KITCHEN COUTURE
Kitchens are the heart of the home and more aspirational than ever before… is it time yours underwent a DIY overhaul?
Gone are the days when kitchens were purely functional; these days kitchens can make a home.
They can also break them; and if yours has seen better days, it could be time to invest in a full-on rip-out and re-start. But if budget doesn’t allow, there are still plenty of hacks to ensure your kitchen stands out from the rest with some pocket-friendly DIY tricks. STATEMENT SHELVING No matter the size of your kitchen, additional space is always welcome. Which is why shelves are becoming increasingly popular.
Not only are they a great storage device but you can also turn them into a real focal point. Use chunky shelves to showcase your favourite crockery, tea cups or utensils. Intersperse your kitchen essentials with a favourite slogan print or graphic and add an ornament that serves little purpose other than to look great to bring a style statement to the room. COLOUR CO-ORDINATED CUPBOARDS Gone are the days when white or wood-panelled doors were the only option in the kitchen – today anything goes.
From bold primary colours to stripped-back greys, any shade from the entire colour spectrum goes in the kitchen. Best of all, you can do it yourself. And it’s pretty simple too.
You can choose to leave your cup- board carcass well alone and opt for some replacement doors. Just make sure your measurements are spot on before ordering.
Or, simply paint your existing doors. Just make sure you give them a good clean and apply a decent primer before getting the paintbrush out. And for a finishing touch, don’t forget to invest in some new door knobs. STYLE MATTERS Given its practical nature, you could be forgiven for forgetting those finishing touches when it comes to the kitchen.
But considering how long you spend in it, perhaps it’s time to reconsider your kitchen’s styling.
Accessories, even those that serve a useful purpose, are available in every colour imaginable. From art deco tea trays and fabulously funky colanders to minimalist napkin holders and statement soap dishes.
Gold accents are set to be big news in the kitchen so expect to see goldplated teabag dishes, cooling trays and cutlery gracing the interiors shops soon. INTO THE LIGHT I cannot stress how much lighting plays an integral part in interior design. And I’m not talking about fixtures, although of course, these will be a deciding factor in determining the overall look of the room.
But more importantly, it’s how light is used. Lighting can be used to highlight your favourite part of your kitchen, be it a recessed shelving unit or a vibrant splashback, and can even mask the spots you don’t like.
It also serves a very practical purpose, so don’t forget when planning your lighting scheme how you will use certain parts of your kitchen. Where will you prepare food? Do you need lighting over your oven? Task lighting is an essential so make sure you have defined the most important areas in your kitchen so you know where your lights need to be placed.
Other areas, such as informal dining locations, need mood lighting – a little illumination but not as harsh as task lighting.
Lesley Taylor is the author of 10 interior design books and has appeared on a range of network TV shows, including This Morning, giving inspirational advice on home styling. She lives in Wales where she is lead designer at luxury interiors lifestyle store Taylor’s Home and Interiors, taylorshomeandinteriors.co.uk