I round up my 2014 top tips and up and coming trends to create a beautiful kitchen that will be the envy of your friends and family for sure.
Storage Conundrum
There are two ways to go with storage a) not enough b) far too much, get a happy medium , never include cupboards for cupboards sake if there is a wall you really don't have to fill it. Work out the amount of cupboard space required by taking into account all your pots and pans,baking, roasting trays, tupperware, cutlery, dry foods etc.
Prepare To Be Great
You can never have enough preparation space but make it count , make sure all small appliances, music systems TVs are integrated where possible to maximise the preparation space available.Consider the height of the work surfaces if the household in general is particularly short or tall, cabinet heights can be tweaked to make the work surface more accessible and prevent stooping or overreaching.
Light up your life
Lighting scheme's pay particular attention to both task and ambient lighting always use LED lamps throughout, your lighting scheme should always be designed alongside your kitchen not as an afterthought , lighting can make or break a kitchen design
Don't go it alone …
Getting an expert on board is crucial to fully realise your new kitchens potential Even if you think you are 100% sure you are happy with the layout and design yourself or architect has worked on, a kitchen designer can bring a whole plethora of options ideas and suggestions to the table. They can also potentially save you time money in the bigger picture. Before instructing a kitchen designer check out their signature style and design portfolio, it is crucial that both the designer and client are on the same wave length. Be prepared to pay for this service.
Cook up a storm
Appliances consider airborne odour especially for open planned kitchens soft seating and fabrics should be washable as over time airborne grease will settle in fact over a year in a typical family kitchen the equivalent to a whole packet of lard settles on work surfaces , blinds , soft furnishings etc Kuppersbuch have a patented design within their ovens that actually processes the airborne odours within the oven cavity and converts them into H20 and injects it back into the oven a similar processes to a catalytic converter on a car.
Get hot and steamy in the kitchen
Heating - Depending on your budget and stage of build consider either water or electric underfloor heating that is controllable via an electronic thermostat ,if you are using radiators make sure they have a thermostatic valves installed. It is important to be able to control the temperature of your kitchen, to avoid getting hot under the collar.
Gadgets & Gizmos
Hot Taps have been around for a number of years but now you can actually have a hot & cold water along with boiling hot water 99deg dispensed from just the one tap try Grohe's Red Hot Tap www.grohe.com
Krushr recycling Bins www.krushr.comtake care of all waste by combining a waste disposal with a waste compactor all your 'wet' waste can be disposed with down the sink via the waste disposal and all 'clean' waste i.e. bottles/jars,tins plastic cardboard can be sorted and compacted (not the glass)
The Wow Factor
Built in Saltwater Aquarium --- Transform space connect with the natural environment get a therapeutic experience in your own home and of course add the WOW factor, many high end hotels feature mind blowing aquariums throughout the world. www.aquafront.co.uk
Illuminated Shelving Niche - Display your prize oils and vinegars , beautiful glassware or your Vodka Collection in an eye catching niche that will also add ambient lighting to your kitchen.
Illuminated Wine, chilled or ambient room temperature display cabinets available in a vast array of sizes and prices to suit all budgets and collections for the wine connoisseur with a spectacular collection ask your kitchen designer to design a wine cellar that is on view! www.caple.co.uk
The Future is bright
2014 will see glass burst onto the scene , from kitchen doors clad in gloss or satin glass in a spectrum of colours to your kitchen tap , glass splash backs are already a hit in the UK ask your kitchen specialist about creating a bespoke design just for you. www.decoglaze.co.uk
