Canterbury - Where, What and When

Whilst the rain threatens to pop up every now and then, the beautiful sunshine does inspire summer activites. As we head towards August and the summer holidays, there is no better time to visit Canterbury, and enjoy its rustic streets and everything it has to offer. This week, we'd like to highlight a couple of interesting things to do in Canterbury, whether you're visiting or live in the area. 

Food is a highlight Canterbury has endless contributions to. There are so many great local restaurants, and you can definitely get a feel for the community Canterbury holds through its cuisine. Pork & Co., run locally, now hold 3 locations, with a Shop, Bar and Eatery, and a small deli sandwich shop called Little Joe's Deli. It must be said that eating here is an absolute treat (James, at least, heavily recommends!), and the friendly atmosphere is just delightful. Other great local restaurants include Salt, just a few doors down from our own showroom, and the great Shepherd Neame pubs, like the Shakespeare and Bishops Finger. 

Moving on, there is endless amounts to do in Canterbury. It is easy to get lost in the beauty of the town itself, and nothing compares to Westgate or Dane John Gardens in the sunshine. The Cathedral is an obvious highlight, but there is so much more to be seen. The wacky Catching Lives Bookshop, a small, crooked, charity bookshop right next to our showroom, is a good marker of Canterbury's unique history, whilst the Gublenkian, on UKC Campus, is holding a number of musical events this week before students return home for term.

 

Lastly, one can never forget that Canterbury is just one place. Whistable and Herne Bay are but a short drive, to mention just a few. Should you wish to see the sea, you're only one bus away, and in the summer, it is such a treat. Whitstable perfectly encompasses the English seasisde, with beautiful restaurants, shop fronts and a darling beach. The least we can do is guarantee that there will always be something to do in and around Canterbury, and we hope you make the most of it!

Sneak Peak of Recently Completed Kitchen in Canterbury City Centre

Outdoor Kitchens to Inspire

It is the time of year that every Brit wants to be outside enjoying the garden and a glass of wine. Outdoor kitchens are easy to install and are the ultimate summer treat. We think they are the next big thing. There is no better way to complete any size garden, from a small courtyard to a farm- then by adding your own outdoor kitchen.

Below we have some of our favourite outdoor kitchens found on pinterest an the web. We can imagine ourselves just sitting there this bank holiday with a glass of wine and a grin.

Hope you all have a lovely and relaxing bank holiday weekend!

Mr Blue Sky

🎶  See how the sun shines brightly
     In the city on the streets where once was pity
     Mr. Blue Sky is living here today ♫

- E.L.O, Mr Blue Sky

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Despite occasional clouds and warm rains, it seems like England's week of summer has begun! Certainly, nothing is better than waking up to find that you need no coat or jumper, and the sun is out in force! To this end, we wanted to highlight a couple of things to think about when considering natural light in your kitchen, as much can be done to utilise the summer light.

Natural light is easily one of the most beautiful additions you can make to a new space. Whether through a new window, a skylight or a lovely set of doors, renovating a kitchen and experiencing the beauty of a summer evening shining through is indescribable. Surprisingly, however, even a small addition, like a new window, is enough to dramatically change the lighting in a room. In the photo below you can see a kitchen we recently fitted, and with only one small window, the room has a wonderful daylight glow.

As we wrote last month, summer time always means barbecues. It is easy to see the difference a new kitchen brings when a barbecue is hosted, between new space, good weather and a chance to show off. Plus, with our latest deal, with a free Neff dishwasher on orders placed before 30th May, the time has never been better!

Whatever the summer holds for you, we'd love to hear about it! Contact us to book a fitting, or come into our showroom, and enjoy the Canterbury sunshine!

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.