Maximising Space
Space... The final veneer.... worktop?
Star Trek references aside, keeping a tidy and organised kitchen can be a real task. Clutter from dishes, appliances, cookbooks and fruit bowls can make using your kitchen a chore, which is never how one wants to feel. Ensuring that the workspace is clear is a difficult task, so today we're dropping some handy tips to help keep your kitchen organised, both through day-to-day tasks and through renovation.
Firstly, keeping the workspace clear can sometimes be a question of making sure all storage areas are used. Window sills, wall space and the tops of cupboards can be handy areas to use for sneaky storage, especially for those pots and pans that are rarely used. A quick review of how one stores things can be a nice refresher, and can often result in one finding a more efficient means of storage.
However, often times, a kitchen renovation is done in the interest of creating new space. With this in mind, there are many different designs one can consider. Shelving above the hob can look fantastic, as can the pantry, which is becoming more popular across modern kitchens. Spice racks in the cupboard door are another fantastic, quick solution, as well as the wonderful Storage Solution designs we feature in our showroom and on our website.
Another fantastic design choice that can result in much more storage is the kitchen island. From cupboards, to wine coolers, to drawers, eating space and more, the island can be adapted to fit whatever design you need in your space. By designing this space, you can ensure that you get exactly what you need from your kitchen, and we ensure that this design is tailored to you.
Hopefully this helps with your kitchen, and inspires you to work out storage effectively. We at Herringbone make sure that any designs we make for you will be tailored to you specifically, and we work very closely to make these designs exactly what you want and need. Contact us at info@herringbonekitchens.com or come into our showroom any day to discuss further.
Maintaining a Worktop
Once you get a new kitchen, it becomes a pleasure to cook and work in your new space, and often, we forget that our worktops need maintenance, much like anything else in the home. There are certain cooking implements and ingredients which can actually harm the quality of your worktop, and to help prevent disaster, we have a handy list!
The first, and possibly most secretly dangerous, is vinegar. Vinegar based cleaners, contrary to popular belief, can cause irreparable damage to certain worktops, such as marbles, natural stones or quartz. Warm soapy water is a much better alternative! Whilst these vinegar-cleaners are good for stainless steel utensils, aluminium and cast iron products actually react to it, so those too are off limits. Vinegar can be very useful - in the right circumstances!
Wooden worktops are another difficulty in certain kitchens - maintenance is important to ensure prolonged quality. Oil-finished wood requires upkeep, in order to prevent stains or ageing. Matte or silk lacquer repels most stains, however, but the important thing to note is that most wooden worktops require, at the least, some care. It would certainly be a shame to lose quality in wood, especially as it is such an attractive worktop, so always be aware of the upkeep that comes with wood.
Quartz and granite are very durable, and require much less in the way of direct maintenance, unlike the wooden alternatives. However, it is important to note that clearing liquids as soon as possible upon quartz or granite worktops is vital - it is unlikely, but can result in staining should the liquid be particularly abrasive. It is also important to remember to keep good care of where one places hot pots or pans - and this is true for every type of worktop! Whilst the durability of these worktops is very high, it is best not to tempt fate. A simple metal pot holder, or rubber plate can save one endless troubles, should the hot utensils cause any damage. However, Herringbone Kitchens offer a Silestone Quartz and Sensa Granite, both of which offer a 25 Year Guarantee, which ensures staining will not occur.
We hope this short list has helped with some amount of care in your kitchen! The best thing one can do is treat their kitchen with care, and you are sure to be fine!
When it Shines...
The barbecues come out in force!
In England, it is very easy to focus on the rain, the clouds, and the general bad weather. With spring in full force, however, and summertime looming closer, it is important to remember to appreciate the good weather and fun times, no matter how fleeting. Already, the barbecue smoke from neighbours can be seen on the lucky days where the sun shines through, and nothing is more enjoyable than an event hosted in a new kitchen. This week, we're going to look at the positive effects a new kitchen can have when planning or hosting events for the summer.
The biggest effect one may feel is a new sense of enjoyment in their space. Previously thought of as simply a preparation space, the kitchen can now become the centerpiece of entertainment, and whether you have built through for more space, or simply renovated, it is far lovelier to spend the day with friends in a space you can be proud of. A new kitchen is certain to leave a lasting impression in your memories of summer and beyond.
The obvious answer, is, of course, a new space in which to cook and prepare for barbecues, parties or any other event. An oven built into a unit can save space and make preparing food easier, whilst new counter tops give more space for cutting, chopping and everything in between. Should you have an island, a breakfast bar or seating area can make the kitchen feel more personable and bring the room together, which makes preparing more social - the cook is no longer banished from the rest of the party!
We here at Herringbone look forward to the summer, and with it, the kitchens we can help to create. We hope that we can help work with you to create your dream kitchen, and that it can help make your summer the most enjoyable one it can be. Please check in any time, in the showroom or by contacting us, and check our Summer Brochure for more details about us.
Where to Begin?
Over the last few months, a noticeable trend among customers visiting the showroom is that they all have different starting points. Some simply want to have a look at the kitchens in the shop, whilst others definitely know they're getting work done. Worktops, units, colours and styles all come into their preliminary view, but one thing is always the same: after having a quick look and a chat, they all have a better idea of what they want.
No matter how far along you are in the process of kitchen hunting, it is clear that having a peek in the shop and a chat can help you with your plans. A bit of friendly advice on the types of worktops is invaluable for knowing the difference between granite and quartz, for example, and for others, a suggestion of a design type, like a larder unit for a corner, can be the little something their design was missing.
We are open 7 days a week, 9.30 - 17:00 every day (10:00 - 16:00 Sundays), and would love to have a chat! Come into the store for a chat, a browse, and see if we can help your dream kitchen come to life! With our showroom, site, and the 2016 Brochure, there are tons of ways to keep up and discover what Herringbone Kitchens can offer - and we can even come and give a free measurement and quote, to make your design truly come to life! We hope to see you soon! Stay tuned for our deals in the coming month!