Moodboard masterclass
Gathered all your inspiration? Now it’s time to put it together. Interiors stylist Lucy Gough shows you how
Styling supremo Lucy Gough shows how to pull some of your favourite images together, along with samples of tiles, paint and fixtures, to create a moodboard. Plus, you can save 15 per cent on a masterclass with Lucy.
6 steps to help you get started
The kitchen is undeniably the heart of the modern home. These days, it’s a multi-purpose space, where we cook, eat and socialise, and often also where children do their homework and adults work from home. In short, it’s an area that has to work harder than ever before.
This means two things: first, you must understand your needs and design your kitchen so it works specifically for you and your family (don’t get hung up on resale value – make it work for you now). Second, be sure to choose colours and lighting that are both practical and beautiful. After all, you’ll be spending a lot of your time in this space.
UNDERSTAND
YOUR NEEDS
Ask yourself a couple of questions. How much storage do you need? Do a stock take of the contents of your kitchen cupboards and I bet you could cull it by half! And, are you a keen cook? If so, do you use only the stove, or are you regularly calling on other appliances, such as a fryer, blender or sandwich maker, all of which require worktop space? The answers will help you determine how many cupboards you need versus how much worktop space.
CONSIDER ACCESSIBILITY
Do you or your family have any specific requirements, such as wider access around an island, smooth flooring or lower worktops for, say, a wheelchair user? Or a real need for two separate food-preparation stations?
DO YOUR RESEARCH When it comes to the look and feel of your new space, I suggest creating a digital moodboard that includes all your favourite materials, colours, accessories and everything in between, including light switches, taps and flooring. I make most of mine on Google Slides. Do a Pinterest search and see which looks and colours appeal to you. You can’t go wrong with a light, bright palette with one or two accent colours. Remember, you are the person who will wake up every morning and make a cup of tea in your new kitchen, so don’t worry about whether friends or neighbours are going to like it!
CALL IN THE PROFESSIONALS
If you feel stuck, you can hire an interiors stylist or designer to help, but if you have a limited budget, consider Ikea or West Elm, both of which offer a free room-planner service with no obligation to buy. My favourite kitchen design trick is to buy cupboard doors and side panels from Superfront. They fit standard Ikea units, but the doors come in an array of dreamy colours and finishes, and are an easy way to make a kitchen look amazing!
CHOOSE A LOOK
YOU LOVE
Apparently, it takes more than 10 years for a look to date completely – and you may well have moved on from your house by then. So choose a look you love and don’t worry too much about whether it will go out of fashion.
THINK ABOUT
NATURAL LIGHT
When beginning any kitchen redesign, I start from the window. Natural light plays a big part, so try to make your main window as large as you can and locate your sink under it so you can look out while you wash up. It may sound like an unimportant detail, but many people regret not having done it.