Friday 12 July
1. WORK OUT WHAT YOU NEED
Take a good and perhaps critical look at your current kitchen and think about what works, what doesn’t, what you like, what you don’t and what would make it better. Your requirements may have changed over time or you may have inherited your kitchen when purchasing a new house. Ask yourself would you like clear worktops with no appliances or clutter? Do you need a larder cupboard or would you prefer cupboard space to neatly store your collection of pots, pans and crockery, do you want integrated bins and recycling units to keep the floor area clear. This will give you a clear idea of exactly what you need and will help the designer to put the plan for your kitchen together.
2. MAXIMISE AWKWARD CORNERS AND SPACES
Corner carousel units rotate and are ideal for corners and awkward L-shapes. They offer easy access to bulky items. They make those hard to access spaces accessible. There is also a kidney shaped swing out unit. These smart storage units squeeze every last drop of storage space out of your kitchen. Kessebohmer produce some very smart solutions including the popular ‘Magic Corner.’ Ask your kitchen designer, they will have lots of products, solutions and ideas.
3. FUTURE PROOF YOUR KITCHEN
If your family is likely to grow or if you plan to have friends and family visiting a lot; plan ahead. A warming drawer is a great addition for those that like to entertain, or two ovens if you are cooking for a larger family. Research suggests a good rule of thumb is to allocate two cupboards for every adult and one per child.
4. MAKE SPACE FOR A LARDER CUPBOARD
Pantry or larder cupboards have become hugely popular over the past few years. Traditionally pantries were used to keep food cool, the arrival of the fridge saw them replaced in most kitchens. Now, they are enjoying a revival as a clever storage feature. Larder solutions fit into tall cabinets or cupboards and are a series of connected shelves that pull out making the contents easy to see and access. Tandem larders are also available with twice the storage space. If you would like a larder cupboard in your new kitchen make sure you tell your designer early on.
5. HIDE SMALL APPLIANCES
Kitchen worktops can soon become cluttered; kettles, toasters, coffee machines, microwaves etc. If you want a sleek, minimalist look or just as much worktop as possible plan cupboard space for these items. A boiling water tap can replace a kettle and cupboard space can be allocated for other appliances. Cupboards can be fitted with electrics so you can open the door front and use the appliances without removing them from the cupboards.
