THE GOLDEN RULES
With over 40 years of combined kitchen design experience, Camilla Pringle and Adam Peden of Peden and Pringle in Edinburgh share their secrets to ensure your kitchen is your pride and joy
of kitchen design according to Adam Peden and Camilla Pringle
When it comes to laying out plans for the heart of your home it’s essential to take advice from the experts. Having a bespoke kitchen is an expensive luxury, but it’s one that will provide joy for a lifetime if it is well thought out and beautifully crafted. Ensuring that you balance out your desire for an aesthetically pleasing, yet practical and welcoming space can prove tricky. But follow Camilla Pringle and Adam Peden’s top five golden rules of kitchen design and you’re sure to be cooking up a storm in the kitchen of your dreams. www.pedenandpringle.com
1. TRUST YOUR DESIGNER
Do your research so that you know what you like and what you don’t like. If you are planning to spend a lot of money on a kitchen it’s really important to give yourself plenty of time to do this.
You may need to go and see two or three kitchen designers before you find the one that’s right for you. We know that we won’t be the right fit for everyone. It’s important to know that your designer is working in your best interests and that they’re not just working towards hitting a target and getting a monthly bonus. You will probably get a gut feeling when you find the designer that is right for you; the one who you can trust with your brief. A good designer will always base their design on your brief. If they’re listening to you carefully then it shouldn’t be difficult to come up with a design that you will love.
Be prepared to listen if a designer challenges your ideas because they don’t think that they will work. But, at the end of the day it’s your kitchen and your money, so if there’s something that you really want then stick to your guns. Consider choosing a company with its own in-house installation team who can see the project through from beginning to end. We trust our installation team to have the expertise required to be able to work their magic no matter how tricky a project may be, even on period properties with wonky walls.
Listen to referrals made by interior designers and architects who have worked with various kitchen designers in the past because they will be able to make valuable recommendations based on experience.
2. UNDERSTAND THE SPACE
Choosing a quality, made-to-measure kitchen is like having a suit made for you by the finest tailor. It’s designed to fit all of your contours perfectly. And a kitchen should fit your home like a glove.
You may have an idea of where you want things to be, but sometimes it just won’t work. There’s a logical way that people work in their kitchen so be prepared to listen to alternative ideas, based on the space you have, that will make your kitchen work better for you. You’ve probably heard of the working triangle in kitchen design. This can work well, but it’s not always essential. Providing you are never more than a couple of steps away from your preparation area, cooker and sink then working in your kitchen will flow naturally.
You also want other members of your household to be able to get to the fridge without passing through your working area. Kids especially always need easy access to the fridge.
An island can be fantastic for families, providing a place for kids or teens to plug in their phones and hang out while parents work. They also work well for people who like to entertain, allowing the cook to work and still socialise without guests getting in the way of dinner preparations.
‘Kids will always need access to the fridge’
3. EXPRESS YOURSELF
Look for images of your dream kitchens. Don’t copy them, but finding examples of what you like will help you to create a kitchen that you love. Don’t be afraid to use lots of different finishes to express yourself. We’re doing an amazing kitchen just now that has wrought iron, stainless steel, traditional cabinetry and really high-end appliances all against the background of a raw stone wall.
Consider using cabinets made of tulip wood, rather than MDF. It’s not a very pretty wood but it sands up and is fantastic for painting. The grain doesn’t rise so you get a great finish. This way you can choose to paint them any colour you like, and because the paint absorbs into the wood it’s much less likely to chip.
Try to set down some parameters of what you think will work, what you can afford, and what you like. Try to ensure that you don;t have so many choices that you’re overwhelmed. It’s pointless looking through 100 different worktop samples in wood, stone and composite if you know that there’s maybe only a few that you will like.
It’s important when using natural materials to know exactly what you are getting.
For example, if you choose marble worktops they can vary greatly in colour and pattern. Ask for photographs of the slabs so that you can see them before they are shipped to ensure you will be happy with them.
‘Don’t be afraid to use lots of different finishes’
4. CHOOSE MATERIALS TO SUIT YOUR LIFE
You need to choose the right worktop for you. If you are really careful and always wipe up as you go when you cook then you can choose whatever you like, but if you have children who like to experiment in the kitchen or you want to be able to lay down your turmeric-covered curry spoon without it staining your worktop then you might want to go for a composite material.
You also need to consider access; even if you have a large kitchen you may have a period property with narrow doors or stairs or a new build penthouse with a lift that won’t allow you to bring in a giant slab of marble to put on an island. So choosing a material that can be joined seamlessly will work better.
Everyone loves a traditional range cooker but if you live in a new build the chances are that the insulation in your home will make your kitchen unbearably hot in summer, so consider a modern range that can be easily switched on and off and can include the added luxury and convenience of an induction hob.
5. DECLUTTER
If you have 20 years worth of bits and bobs rammed into your kitchen cupboards that haven’t seen the light of day for years and years then getting a new kitchen is the perfect time to throw them away. If you haven’t used something in the past two years there’s a good chance that you don’t need it. It comes down to the fact that you don’t want to have a room that looks like you’ve rammed as many cabinets into it as you possibly can just in order to store some dishes that you haven’t used since Christmas 1978. There will be sentimental items that you will always want to keep but this is your chance to take stock and be a bit brutal.
The way people work in their kitchens has changed a lot over the years and there are gadgets which can do most things for us and save us space. Consider a boiling water tap, then you won’t even need a kettle. It may seem like an added expense but it’s an investment that will pay for itself in around three years because it’s so much more economical than boiling a kettle.