Feeling entirely at home – rational presents kitchen innovations at the eurocucina

rational, the internationally successful fitted kitchen manufacturer, presented itself at this year's eurocucina with an array of groundbreaking innovations. On a joint stand hosted together with the parent group, snaidero, rational impressively showed how the kitchen is becoming increasingly important not just as a space within the home but for life in general. Those attending the Milan trade fair from 14 to 19 April 2010 were able to see for themselves what innovative developments both companies had to offer in response to this trend and to satisfy the diverse nature of modern living. snaidero and rational’s joint stand demonstrated most convincingly that people all over the world feel entirely at home in their kitchen. This mega trend was effectively visualized in the design of the stand. What constitutes home today can be experienced most directly in the kitchen – across all generations and social strata.

Designing with wood for a natural ambience

rational presented two new natural wood veneers in oak and larch, whose surface radiates a wonderful vitality, positively inviting you to reach out and touch it. These distinctly grained veneers preserve the original, unspoilt beauty of the wood, just as Nature intended. Thus all the characteristics that make wood as a material so unique are fully retained. Moreover, these two veneers accentuate the skilful craftsmanship that has gone into working the wood and which perfectly complements the kitchens' modern design.

To exemplify this, the neos line was shown at the eurocuina in a glass-larch combination. Here the exquisite veneer offers itself as a warm counterbalance to the elegant smoothness of the glass-white front. With this combination the neos will undoubtedly set standards once again. From the very outset the concept of the neos with its handle-less aesthetics served to inspire an entire segment without which modern kitchen design today would be unthinkable.

On account of its design, magazine readers voted it one of their top most beautiful kitchens. At internationally level too it ranks as one of rational's success models. It can be found not only in the luxury houses and apartments of the Palm Jumeirah in Dubai but also in the villa of a well known Berlin rapper. But it can be planned just as easily and without compromise into an older apartment or a single-family home - always unmistakable and individual and executed to the highest of standards.

Refreshingly colourful

The new colour purple achieved the WOW effect across all visitor groups! This trend colour from the fashion world has already conquered other areas of life and has now been added to rational's range of colours. Visitors were truly smitten by this colour, especially in the combination with radiant arctic white, whereby the new dual-coloured design shelving made a major contribution too. Boasting elegant mitre cuts, it demonstrates that perfect craftsmanship and modern colour schemes do not stand in opposition.

What 's more, the new design shelving, teamed at the eurocuina with the tio product line, adds a hint of homeliness. Presenting it in this particular configuration and colour scheme, was even instrumental in accentuating the linear character of the design. When launching the tio at its last in-house exhibition, rational presented a new philosophy for the kitchen with it. Absolutely contemporary and concentrating on the essentials, the tio offers "all you need". Nothing more, and nothing less!

New furnishing accessories

Likewise shown in Milan were rational's new, wall-mounted base units. Together with the virtually ceiling-high wall units they appear to create a sensation of sheer weightlessness. The exceptional combination of materials and architecture creates a new spatial feeling – but with a homely touch.

Heading in the same direction is the new sliding door system with flush-closing doors. Cupboards that can be easily integrated into the living and dining areas illustrate the contemporary and autonomous way in which rational interprets the idea of home comfort in its kitchens.

An unusual material mix

When it comes to introducing new materials into the kitchen, rational can be considered a groundbreaker. For instance, the use of glass as a material for fronts has created an extremely successful trend. Another newcomer to the rational kitchen scene is a new type of ceramic material. Ceramics possess inherent properties that are ideal for revolutionizing the kitchen. They are lighter than aluminium and harder than granite and absolutely impervious to heat and aggressive substances. This new ceramic material is as easy to work as glass and can be used in a variety of ways - as sliding doors, in worktops, midway panelling, cooker hoods or tabletops. Kind to the environment, this new material is made entirely from ceramics. Its durability helps save resources as well as satisfy demands for sustainability.

On the rational exhibition stand this ceramic material was presented in an impressive décor and combined with the new oak veneer in a much promising kitchen design. Both the material and the kitchen itself were enthusiastically received by visitors to the stand. Not simply because the minimalist design harmonized brilliantly with the colour and material mix but because this "first draft" already generated an abundance of positive impulses. The further development and future use of ceramics in the kitchen environment promises to be interesting indeed.