Top interior design tips for kitchens
We always try to make the kitchen function well and be stylish, with lots of open space, good lighting, and of course, storage. We aim to make it eye-catching, and the lighting atmospheric. MICHAEL VIOLANTE Violante & Rochford principal designer
IF you are updating your kitchen, it is easy to stick with what you know and not steer too far out of your comfort zone. But a few tweaks can introduce a totally new dimension to your kitchen and make it look ultra-modern and sleek.
Violante & Rochford Interiors claim that designing a kitchen is one of the most important aspects of a house.
Michael Violante, principal desginer for the company, explained: “The kitchen tends to be the centre of all activity in most houses.”
He added: “The family gathers there for intimate meals or coffee, while friends and relatives tend to congregate in the kitchen when there is a bigger group.
“We always try to make the kitchen function well and be stylish, with lots of open space, good lighting, and of course, storage. We aim to make it eye-catching, and the lighting atmospheric.”
Below, Violante & Rochford Interiors provides some of the key trends that will help your new kitchen appear on trend.
1. TWO-TONE YOUR CABINETS
This is a big trend at the moment in kitchens with the base units being in one colour and the wall units in another.
In most cases, the base units will be a darker colour with the wall units in a lighter one.
In many modern kitchens, homeowners tend to stick with graphite, with high and low cabinets in the same colour.
Have a play around when designing to see if the feature works in your space as you may not have thought of this option.
2. OPEN SHELVING
Interest can be added to the wall units by adding sections of open shelving.
“We love the idea of breaking up the cabinetry with open shelving, to display dishes or do something decorative with the space,” explained Violante & Rochford Interiors.
“It gives the kitchen dimension in a really pleasing way, and something unexpected, not just floor to ceiling cabinets.”
3. DIFFERENT COUNTERTOP TREATMENTS
If you have an island in the kitchen, it is worth considering one type of worktop, and then contrast this with something elsewhere in the kitchen.
For example, one area could use eurostone and another granite. “Don’t be afraid to try something a little bit unusual. If it works visually in your kitchen, go for it. Matching everything is not necessarily better,” say the experts.
4. LIGHTING DOESN’T HAVE TO BE FROM THE CEILING
The obvious solution for lighting in a kitchen is a centre light from the ceiling.
But Violante & Rochford Interiors suggests alternatives such as lamps hard-wired into an island as they produce a different — and unexpected — kind of light that gives height to the centre of the room.
5. ADD FURNITURE TO THE KITCHEN
Adding furniture to a kitchen can make it more stimulating.
Larger family and entertaining spaces can accommodate a seating area with sofas and dining tables.
But smaller kitchens need not miss out, as a beautiful chest of drawers or a side table could also be added.
6. DON’T BE AFRAID OF RUGS
Rugs may appear to be a no-go in the kitchen but they can give the room texture and enhance the décor, according to Violante & Rochford Interiors.
It suggests using an outdoor carpet rug that is more robust and can be easily cleaned — but it depends on the size and shape of the space you’ve got to play with.
KITCHEN PITFALLS TO AVOID
Interior designers Alexander James highlights some of the kitchen design pitfalls to avoid. These include:
• Not having enough counter space. Always maximise on counter space, it’s great for food preparation and entertaining. Good to incorporate a breakfast bar for eating informal meals too.
• Not allowing for enough space between the sink, refrigerator and oven. This can cause issues when multiple people are trying to use the kitchen.
• Poor lighting — although functional living spaces, kitchens can be made to look beautiful when all three types of lighting are considered — general, task and accent lighting. Task lighting is great for work areas, while accent lighting on the kitchen units adds a stylish touch to the kitchen design.
Stace Sibley, creative director at Alexander James Interior Design, said: “The kitchen really is the heart of the home.
“The once isolated and purely functional space used for cooking alone, is now used as a main living space for cooking, eating, drinking, socialising and entertaining.
“With this in mind it makes every detail (both functional and aesthetic) so important in order to create an environment that works for every situation.”