SHELF LIFE

Storage is put through its efficiency paces in this modern-classic scheme

aconversation about storage is essential when designing a new kitchen, particularly in a smaller space like this one in northwest London. ‘Clients often think they need a lot more storage than they actually do, so we begin by talking through specific items,’ says Vlad Putjatins, kitchen designer at Harvey Jones. ‘How often does this item get used, is there anywhere else in the house it can go?’ There are ways you can load up on storage without overpowering, especially if you have high ceilings – these are 3.1m. ‘We realised that two runs of shorter, medium-height wall cabinets, stacked, would make much better use of the vertical storage available,’ Vlad says. ‘There’s still a decent gap between the cabinets and the ceiling, which I always recommend in smaller kitchens as it gives you a clear visual of the room’s full dimensions. Taking the cabinets right to the ceiling can be effective in large rooms, but here it would have enclosed the space. We also didn’t want to cover up the pretty cornicing.’