Tips For Making A Green Kitchen Stand Out
Green kitchens of all shades and colours are having a moment and we’re here for it.
Green kitchens are timeless and fun as they can be decorated, accessorised and adapted to fit different styles, personalities and individual preferences. Here we wanted to share a few tips on how to make green kitchens stand out.
Tone: selecting the right tone and shade for your space is important to get right in order to achieve your end design goal. Lighter and pastel greens are perfect for helping bring the outdoor inside, connecting the greenery in your outdoor space with that of your kitchen is a lovely design element that can not only bring calm but also transform the way the space looks and feels – this is perfect for kitchen extensions for example.
Darker greens are also perfect for making a statement, whether that’s the whole kitchen or allowing the island or cabinets to stand out. We also like dark greens in smaller spaces as it creates an intimate environment that you can’t resist wanting to spend time in. The Herringbone Paints range has many different tones to choose from.
Lighter surfaces: lighter worktops or floating shelves with lovely, veined detail and warm light wooden shelves are lovely complements to green kitchens. Not only do the lighter details stand out but they also help bring “the green” to life. Marble is stunning and durable, however, less expensive materials such as porcelain or Quartz are also great options that will stand the test of time.
Play with Textures: We love bringing texture into the kitchen space. The different tones of green, whether that’s sage, olive, sea green or bluey-green, are perfect for adding texture to. Think about warm wooden colours or earthy and natural materials that help bring “the green” to life and again bring the outdoor, inside. The same goes for lighter/fun coloured tile choices that not only add personality to the space but also help bring in more character to the kitchen.
The Impact Of The Open Dresser & Open Book Shelf
Open dressers and bookshelves are stunning pieces of furniture that have become increasingly desirable in British homes. They are both beautiful and easy on the eye, as well as being functional pieces of furniture that are perfect for adding personality and individuality to.
We are huge fans of making these bespoke open dressers and bookshelves and here we give our thoughts on what makes them so unique and how they can create real interior impact.
Adding personality: often with closed units the surprise is hidden behind the doors however, with the open display it gives the owner the opportunity to add their personality and most treasured belongings to the shelves to be admired at all times. Displaying family heirlooms, souvenirs from world travels or funky items with real character work incredibly well and adds to the design of the space.
Adding Colour: It’s a chance to add pops of colour to your space. Add cookbooks, your favourite books, vases or art to the shelves and you won’t regret it. Colour can be added or taken away whenever you’re ready for a change so it’s a fun and easy way to play around with interiors.
Adding Storage: functionality is equally important and storage, whether it’s hidden or on display, can often be added below or beside the open shelving. Storage is always a need and in a dresser for example it’s lovely to have the option to hide any unwanted items away.
Adding a wow-factor: these units can be real talking points. They catch the eye immediately and often becomes a wow-factor type of furniture and design element in the spaces they are in
Why The One Wall Kitchen Design Just Work!
One wall kitchens create a real impact. The design can be a show stopper in almost any type/age of home where you want to create a social space that works for any occasion. Here we talk about why this style of kitchen works well, the impact it can have and top tips when designing one.
What is a one wall kitchen
A one wall kitchen refers to the main run of cabinets being confined to one wall so you can have a straight run with your appliances or sink or oven etc. and an island that will separate the working and social kitchen space as by for example having seating on the other side of the island leading into an open plan space.
The impact of a one wall kitchen
One wall kitchens create a real sense of impact when you walk into the room. Having the kitchen on just one wall allows for the spaces to be separate whilst still feeling connected e.g., you have a separate cooking area and social area but the two can be easily connected by a lovely statement island where seating is available.
A considered colour scheme makes the kitchen pop and feel even more impactful – try pink cabinets with a darker island or make one element of the kitchen stand out by designing the island in a lovely washed oak with a beautiful work top.
Top tips for designing a one wall kitchen
A considered colour scheme makes the kitchen pop and feel even more impactful – try pink cabinets with a darker island or make one element of the kitchen stand out by designing the island in a lovely washed oak with a beautiful work top.
Creating a functional flow using storage is a smart design. By being smart with storage in the island, especially using drawers, you can hide away a lot of your everyday essentials, which makes the flow of the kitchen incredibly functional.
Consider you lighting well. Lighting is often the most underrated but most important element in the kitchen. Pendent light over an island or lights inside upper glass cabinets looks great, as well as up lights under units which create a lovely atmosphere. Consider your ceiling lights (your working lights) and ambiance lighting (social lights) to ensure it works for any situation.
Why a one wall kitchen works so well
One wall kitchen lends themselves well in many homes no matter the age of the property, the style of the home or the space available. It allows for a connected space that works really well day-to-day but also for entertainment as the social space it creates is second to none.
5 Ways To Create The Ultimate Entertainment Space In The Heart Of Your Home
Creating a home for your lifestyle, needs and wants is a wonderful task that makes a house or flat a home. If you’re the host with the most creating a space that both works on a day-to-day basis and as the ultimate entertainment space can be tricky. Herringbone wants to guide you through 5 different ways to achieve the ultimate entertainment space in the heart of your home – the kitchen - designed to make your guests go wow.
There are of course many ways in which you can interpret what such a space should look and feel like. However, we wanted to give our expert opinion on what makes for a great social space for entertainment.
Design it right from the beginning. We believe that a kitchen is for living in whether that’s on a day-to-day basis or for social occasions and so designing a kitchen for entertaining too is a key element in your planning stages. That means maximising and focusing on the room’s layout, considering how the space can flow smoothly so there is no bumping into the cook and spilling drinks and also making sure the right necessities such as sinks, drawers, prep areas and plugs are in the right places.
Make the island work hard: whether your island is a peninsula or the centre of the kitchen, making it multifunctional provides a great way for bringing in an audience, aka your guests. Create seating around it for easy conversation and a front row seat to all the action, a cooker such as the Teppanyaki Professional Hob allows for cooking right in front of guests, it looks impressive, and it is easy to clean whilst adding deep storage drawers into the island will make fancy plates easy to grab and go. You can also add a wine fridge in the island, so any drinks are within reaching distance and at the right temperature for drinking.
Add a home bar: having lovely glassware and bottles on display is a lovely design feature and one which is perfect for entertaining. Open shelves with glass wire racks add personality, a cooling sink is perfect for prepping drinks, wine racks are perfect for grabbing what you need and adding reeded glass to the front of the cabinets leaves an intrigue about what is behind the doors.
Make room for a walk-in pantry: by situating these to the side of the kitchen with no door works perfectly for entertaining. Consider putting a wine rack and extra fridge in here for use when you have guests. It also works as an extra space to leave any mess that you don’t want seen. Painting them in a different colour also makes a huge visual impact, which is hard to resist.
Look to an open plan living space: there’s no better way to throw a soiree, be it small or large, than with an open plan kitchen and living space. Maintaining presence while finishing up food or making drinks is essential for an ultimate entertainment space, just make sure your island or peninsula is always facing out so you are always in the mix of it all.
Don’t forget lighting: make sure that you take lighting into consideration from the very beginning. Install dimmers and lights that can create an intimate, fun and warm atmosphere that work for any celebration.
2023 Kitchen Design Inspiration
At Herringbone Kitchens we love to work with our clients to design the kitchens and furniture that best suit them and incorporate modern and new elements each time. We work on 80 projects a year and here are some of our predictions based on our current bespoke kitchen projects we are working on in 2023.
Veined Worktops
Marble is still considered a real luxury item to have in the kitchen in 2023. Quartz or granite are hardwearing and have real durability whilst still looking incredibly sleek. Porcelain is a perfect option too and looks lovely in place of traditional worktops. Neatly painted veins on these materials look beautiful and don’t always easily stain depending on the material. Splashing out on a gorgeous piece of marble is also hugely popular when designing your dream kitchen. We have put together the pros and cons of different worktop options here
Oak Islands And Standalone Units
Bars, dressers and islands on legs are great pieces of furniture that will change the visual dynamics of the space. Stand-alone display dressers in stained oak are incredibly popular and a true wow factor in any space. Whether it has open shelving to display your favourite items or it has bi-fold or traditional doors these dressers provide great functionality, storage and they look beautiful too. Stained oak comes in many different finishes and is a real labour of love, with the workshop hand finishing the stain 3-4 times to build up the depth in the finish.
Oak & Stone Floating Shelves
Floating shelves in either oak or stone are a hugely impactful, especially with a stone splash back to boost. These can be placed above the sink or in utility rooms and are beautiful, functional and act as a lovely feature in any space. These shelves open up the kitchen and create a lovely sense of space, especially if you have high units or upper cabinetry. Not only do they look beautiful but they also offer the opportunity to add colour and personality to the kitchen space.
Bright Colour Combinations
People are getting braver with their choice of colour. Brighter combinations of colour in the whole kitchen, on the island, on the main run of cabinet, on the dining table legs or in the utility are being used more and more. Not only does it add personality and style but it also sets the mood of the space. These include bright yellows, pinks, deep reds etc.
Bespoke Wine Storage
Beautiful wine storage is always considered a lovely luxury item to have in your kitchen. Creating bespoke wine storage units is always a wonderful detail to have in your kitchen.
Less Wall Units
More hidden and simple storage is becoming popular in 2023. Floor to ceiling units and lower runs of cabinets are being designed with clever storage in mind. These combined with the floating shelves and on-display units look wonderful.
Walk-In Larders And Pantries
These are now situated to the side of the kitchen with no door to allow for full exposure. Painting them in a different colour also makes a huge visual impact, which is hard to resist.
