Did you know that decorated walls and cabinetry aren’t the only way to bring a splash of colour into the kitchen? Here, Valentina Bertazzoni, marketing communications director at Bertazzoni, explores how coloured appliances can help bring personality into the hub of the home.
From subtle, muted shades to bright, statement colours, the kitchen is a lively space that plays host to an abundance of life’s functions; cooking, eating, working, entertaining, relaxing, exercising and learning.
Whether you’re cooking for one or helping your youngest with their latest homework project, the kitchen has long been coined as the heart of the home. A place where family and loved ones come together, whether for food or fun, the room is a vital part of the day-to-day, and with plenty of elements, both fixed and flexible, it’s the perfect canvas to bring your creative vision to life.
However, whilst some think that colour in the kitchen is a fairly modern concept, imagery from 30s and 40s homes say different. Growth in the popularity of Linoleum¹ drove bold flooring and cabinetry choices throughout the decades, much the same way enamel did with appliances, enabling homeowners to add splashes of colour to an otherwise dull colour palette.
Here at Bertazzoni, we’ve been producing coloured appliances from our Italian factory since 1907, with our classic black woodburning stoves, long before pastel shades in the 1950s and prior to the bold & bright finishes launched in the noughties.
Each finish is matched with a different series to complete a sophisticated and instantly-recognisable look. Whichever Series and finish are chosen, the appliance will bring a unique touch to the character and aesthetics of a kitchen. Here we’ll take a closer look at each style in further detail:
Automotive paint
Vibrant, durable and inspired by various elements of Bertazzoni’s birthplace – Emilia-Romagna – this finish is the same found on famous Italian sports cars. Applied by hand using the same process, the breath-taking and resilient colourways are hard-wearing and resistant to acids and temperature corrosion.
Available in six high-gloss colours – nero (black), bianco (white), giallo (yellow), arancino (orange), rosso (red) and the latest shade, carbonio – the colourways take inspiration from the landscape, the fruit and vegetables, the light of the sun and the moon.
The shades are only available with the Bertazzoni Professional Series, and I personally have one of the Giallo range cookers in my home.
Metal appliances
Italy is renowned for its artisan metalworkers, famed for their attention to detail and perfect finishes. Bertazzoni’s special metallic models take their inspiration from these craftspeople and apply the techniques and quality, refined over many years, to its appliances.
These finishes are used to coat the decorative elements of the ovens, using real metal to create a striking and durable surface. Available in a choice of stainless steel, rame (copper), and zinco (zinc), they are hand-applied by skilled craftspeople to the decorative elements of these ovens. It creates an opulent, precious finish that brings a subtle and refined finishing touch to any contemporary kitchen.
As every aspect of the process is made by hand in the traditional way, no two ovens are exactly alike. They are as unique and individual as pieces of fine art, displaying the hand and skill of the makers.
Matt finishes
The Bertazzoni Master Series and Heritage Series feature nero matt (black) textured paint to make the appliances durable, stain and scratch resistant.
Utilising pigmented powder made from resins and other materials, the application process heats the mixture to form an exceptionally hard finish that is much tougher than conventional paint.
Enamelled products
Inspired by the original wood-burning stoves that my descendants, Antonio and Napoleone Bertazzoni, built in the 1930s, the enamelled avorio (ivory) products within the Bertazzoni Heritage Series are durable and easy to clean.
Complemented by metal highlights available in bright chrome or warm copper, the collection can also be further enhanced with the Collezione Metalli décor set.
A selection of finishes, in gold, copper and black nickel, have been designed to enhance the cooker, hood and refrigerator and provide unique control knobs and door handle finials.
Bertazzoni has always been for the discerning customer, and Collezione Metalli demonstrates how we can go the extra mile to deliver stand-out in the market.
Made in Italy
The three pillars of family, food and engineering are at the epicentre of Bertazzoni’s heritage. Located in Emilia-Romagna, within Northern Italy’s Po Valley, the home of Bertazzoni is known as the ‘bread basket’ of Italy and plays host to much well-known Italian produce, such as Parmigiano Reggiano (parmesan cheese), Balsamico di Modena (Balsamic vinegar) and prosciutto de Parma (Parma ham), as well as an incredible variety of fruits and vegetables.
Setting the (Pan)tone
Bertazzoni colours and finishes have official RAL/Pantone colour references, enabling further complementary accents within the kitchen.
Inspired by the rich tapestry of Emilia-Romagna’s landscape and produce, the Bertazzoni colourways have stood the test of time. Whether it be the rosso colour, the same as a famous Italian sports car, the giallo ‘sunshine shade’ or the arancio finish, likened to juicy oranges from the Po Valley’s abundant orchards, a coloured appliance can add an eye-catching component in any kitchen, to either complement or corrupt an existing colour scheme.
To find out more about the Bertazzoni colours and finishes, visit https://uk.bertazzoni.com/colours-and-finishes
Article images: Bertazzoni
Top image: Unsplash
