Deep dive:

Textiles in the kitchen

The kitchen, with its light-coloured, vertically fluted fronts and dark natural stone, is characterised by the tension between texture and smoothness. Textile elements add subtle but effective accents: upholstered chairs in natural linen echo the warm wood look. The coarse texture of the linen corresponds with the fluted look of the fronts – both are surfaces that are pleasant to touch.

A translucent linen curtain framing the window filters the daylight and softens the effect of the dark stone slab. The result: the room remains clear, while gaining depth and warmth.

Textile elements add an extra dimension to a kitchen with display cabinets and integrated lighting. Light voile curtains at the windows create privacy without compromising the open feel of the room. They filter the light and allow the display cabinet lighting to work to its best effect.

An upholstered bench at the kitchen island, covered with a robust, linen-coloured fabric, offers cosiness without being visually heavy. Here, too, the textiles are functional without taking centre stage.

Upholstered chairs, benches, and bar stools at a kitchen island are the obvious textile elements. At this point you decide whether the kitchen remains a workspace or becomes a social hub.

The choice of upholstery fabric is crucial. Velvet looks luxurious, linen natural, bouclé modern and appealing. High-quality artificial leather offers durability, especially with intensive use. Genuine leather belongs in the living room and is not really suitable for kitchens. At home INTERIOR, we work with a wide range of fabrics that are both aesthetically pleasing and functional.

Curtains and blinds are more than just visual protection. They regulate light, create privacy and add visual accents. In the kitchen, textile window solutions are an important design element.

Semi-transparent linen fabrics allow daylight to pass through yet preventing glare. Heavy, opaque curtains create intimacy in the evening. The choice of colour connects the textile elements with the rest of the room or adds a new accent: a sand-beige curtain for a light wood kitchen, an anthracite-coloured one for dark fronts.

Table runners, placemats and high-quality tea towels are the finishing touches. They add colour and texture to countertops and dining tables, and you can change them depending on the season.

Linen or cotton runners in natural tones underline the texture of wood and stone. Contrasting colours – a sage green runner on a light stone slab – make a deliberate statement. At home INTERIOR, we consider these details to be part of the complete design.

Textile wall panels or sound-absorbing fabric elements are rarely used in kitchens. However they can be a good idea in open-plan kitchens. They help absorb sound, create structure and add an extra layer of texture.

These solutions require expertise – and this is precisely where you can see the difference between good and excellent planning.

Linen is sturdy, breathing, and ages with dignity. Its structure uses irregularities as a part of the design. In your kitchen, linen works especially well as upholstery fabric for chairs and benches, but also for curtains.

Care is easy: linen forgives creases and actually turns them into a design feature. At home INTERIOR, we use high-quality linen fabrics that remain beautiful even after years of use.

Velvet adds elegance to the kitchen. Its surface responses to light and touch, it shimmers, comes alive and changes depending on the viewing angle. Velvet is not exactly an easy-care material. It suits dark kitchens, minimalist lines and interiors designed to exude sophistication.

However, modern velour qualities are more durable than you might think. Being resistant to abrasion, colourfast and treated with stain protection, they are perfectly suitable for everyday use if you choose the right quality.

Bouclé has a beautiful feel and is surprisingly robust. The characteristic loops add a three-dimensional quality that is particularly striking in daylight. It is also great for playing with colours: the most beautiful bouclés are multicoloured.

In the kitchen, bouclé works wonderfully as a cover for bar stools and dining chairs. It is easier to care for than velvet, warmer than artificial leather and have more style than classic woven fabrics. The home INTERIOR range includes bouclés in every conceivable design.

High-quality outdoor fabrics are an insider tip for indoor use. They are durable and can be UV-resistant, stain-resistant and water-repellent. At the same time, they have lost their former ‘technical’ look.

For families with children, pets or otherwise intensive use, outdoor fabrics are a smart choice, especially in the kitchen. They combine aesthetics with pragmatism, which is precisely what good kitchen planning is all about.

Leather ages gracefully, while faux leather remains rather unchanged. Each material has its advantages, notably for daily-use seating furniture. Leather is a natural material with both pros and cons: it ages, reacts to moisture, and requires maintenance. Those considering leather for their kitchen should be aware of such aspects.

High-quality imitation leather is a convincing alternative. Modern materials are pleasant to the touch and extremely easy to care for. Professional advice is essential here.

Textiles placed near windows are exposed to constant UV radiation. High-quality fabrics retain their colour for years. Lightfastness is measured on a scale of 1 to 8; for kitchens, it should be at least 5, preferably 6 or higher.

At home INTERIOR, we know our fabrics inside and out and know which ones live up to their promise.

Abrasion resistance indicates how many abrasion cycles a fabric can endure before showing signs of wear. For upholstered furniture in private homes, the minimum requirement is 20,000 abrasion cycles. For kitchen chairs that are used intensively, it should be 30,000 or more.

A fabric may look good, but if it is worn through after a year, it was the wrong choice. Our expertise lies in combining both aesthetics and durability.

The kitchen is a work space. It is a place where stuff gets spilled and splattered and where life happens. Fabrics must be able to handle this. Here, removable covers, water-repellent textiles and stain protection are not luxuries, but practical necessities.

Modern fabrics can offer surprising solutions. Outdoor fabrics looking like indoor fabrics, velour with nano-coating, linen blends with stain protection.

1. Time frame for the complete process: 3–8 months depending on its scope
   
   
2. Costs: Transparent pricing applies from the planning phase (step 2) onwards, with costs being offset once the project is commissioned.
   
   
3. Your next step: Arrange for a free initial meeting and find out how the 5-step process could work for your project.