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Kitchen design and the art of zen

When it comes to kitchen planning, considering layout is really important. You will want to consider making the most of the space you have to work with. Ask yourself how you might most use your kitchen. Do you love to entertain? Open-plan kitchen ideas might be just the thing. Or is your kitchen the place you like retreat to for some calm? A breakfast bar or cozily furnished kitchen could be just what you are after. Your kitchen design ideas should consider how your kitchen furniture  and appliances will serve your needs to ensure it becomes one of the most comfortable and most useful rooms to retreat to in the house!

 

How do I plan my kitchen?

Begin by taking a look at our kitchen design photos and save the photos to ideabooks for inspiration. You will find small kitchen ideas, as well as designs for large kitchens, open plan kitchens, kitchen diners, galley kitchens, freestanding and fitted kitchens, for all budgets, and as you collect images your new kitchen will begin to take shape. Do make use of on-site experts and their know-how; using an online kitchen planner and knowing broadly what you want from your kitchen layout is a great place to start, but for the more technical aspects of kitchen design and installation, a professional kitchen designer will help turn your dream kitchen into a reality.

I have a small kitchen – how do I maximize the space?

Any kitchen can be luxurious – whether compact or spacious, you can have the kitchen you want that also fits everything you need. Small kitchens benefit from vertical storage solutions, so ensure your kitchen cabinets and units maximize the floor-to-ceiling space and make the most of storage on your worktops – if there’s no room for storing pots and pans, ceiling racks are also a great solution. Kitchen ideas and accessories such as baskets, trolleys and bottles are both aesthetically pleasing and practical.

Kitchen appliances like a fridge or dishwasher can be tucked away in built-in units so they blend into your layout, whilst others like an AGA or microwave can be made into features if you select the right designer appliance. If you have room, a kitchen island can work as both a style statement and an extra worktop and storage. Open plan kitchen ideas create the illusion of space throughout the whole house, and a kitchen extension is one of the best ways to add both floor space and value to your home.

How do I select the best materials and finishes for my kitchen redesign?

The beauty of redesigning your kitchen is that it can look and feel just how you want it to, with an endless variety of kitchen ideas, colours, materials and finishes to choose from. Before you pick out your kitchen units you might want to think about kitchen colour schemes and what will work together. While neutral and monochromatic colours for kitchen units are popular, adding contrasting colours and textures with accents such as a tiled or mirrored kitchen splashback will immediately lift the mood of your space.

Kitchen flooring offers countless ideas to play with – terracotta tiles add warmth, lino is great for adding hard-wearing smoothness to uneven floors, and you can’t beat a wooden floorboard underfoot for a country kitchen feel. For your worksurfaces, granite worktops continue to be the most popular kitchen ideas for luxury kitchens, but why not consider Corian or even wooden worktops for a beautiful finishing touch.

Even everyday items like kitchen sinks can be a feature in themselves if you choose a piece in a finish that stands out – just look at the rustic charm a Belfast sink adds to a kitchen. Finally, think about the overall kitchen colour scheme and add finishing touches with kitchen accessories such as coloured textiles and utensils to complete your kitchen design.