EXPERT ADVICE
‘People often get the scale wrong,’ says Merlin Wright, design director at British Standard. ‘If you’re tight for space, don’t try to squeeze in an island,’ he says. ‘Instead, opt for a table that can be used as an extra workspace as well as for dining.’
‘Don’t locate your kitchen in the basement. The rest of the house will die. Have it on the ground floor to bring the centre of the house to life.’
‘The “kitchen triangle” is key,’ says Jim Leach from Wood & Wire. ‘The triangle’s three points are the sink, cooker and fridge. Ideally you want no more than 6 feet between them. I add a fourth: preparation space. Ensure you have space either side of your cooker for prep. Take full advantage of every bit of wall and floor space to maximise storage and keep worktops clear,’ adds Jim. ‘Drawers hold more than cupboards, are easier to access and enable better organisation. They cost more but the benefits outweigh the expense. Avoid corner cupboards – Tupperware will go in and never be seen again. If they’re unavoidable, I recommend a pull out system.’
‘And don’t let rubbish and recycling be an afterthought. Include a space for general waste and recycling bins. Whether you want them hidden in a cupboard or free-standing, think about where is accessible yet out of the way.’
‘Choose colours that reflect your personality,’ says Elly Simmons, director of Herringbone Kitchens.
‘If you are reserved in your clothes, don’t go hot pink with yellow tiles in your kitchen. The space has to feel like your own.’
‘High wall units give a greater sense of space beneath, so think about setting them higher than is traditional,’ says Adam Vergette, co-founder of Plykea. ‘Or design your kitchen without wall units and add shelving to increase the sense of space. Good extraction is vital,’ continues Adam. ‘Side-return extensions with glass ceilings or statement islands with a central hob can be ruined by an overhead extractor. We love the innovative Bora hobs (bora.com), which extract steam, grease and odours at cook-top level, saving wall space and avoiding unsightly extractor hoods.’