Kitchen Trends (& Tipples!): Welcome To Your Bar!
We have seen a great influx of bar unit and drinks storage requests when designing our client's’ kitchens in the past couple of years and there’s no sign of this trend slowing down!
Countertop Bars
One great way to incorporate a bar cabinet into your new kitchen is to design it as a countertop unit. This is perfect if you have a smaller space or don’t want an entire tall unit dedicated to your favourite hooch. If you’re installing quartz worktops in your kitchen; even better, as the non-porous material is so easy to clean and wipe away any sticky, spilt liquors and mixers! Add reeded glass doors to add a bit of flare or keep it simple with standard timber and keep the inside a pleasant surprise.
Wine Storage
Want to organie your wine? Make it a feature. Whether you’re a wine connoisseur or just know you like ‘the red one’, whether it’s a full cellar under the stairs or shelving above your fridge; nothing looks more lavish and sophisticated than your very own wine / champagne area. Now, where’s my feather boa and crystal coupe?
Stand-Alone Bar Units
If countertops just aren’t your thing and maybe you have some more space to play with; a free standing bar unit will have your friends and family ‘ooh’ & ‘aah’ing. A cold shelf to match your kitchen countertops will give that clean and cohesive look, cupboards underneath will help with storage of extra glasses or even larger kitchen gadgets you don’t need or want on display constantly. Add a drawer for things formal cloth napkins, bottle openers, bar spoons, cocktail strainers, and wine stoppers.
Fun, Bespoke Details
The best part of designing and making bespoke cabinetry, is that we get to come up with fun new ideas for your units, as well as executing your ideas! Hanging glass shelving, internal wine racks and shelves as tall or as short as your moonshines require. The world is your oyster! (Or the bar in this case.)
Kick back and pour yourself a drink; you deserve it!
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Kitchen Trends: Splashbacks
Deciding on a splashback can be daunting what with all the options, but it can also be a fun and very creative process when designing your dream kitchen! We have collected a few of our favourite splashbacks from projects over the years to give you some inspiration and maybe even show you a splashback idea you didn’t know was an option.
Farmhouse Square Tiles Are A Classic, Sweet Choice. Perfect To Add A Nostalgic Feel To A Modern Kitchen
2. Antiqued Mirror Will Add Depth To Your Room & Will Smile Back!
3. Marvellous Marble. Turn Your Kitchen Into A Neoclassical Dream
4. Fun, Contrasting Pop of Colour To Add Personality In Any Kitchen
5. Quartz To Match Your Worktops Will Create A Seamless Flow & Please The Eye
6. Exposed Brick. Cosy, Textured & Beautiful
7. Quartz & Matching Shelves Will Add Height To The Space & Add A Natural Border Between Splashback & Wall
8. Metro/Subway Tiles Always Look Amazing, In Classic White or Bolder Colours!
9. Timber Tongue & Groove Panelling To Give A Cottage Feel
10. A Living Finish Brass Will Look Elegant & Cool
11. Make A Statement With Some Striking, Gorgeous Granite
12. Add Some Funk Into Your Space With Patterned Tiles
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Kitchen Tips: Modernising Your Kitchen
If you’re after a bespoke kitchen but are worried the Shaker style might be too traditional for your taste, fear not; there are many ways in which you can modernise your kitchen space throughout the design process and after.
Cabinetry Styles
A no fuss, flat door front style of cabinetry with always look sleek and modern. For the Dunkirk project (pictured below), we altered our Westminster range and omitted the shaker panels for a simpler look. A lack of decorative cornicing, little feet or even units flush to the floor will also help to modernise your kitchen.
Glass Fronted Cabinetry
Glass-fronted cabinetry, as well as glass shelving within, is another great way to modernise your space. Opt for plain glass or fireglass for a 21st century modern look and reeded for a more Art Deco one.
Stunning Stone Worktops
Possibly one of the most exciting ways of giving your kitchen a more modern edge is with a beautiful, bold stone worktop! Granite, marble and even quartz stones all come in a variety of colours, veins and patterns which will becoming a huge focal point of the space and always leave people saying ‘Wow!’
Two-Tone Colour Palette & Bold Colours
Bold and vibrant colours will truly help to make your kitchen a bit more contemporary. In the design process, play around with different colour combinations and even consider a two-tone aesthetic.
Hardware
For a more modern look, choose handles that are more geometric in their design. Squared edges and straight lines will always do the trick. Knurled or reeded details also lend themselves well to modern designs.
Downwards Extractor Hobs
At the height of cutting edge kitchen technology, an induction hob with a downstream extractor will streamline your surfaces and make for a very impressive cooking station! We love the Bora hobs as there are many different models with additional playthings and gadgets for the home chef.
Undermount Sinks
As with the induction hob, and undermounted sink will also help streamline your work surfaces, allowing a continuous flow for the eye. (Easy to hide dishes also!)
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Working From Home - Kitchens: The Make Shift Office
The past year and a half has been challenging, to say the least, for most of us, with many office dwellers needing to work from home with no designated office; this can be a bit of a pickle!
The kitchen seems to have been made into the make shift office for many, so we have compiled a list of things you may want to consider when designing your new kitchen while adapting to the new ways of working.
Calming Colours For A Focused Mind
A calm mind is a productive mind! There are a few different colours and hues that have been proven to provide a calming and relaxing effect on the brain.
Among the most popular relaxing tones are neutrals, blushes, soft blues and greens as well as greys with green undertones and tans.
Whether your choose any of these for your kitchen cabinetry or your kitchen walls, they will certainly make for a peaceful working week.
Natural Light
Undoubtedly one of the most important factors of a healthy and pleasant workspace, is maximisation of natural over artificial light. Allowing sunshine and natural light to pour into your space will not only lift your mood and keep you alert but can also be a lovely break for your eyes after hours of blue screen light.
Windows and French doors looking into the garden or skylights are all excellent choices for your kitchen-’office’. Keep a couple of them open too as ventilation helps bring in fresh air!
Kitchen Island Seating
When choosing the right seating for your kitchen island and breakfast bar, ensure your stools or tall seats are comfortable and offer good back support. Are your perching at your island or sat down for hours at a time? A cushioned bar seat with a mid to tall back is a great option and comes in a variety of styles to suit any space.
Invest In A Boiling Water Tap
Throughout your day, you will inevitably end up making a never ending line of teas and coffees. A boiling water tap will satisfy your hot drinks craving much quicker than a kettle ever could. It will also cut time off your kids’ bow-tie pasta lunch prep!
Surround Yourself With Things That Inspire
Artwork, plants and even family photos are just some examples of things that will not only fill your space up with an abundance of character but will all aid your productivity and creative spirit.
Keep That Wine Cooler Close!
Once the emails have been answered, the phone lines have closed and the laptop has been folder shut, you’ll need a drink; you deserve it! Keeping a wine fridge on the kitchen island is a very popular spot as it is accessible especially for guests. Hop off your stool and pour yourself a Sauv Blanc.
Create Your Own Hot-Desk Station With Banquette Seating
Banquette seating is increasing in popularity within kitchen designs currently. This could be a perfect way to include an ‘office’ area into your kitchen with comfortable seating, hidden storage and enough space for another WFH hero or a little one colouring in/doing homework.
Did we miss anything? Tell us what your dream kitchen / work from home office needs!
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Kitchen Tips: 'Countryfying' Your Kitchen
If you prefer a more traditional or ‘English Countryside Chic’ kitchen to a modern sleek one, there are a few things you can consider when designing and decorating your kitchen to ensure it’s every bit of what you first visualise!
Mixing & Matching Burnished Brass Handles and Knobs
Mixing up the shape and type of hardware in your kitchen will offer a traditional yet stylish look to your space. Keeping all the handles the same will offer a more modern and sleek look. Another thing to consider is the harshness of the shape. Squared off, geometric designs lend themselves to more contemporary kitchens. If what you’re after is a softer, more organic country look, think gentle, rounded shapes! An antique-esque burnished brass finish is perfect for adding that old, golden warmth so many farmhouses have.
Belfast & Pie-Crust Sinks
A big Belfast sink screams country kitchen! These ceramic beauties are not only beautiful but very practical because of their depth. You can get them as a single or a double (or an 1000mm if you want that extra bit of space!). A ‘pie-crust’ sink offers the same charm as the conventional Belfast sink but gives an extra bit of * spice *.
Keep Your Beams & Expose Your Brick!
If you’re lucky enough to have beautiful old wooden beams or an exposed brick wall, keep them just as they are! These natural textures and warm tones really aid that feeling of cosiness that a traditional shaker kitchen has. Try adding touches of wood throughout your kitchen to really amplify this with your stools or chairs, worktops or even displaying a lovely heavy wooden chopping board or pepper mill on your countertop.
Dresser Units
This isn’t your Nanna’s sideboard with all her fancy china, it’s a new and improved version! A dresser unit or side board unit is a classic piece in any English kitchen. Bi-fold doors and glass fronts can make it a really special piece that you will love using each day. We love seeing the beautiful oak or walnut on the inside as well as a cold shelf which makes cleaning much easier! If you want to take a step further, paint this unit an entirely different colour to the rest of your cabinetry or even consider exposed wood.
Table Seating
With kitchen islands and peninsulas truly stepping into the spotlight more and more, they can sometimes be a replacement for a kitchen table all-together. Keep a kitchen table for a more nostalgic and traditional feel (bonus points if it’s wooden).
Colours: Off-whites, Creams & Soft Greens
We all know of a country kitchen in an off-white or cream, and if it ain’t broke don’t fix it! Warm neutrals, beautiful sage and olive greens will bring a cosy and natural feel to the space.
Window Bench Seats
If you’re thinking of adding some banquette seating or even a bench to your kitchen, consider placing it under a window if possible. These little nooks are wonderful places to curl up with a cup of tea and a book, where kids can do their homework or simply gaze into the garden.
Tiled Splashbacks
More modern kitchen designs have been leaning more towards quartz splashbacks to match the worktops or glossy, white metro tiles. Try a small, square porcelain tile for your splashback for a more traditional look. Play around with colours, patterns and textures to find what works best for you and your space; maybe try a terracotta tile!
Leave us a comment telling us what your dream country kitchen would look like!
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