rooms, hence making the spaces more social in keeping with social trends. Materials such as glass, wood, wood substitutes, artificial stone and metal are in vogue. Back-painted glass, PU, veneer and polish are popular finishes.”

Modular cabinets for kitchens come in standard widths of 45 cm, 60 cm, 90 cm and 1.2 m, says Nagesh Singh, Founder, Studio Svelte. Cabinets of 1.2 m width aren’t popular in India because Indian wood is said to bend at that width; however, Singh attributes this to incorrect production methods such as the use of screws.

“We are seeing a growing interest in modern minimalistic and straight-line designs, and stone, ceramic, glass and concrete finishes instead of conventional classic designs and wood finishes,” says Gandharv Gombar, Director, Hacker Kitchens, which offers global brands such as Hulsta, Rolf Benz and Flou.

In the office segment, Dhiren Gopal, Director, Featherlite, says users nowadays are looking to create comfort zones for the individual, essentially private spaces as opposed to open office plans. However, modular furniture is better suited to open office plans.

On average, Gopal pegs the cost of a workstation between Rs 15,000 and Rs 25,000, albeit depending on the location and end-use of the building. “Featherlite’s expertise is mass customisation; architects select from our registered designs and request minor changes to suit their project. We take pride in working with clients to create the furniture of their choice with our designs.”

CHARU BAHRI

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