The kitchen is
often the heart of the home, and if you think of yourself as the next master
chef, it is likely that you are forever buying new appliances to make life
easier in the kitchen, and make your culinary delights even more fabulous. A
modern kitchen is the perfect space for it. A streamlined, contemporary kitchen design, combined with integrated appliances,
thoughtful lighting and a mix of levels that helps to keep your room clutter
free whilst leaving you more space to relax and entertain might sound like a
dream – but it can be a reality.
Clean lines
Handleless cabinets
are all the rage right now, and they are perfect for creating clean lines
throughout your kitchen. The in-frame construction gives it an edge on some
flat fronted designs and makes it extremely durable. In smaller kitchen spaces,
the absence of handles helps to make a room feel bigger, while in a kitchen
with lots of cabinetry, it prevents an overload of steel handles. If you don't
want to commit to all handleless doors then you can give a run of classic
cabinets a modern edge by dressing them with sleek bar handles, adding modern
built-in appliances and topping with cool composite worktops. For added
contemporary chic, mix and match styles incorporating flat-fronted wall
cabinets.
Stay neat
Clean lines
continue with neat surfaces in modern design. The key to that is keeping your
kitchen uncluttered. While we all might want that statement – and often used –
KitchenAid mixer on show, that doesn’t necessarily work, alongside all the
other kitchen paraphernalia it’s so easy to get untidy. Hiding kitchen clutter,
particularly in open-plan kitchens is essential, so plan in plenty of storage
with deep pan drawers, tambour units to keep small appliances, crockery and
china out of site. Floor to ceiling handleless cupboards can hide a multitude
of sins so if you have space, they’re a good investment. Remember, though, for
your kitchen to work efficiently, you’ll want easy access to all these things
when you do need them, so we recommend siting pan drawers by ovens, larders
close to prep areas and china close to the dishwasher.
Worktops
Worktops are your
best friend when it comes to preparation – and for a modern look in your
kitchen colour is important – you can include everything from pure brilliant
white to zingy orange. Plain white worktops compliment modern cabinetry
beautifully but if you want a slightly less clinical feel then manufacturers
such as Silestone and Ceasarstone are now producing man-made composites that
look like natural materials. Of course, while they can look just like marble or
concrete, the real benefit of these surfaces is that they are much easier to
look after than natural stones, particularly very porous ones such as marble.
They’re also fabulous for creating feature splashbacks – for instance book matching
a faux marble – with less of a financial outlay than, say, Carrara.
Appliances
If you are nerdy
with your appliances, and have your heart set on a range cooker, then choose
one of the more modern steel models from Mercury, Smeg or Rangemaster.
Integrate as many appliances as you can and if possible, place items such as
washing machines and tumble dryers in utility rooms. Keep sightlines clear by
installing simple below cabinet, in-ceiling or pop-up extractors rather than
fancy hanging pendants, keep fridges and freezers behind closed doors and
invest in good-looking, hardworking built-in cooking appliances and a sleek
glass zoned induction hob. Finish off with a few modern day luxuries such as a
boiling water tap offered by Quooker, pop-up power points and cool lighting.
Modern design tips
Pick simple surfaces
Choose glass or
composite splashbacks and large-format floor tiles with a matching grout to
keep your kitchen looking sleek.
Play with levels
Think about adding
a high breakfast bar to an island for relaxed eating or create several levels
on a peninsula with a raised area to hide the washing-up from dinner guests.
Go fine
Opt for ultra-thin
worktop profiles that will help your units to look more like pieces of
furniture. Or wrap a composite work surface in a contrasting shade or material
around cabinetry on islands and at the end of runs.
Trip the light fantastic
Creative lighting
is a great investment, and can set the mood or atmosphere for any occasion. Use
plinth lights to make base units look like they are floating or adding LED
strips to the interior of wall cabinets or shelves to highlight favourite
accessories. They can create the perfect mood in the kitchen whatever the occasion.
