I personally don’t think that there is anything more exciting than getting a new kitchen…it is definitely my favourite room in the house. I enjoy cooking and love my food, but for me a kitchen is so much more than that. It really is the centre of the home, where everyone gravitates to and a place to relax. There are so many choices when it comes to choosing a new kitchen and it can feel a little overwhelming, so here are some of my top tips!
Trawl Pinterest and Instagram and save the kitchen pics that you love the most. On Pinterest you can even add a note to say what you particularly like about the image. Then review these all together and you should hopefully see a bit of a theme. Are you being drawn to modern or traditional kitchens? What about wooden or gloss cabinets? Stainless steel or marble countertops? Neutral colours or something bold?
Think about how you and your household will use the kitchen and move around it. You may have heard of the ‘kitchen triangle’ which is the idea that the cooker, fridge and sink should all be in a triangle formation. This ensures a good flow between the most used items and should make the cooking process a little easier!
Don’t forget to consider the appliances you would like at an early stage. If someone loves cooking, make sure you splurge on a double oven or range cooker. What about a hot tap? Not only practical and time saving, but also removes the need for a kettle! Integrated fridge or freestanding? And a wine fridge is in my opinion pretty essential!
It is easy to get carried away with all of the high-tech appliances and beautiful hardware, but don’t forget that a kitchen also needs to be practical! So, storage space – make sure you have enough of it and then more. If you are anything like me, you have probably accumulated all sorts of things that you use very rarely (but do use!) like a slow cooker, juicer and blender. Everything needs a home and you don’t want to be crashing around in an awkward corner cupboard looking for a Tupperware lid. What I am trying to say is make sure you have enough functional storage. I now personally prefer large, deep drawers over cupboards and open shelving to display my beautiful crockery and glassware. Oh and a pantry cupboard, now that is vital!
If you are wanting a kitchen island, make it as big as possible and ensure you have at least a metre between wall units and the island. You need room to open doors and work comfortably in the space! Often, we have to decide whether to put a sink or hob on the island, as there isn’t enough room to have both along the wall. If you are a keen cook and the kitchen is a social space, I think a hob on the island works really well. If you always seem to accumulate piles of washing up, you might want to think twice about having the sink on the island. Having said that, a sink in this area can be very functional and offer a nicer place to wash up if you aren’t able to position a sink near a window. Also keep in mind for practical reasons (and plumbing) it makes sense to put your dishwasher and sink next to each other.
As an interior designer, I like to get involved with my projects as early on as possible and come up with different layout options that make the most of the space and what is important to you. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or need any help with your kitchen renovation on info@felicityjasmineinteriors.co.uk.
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