The way in which we use the kitchen is changing.
It used to be a place for mess and frantic behind-the-scenes activity to produce meals served in a calm dining room that’s set apart. But the rise of open-plan living has led to the culinary zone as a separate room is disappearing from our homes.
Modern labour-saving appliances and pre-prepared food mean sophisticated meals can be quickly conjured up in a relatively compact space. Plus, having the dining table positioned alongside the kitchen allows hosts to be part of the conversation when guests are over for dinner.
This does mean that our kitchens are more on display to visitors and there’s an opportunity to make them a major design feature of the home.
So with a host of stylish finishes and sleek appliances on offer for you to choose from, here I’m looking at how to approach designing a kitchen perfect for your bespoke requirements.
In this article:
Kitchen uses
If you’re about to commission a new kitchen, the first step is to decide how it will really be used.
For instance, will it be a lively, messy zone where family members are likely to leave piles of unwashed dishes and dirty worktops? Or will it be a well-ordered, minimalist space more akin to an operating theatre in a hospital? Crucially, do you care what visitors will think if they see it in its normal state?
Judging how big the kitchen needs to be also depends on how it’s used. For instance, if you have a busy life and prefer to eat out then a smaller space might be adequate.
Some appliances are essential and you’ll need to make room for them – the fridge, freezer, cooker and sink can all fit into very compact areas if necessary.
A mix of deep blue and wood cabinets make an eye-catching kitchen setup in this design by Crown Imperial
Alternatively, if your household’s lifestyle means several people preparing food simultaneously, or if cooking is more of a passion, you’ll need ample worktop and plenty of circulation space.
Although the invention of the fridge made traditional pantries unnecessary, they are now back in fashion and provide useful extra space to keep food.
Positioning these storage rooms on an outside wall with air bricks for ventilation is an excellent way to keep root vegetables and other perishables that need a cool, dark environment.
The latest trend is to enlarge them into somewhere for storing pots, pans, baking trays, casserole dishes and the like, which helps to reduce clutter on the worktop.
Another key decision is whether the kitchen will accommodate other uses beyond food preparation. For instance, having your washing machine here could be too noisy if it’s part of an extended living space.
Kitchen layout
If you’re self building from scratch or taking on a major renovation, then the location of the kitchen will have a big influence on the ground floor layout.
The kitchen likely to be at the back of the house, with a good connection to the garden, often via glazed doors. Efficient circulation is essential, so if space is at a premium then double it up as a route from the hall to the room beyond.
As the design develops, think about how you’ll use different appliances and where worktop space is best located. Work the design in a way that minimises the need to move between different parts of the kitchen; this will heighten efficiency and reduce the risk of accidents with hot items.
Imagine what you will need to do at each stage of food preparation then arrange the layout in this order.
As a general starting point, storage should be located in one area with worktop space next to it, followed by the cooker, then somewhere to put the meal into dishes or onto plates, and finally a sink for washing the pots, pans and cutlery.
But you may want access to the sink when preparing food, so U- and L-shaped plans often work better than a straight line.
Think about the height that different items are stored. If you wish to reduce the effort required – not to mention the risk of back strain – there should be three zones. The highest cupboard space would be used for light items that aren’t too difficult to get down when reaching high up.
The lowest cupboards require bending and lifting so lighter loads are preferable here, too. Keep the heaviest objects at or just above worktop level. This arrangement should minimise the need for too much lifting and twisting.
Read more: Kitchen Layouts Explained
Choosing a kitchen design
It can be challenging to make decisions when faced with the huge range of styles and finishes available for fitted kitchens, but you can follow a few practical rules that will help you choose a successful combination.
Work out the number of storage cupboards you need by looking at your current kitchen. The appliances are usually easy to list, with the choice of models left until further down the line.
The size of the worktop space is harder to estimate, but think through the process of preparing, cooking and washing up described earlier as a good start.
Aside from the area needed for these activities, don’t forget to allow room to fit your collection of kitchen gadgets, which may go beyond toasters, food processors and a radio/TV. A smart assistant, such as Amazon’s Alexa, can give you real-time recipe instructions and will probably be able to control the cooker in the not too distant future.
Kitchen finishes
The choice of finishes for cupboard doors and drawers will depend on personal taste and budget, but the worktop material is the most important one, so this is where to spend any extra money if your budget will stretch to it.
Unfortunately, the most stylish also tend to be the most expensive, such as natural stone and stainless steel, but they add a touch of glamour to an otherwise functional space.
The brushed finish on the Puresteel worktop by Franke gives it texture and created a warmer feel than regular stainless steel
Solid wood such as oak, walnut and iroko (from sustainable sources, of course) are usually cheaper and warmer to the touch. Timber with a high content of natural oil is water resistant, but a surface without this will need a finish to protect against staining.
Uber-stylish polished concrete worktops look great but are also vulnerable to staining, so require a careful approach.
Kitchen lighting
A well-designed lighting scheme will help to show off your kitchen at its best.
Fit practical high-level task lighting on the underside of cupboards, backed up by recessed mini-spots in the ceiling.
Also look to include soft background lights, which can reflect off the walls and ceilings later in the evening to create a gentle ambience when all the work in the kitchen is done.
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