Add a splash of colour

Posted 15th July 2009

Kitchens these days are becoming more of a fashion statement along with a practicle workspace. This years fashionable must have is colour, now don't go spashing every bright and vibrant colour all over your kitchen.

Stick with refined elegance, using light colours, light greys or white makes your space look much bigger and stylish, but chose one component of your kitchen and why not try an orange or blue or green for that component.

The two best components I would suggest are splashbacks or if you have a backpanel to a breakfast bar, this simple but effective use of colour will make your kitchen welcoming and stylish.

Minimilistic Kitchens

Posted 19th June 2009

When coming to the design of your new kitchen, why spend your time creating a beautiful sleek and elgant kitchen to spoil it by having freestanding appliances and big clunky handles?

There are endless options for fully integrated appliances these days and to take the minimilistic style even further, why not look at tall cupboards that open out to reveal your oven/microwave and possibly even more workspace - that's if you have the space of course!

Handlessless options are becoming much more widely available these days too and give you an ultra modern and stylish look.

New Era in Hob Design

Posted 10th June 2009

I spend alot of time looking through new designs and to be honest everything looks the same and trying to find something different is always hard, but every once in a while a design stands out and makes me happy

This new Fisher & Paykel Project Luna stovetop is a gas hob that makes cleaning a breeze. The 3 Gas burners retract back into it's base when not in use to create a flush surface which is easy to clean and looks amazing.

It uses aero burners which means sparkless ignition and instant flames, which is ideal for precision cooking.

A masterpiece... but you'll have to wait, it's launched in the US in 2010 and not here for a while! I say "Put me down for one!"

Curvy Kitchens

Posted 2nd June 2009

When looking for a kitchen trend, look to Italy. Everything I see out in the UK market is about 3 years behind the Italians. But whilst looking at some of the designs coming out of Italy at the moment, curvy kitchens wasn't one I had expected.

However, these designs by Aran Cucine Company look stunning. The praciticality of these shapes may not be great for the majority of spaces we all have in our kitchen, but if you do have the space... and the money no doubt... this could be a stylish and modern alternative.

For more information visit http://www.aranworld.it/

Eco - Design

Posted 28th May 2009

With people becoming more environmentally aware, suppliers and designers are looking at new ways of introducing eco-friendly materials, recyling facilities and energy efficient appliances within kitchens.

With this in mind, here are a few ideas to reduce your kitchens carbon footprint:-

1 - Appliances, look for A rated or better appliances, these are more electrically and water efficient, they're more environmentally friendly and cut down on running costs too!

2 - Lighting, spotlights have been replaced by energy efficient flourecent lighting. However new LED lighting is now available, even more energy efficient and more flexible. You can get stick on LED lighting strips that can be cut to the lengths you required for an uninterupted lighting effect.

3 - Recycling, to help the environment try using recycling bins within your kitchens. Suppliers offer a selection of compartments solutions.

4 - Materials, look for manufacturers that use sustainable material sources like bamboo, cork and recycled stone and glass.

Design Zones

Posted 12th May 2009

With the changing world and the way we use our kitchens the old fashioned and outdated triangle design is becoming more and more redundant. In its place, welcome the zones!

As multiple people use the kitchen, a more efficient and useful space is required. Splitting the tasks and grouping them in zones the useable space works so much better!

Having a cooking area with a prep sink is a good start, and as people don't use the oven as much as the hob, try moving it away to increase storage space for pots and pans nearer to the hob.

Having a prep sink also means that the main cleanup sink can be kept separate, with a dishwasher next to it creates the cleaning zone. There are also a couple of suppliers that sell dishwasher drawers. This can be handy as one half can be in use while you fill the other, creating a nice cycle.

Another idea would be to have a separate under counter fridge away from both cooking and cleaning zones, maybe in an island, where snacks and drinks can be made without disturbing people cooking and cleaning!