5 design priorities kitchen area pros want you to know

If you are contemplating remodelling a kitchen area, you may speculate pretty in which to start. As serial redesigners, we, at H&G, know that the exciting aspect is deciding upon the search of your kitchen, the cabinetry style, and the decor. But exactly where do kitchen area designers start out?
Unsurprisingly, when requested how to style and design a kitchen area, industry experts are a lot much more most likely to begin with functionality, as kitchen designer Tom Howley describes: ‘Practicality is the first precedence when preparing a new kitchen.’
Underneath, we question Tom and flooring professional Isabel Fernandez to inform us their structure priorities, so that you know what to have in brain when on the lookout for those inspirational kitchen concepts.
1. Layout
The Kavanagh Collection in Avocado, Tom Howley
(Picture credit: Tom Howley)
Just before you consider anything else, kitchen area structure tips should be your first worry and priority.
‘The format of the place is what helps make a kitchen design and style profitable. The most crucial factor to contemplate is how you use your room,’ says Tom Howley, Style Director at kitchen area business Tom Howley.
‘For case in point, for open up-plan kitchens, will you contain a eating place if so, consider adding a kitchen island with storage designed in underneath to optimize house.
‘The general structure of the kitchen must emphasis on the balance of scale and proportion. Straightforward, modern day updates this sort of as open up shelving paired with a curved island give the design a present-day edge, with out dropping the traditional craftsmanship values or the storage demanded,’ concludes Tom.
2. Flooring
Hambleton Ivory Stone Outcome Porcelain Tiles, Quorn Stone
(Image credit score: Quorn Stone)
The greatest ornamental place – walls apart – is the ground, so it will make a huge distinction to the finish of your kitchen decoratively. Kitchen flooring tips need to have to be realistic and extensive-lasting, as well. The ideal selection general will often be stone or stone-outcome porcelain.
Isabel Fernandez, Director at Quorn Stone, discusses the great importance of not currently being trend-directed when selecting a floor tile: ‘At the moment, we obtain customers are leaning towards bigger tile measurements as frequently minimizing the number of grout joints is a precedence.
‘In conditions of kitchen area trends, we generally recommend consumers to go for a traditional model in the kitchen spot. Paying for a stone or porcelain floor is an investment for the residence and one particular that generally usually takes very careful thing to consider – our guidance is to always go neutral in your chosen floorcovering for floor flooring areas and rather inject color via paint shades and components. A lick of paint is far less difficult to transform in many years to appear than a distinct flooring.’
3. Storage
The Hartford Assortment in Chicory, Tom Howley
(Graphic credit history: Tom Howley)
‘Kitchens can seem cluttered simply because kitchen storage has not been sufficiently regarded as or prepared. Designers can make up to date and sophisticated bespoke cabinetry and drawers that can discreetly house the things you use, leaving you with clean up, streamlined surfaces.
‘No room is squandered. If you have uncomfortable corners or quirky areas this will just include to the creativity of the kitchen! Even sensible merchandise this sort of as domestic appliances are considered, they occur in all styles, dimensions and makes ready to combine seamlessly into your style,’ points out Howley.
4. Color
The Devine Collection in Serpentine, Tom Howley
(Graphic credit history: Tom Howley)
If you are wanting for kitchen area coloration thoughts, the risk-free possibility is to constantly go neutral – nevertheless there is no reason not to drift toward pale blues or greens to generate a more special look which is each simple to reside with and basic.
‘Green kitchens are acquiring something of a instant ideal now. As a colour we affiliate largely with mother nature, this grounding shade has an extraordinary way of reconnecting us with our environment, developing moments of quiet and positivity. Serpentine, our putting olive inexperienced, is employed to splendid result earlier mentioned in our most current Devine style and design. It’s a spectacular colour with earthiness and depth that leaves you experience nourished and complete of everyday living, great for kitchen environments. This bold shade may perhaps pack a punch, but you have a plan with undeniable appeal when combined with burnished brass components and white worktops,’ states Howley.
Priory Time Worn Sandstone Kitchen Flooring Tiles, Quorn Stone
(Impression credit rating: Quorn Stone)
Try to remember to consist of flooring shades as one particular of your issues, much too, due to the fact this will have an effect on how the kitchen cabinetry colours glance flooring will also need to have to enhance your kitchen area countertop strategies in phrases of both substance and colour.
‘A huge kitchen area flooring pattern is buff sandstone tiles – supplying the final neutral with comfortable pale wash tones and exclusive texture. Sandstone, like limestone, is a hardwearing and functional possibility suitable for kitchen ground tiles the texture also delivers grip underfoot. Buff-coloured tiles complement the substantially-cherished present day place look and function with an array of unique paint colors,’ concludes Isabel Fernandez.
5. Scale and proportion
(Picture credit score: Tom Howley)
‘Whatever its measurement or fashion, the kitchen island, as its name implies is a centralized characteristic. It’s in a handy posture that permits you to use each individual inch of place, and many of ours have built-in appliances which totally free up wall cupboards. By centralizing cooking or planning places, it will make the kitchen area substantially a lot more sociable, making it possible for the chef to speak to some others as they get supper all set as a substitute of standing with their back to family members and close friends,’ claims Tom Howley.