Kitchens the heart of the home

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Kitchens the heart of the home

While most think of the Kitchen as a primarily functional space kitchens today are much more than a place we cook food. The kitchen of today serves many purposes often acting as the main family living space, a play area, informal dining room and home office in a single day. As a result it is just as important to consider the design of this space in aesthetic terms as it is in functional terms.

Let's start with function first...it is after all a space that needs to really work and multi-task! Think of all the things you need your kitchen to do in terms of cooking and living. Whatever you do please be realistic. I know we all have grand visions of our home cooking aspirations after seeing Jamie, Gordon or Nigella putting together amazing meals but does that mean you need a massive cooker, double oven and American sized fridge! Your kitchen will not turn you into a chef but do invest in the very best appliances for your needs. 

What I can certainly convey to you today is how to make your kitchen space a welcoming and relaxing place. After all, kitchens are increasingly becoming the heart of the home so it needs to be a space you feel good in. I am a big fan of island bars as they are great spaces to spread out on for food preparation and also perfect for casual entertaining. My top tip is to invest the time in finding comfortable chairs for your island rather than just opting for standard bar stools. You want people to feel like they can linger not that they need to move elsewhere to relax.

The glamour and mood of your space is determined in your materials. Reflective surfaces, glass, wood and marble/stone should all be thought of individually but also how they will work together. Matt and shine should play off each other on different surfaces to create a dynamic and visually interesting space.I am a fan of having one space seamlessly meet another through flooring particularly if you have an open plan kitchen and dining room. However, you can differentiate the dinning space by having a soft rug or sisal mat to differentiate the space and add another layer of texture to the room.

Lighting is hugely important in the space. I really like low level low glow lighting as they make your kitchen units seem like they are floating. I do invest a considerable amount in lighting, particularly in the kitchen, because you need it to be flexible and meet the demands of work, cooking, study, play, relaxing and entertaining.

If your budget can stretch then think about your taps as they are really like sculpture in the space and don't for get your extractor/fan hood. 

Kitchens have become the center of our homes so careful planning of the space is essential to making sure the most used room in the house is also the place you want to spend the most time in. 

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