Five decades of ceramics and memories. A journey through time across kitchen design.
Kitchens have changed dramatically since the 1970s. The colours, the décor, the sounds and even the scents that linger in the air are not what they once were.
Ceramics have always been present. On walls, floors, worktops and even in the smallest details, they have accompanied every change in style and every new way of living at home.
What has never changed is the role kitchens play in our lives. They are where we grow up, where we share, where we live. They are part of the stories created between the stove and the table, of conversations that lingered and of moments that stayed.
For five decades, Recer has been part of this story, creating surfaces that have seen generations grow and that have become part of each home’s memories.
1970s
The personality of the kitchen with decorative listellos
In the 1970s, ceramics dominated the kitchen. Walls clad in glossy white tiles reflected light and kept the space bright and fresh. Amid the simplicity and functionality, decorative listellos appeared. Small fruit and flower motifs ran along the wall like a line of colour, breaking up the white and adding character to every kitchen.
1980s
Ceramics as the foundation of the entire kitchen
In the 1980s, kitchens were solid and built to last. Worktops and cabinets were built in masonry, using brick or cement, and fully covered with ceramic tiles to create continuous and resistant surfaces. A large chimney hood stretched over the stove, marking the centre of the room. Subtle patterns and geometric listellos brought structure, while wood and copper added the warmth of home.
1990s
Ceramics with more expression in the kitchen
In the 1990s, kitchens began to break away from rigid lines. They were still fully tiled, with masonry worktops and cabinets, but tiles also began to be laid diagonally to bring dynamism to the space. Listellos became wider and more striking, with colourful floral and fruit patterns. Different tones and tiles from different collections were combined to create bolder and more personal compositions. Ceramics started to reflect the personality of the people who lived in the home.
2000s
The kitchen becomes functional and minimalist
In the 2000s, kitchens moved away from bold patterns and exuberant décor. Ceramics appeared in larger, plain tiles in neutral and discreet tones that formed the backdrop for clean, straight lines. Listellos became thin and were used only as minimal graphic accents, while stainless steel extractors and lacquered or light wood furniture gave the space a sleek, technical look. The kitchen became more practical, clean and functional, ready for a new pace of life.
2010s
Kitchens with clean lines and continuous surfaces
In the 2010s, kitchens opened up to the rest of the home and became part of the social area. Lines became cleaner and more continuous, with smooth handleless cabinets in neutral tones and light woods. Ceramics appeared in larger formats, with natural and subtle finishes, used on floors or as minimalist backsplashes. Listellos almost disappeared, replaced by continuous surfaces where ceramics extended without visual interruptions. Among greys, whites and beiges, intense colour accents began to appear on backsplashes, bringing life to the space and creating contrast with the surrounding serenity.
2020s
Kitchens with natural personality
In the 2020s, kitchens have become more personal and versatile. They maintain clean, organised lines but combine different materials and textures to create unique environments. Ceramics take centre stage with finishes that mimic stone, cement, marble or wood, used in large formats and continuous surfaces that connect floors, walls and worktops. Neutral tones still dominate, but warm, earthy hues have emerged that bring the kitchen closer to nature. Technology integrates discreetly, keeping the space focused on comfort and the experience of living at home.
This is only part of the story. Ahead lie more decades of innovation, change and new ways of living at home.
Ceramics will continue to evolve, as they always have. New materials, new textures and new possibilities that we cannot yet imagine.
At Recer, we are already preparing for the future. For the kitchens yet to come, for the families still to grow and for the memories still to be created. Because the best part of this story is always ahead of us.
