Increasingly in the last 10 years we have been waiting for new products which will produce the wow factor in kitchen design.
In the last 7 years, due to the cost of the material, Granite has become more affordable and quartz has become more stylish and we as a company have supplied and installed more granite and quartz worktops than in the previous 20 years and this has created the wow factor in many kitchens, however the introduction of instantaneous hot water taps has been a great success and the sales of the Grohe Red duo, Quooker and the new Franke combination hot, cold and boiling water taps are on the increase and have become very popular for a variety of reasons. The other major increase in choice has been new basket storage systems with systems for bottles, tea towels, chopping boards, large pull out larders and magic corner basket systems to name but a few. These innovations are making usage of your kitchen far more user friendly and storage accessibility is on the increase.
Kitchen Design
Thursday 14 September 2017
Kitchen Matt doors new fashion are they here to stay
Over the last few years a growing number of Matt doors have been entering the kitchen industry. The thought of a Matt door has concerned the more user friendly kitchen specialists and we have been resisting this influx from Europe. Very often in the past we have followed these fashion trends only for them to fail soon after introduction with us spending money on displays which fail to create any rate of return on our investment and get the standard comments, 'lovely but would not have that in my house' from our clients. We all remember the disaster in the past better known in the bathroom industry with Penthouse Red and deep brown bathroom suites, however the Kitchen Industry had its own spectacular failures, Birds eye maple doors in grey, high gloss lacquered doors in the early days, before we really knew how to manufacturer them and 60mm and 50mm worktops, limited colours and an even more limited market. However it seems that Matt doors may be here to stay. Portfolio Kitchens have introduced a range of Matt kitchen doors to compliment their gloss doors and in colours that have standard cabinet matches and even the matt alabaster has a different feel. So are these doors going to be a fashionable fad or are they going to become a regular sale in the kitchen industry, certainly the mixing of the gloss and the matt with the matt doors providing accent pieces could really work and as people are becoming braver with their colour choices I believe that they may be here to stay but let me know if you dont agree #MBKkitchens
MBK are planning to install a display of these doors and at present do have all the samples in stock.
MBK are planning to install a display of these doors and at present do have all the samples in stock.
The overall kitchen design process and what you need to consider
THE OVERALL KITCHEN DESIGN PROCESS
Kitchen designs as with any design should be a partnership
of client and supplier a meeting of minds, where by a series of good questions
and answers a successful outcome will result which will satisfy both partners. When
you decide to embark on the journey to purchase a kitchen you should be
prepared for that engagement. You need to be clear of your requirements and priorities,
and you should expect that whoever you visit should ask you incisive questions
and challenge you on your choices, as by clearly explain your reasons a better
understanding of your wishes will be conveyed to your partner in this
adventure. You should be engaging with them, discussing your project in the
knowledge that they should be emotionally connected to you. You should also
feel comfortable in the knowledge that they are adding value to your project.
You are not just buying a kitchen you are investing in your
most important asset and it should be viewed as an investment but also a place
that you and your family can work and relax in. So think carefully when
following this path, consider all the options available discuss your project
with a number of different companies, choose the company that you feel most
comfortable with, who you feel most understands your desires and has
emotionally connected to you and has created what you really want. Enjoy the process
and reap the benefits of a well thought out and designed kitchen. In the
following sections I will briefly explain some of the decisions you will have
to make.
Door Styles
There are an infinite number of different door
styles available today some times that choice can be overwhelming, however
there are a few designs that are always popular.
The style of the door is more of a fashion decision
however Shaker doors have always been popular and the new painted varieties
offer great choices with the imitation painted oak doors also being very
popular and affordable. Both available as a lay on version and an in-frame
version. Slab doors in both gloss and matt are also widely used and can give
you that clean contemporary feel whether you choose the slab versions or the
handle less styles.
Even amongst these two basic styles there are a
multitude of variations in both texture and colour. You can have timber doors
in both styles and it can be natural or painted in a myriad of colours both
matt and gloss. The slab doors come in many different textures, acrylic faced,
lacquered, melamine, wood effect and laminate all available in both gloss and matt.
The newest forms of slab doors even come with glass or porcelain fronts and
some of the new laminate doors have great textures to them.
Then you can also have slab doors that take a
handle, doors that have integral handles and also doors that don’t need
handles. Remember if you are having a door that requires a handle that choice
of the handle can alter the whole feeling of the kitchen, so spend some time on
that choice and don’t always go for the one in the brochure, as that was
someone else’s choice.
So you are faced with a multitude of door options
so choose carefully, discuss this with your designer and challenge them to show
you other options and explain the reasons behind each variation they suggest
and so we embark on the journey to purchasing a new kitchen.
APPLIANCES
Always
choose the best appliances you can afford as named brands always add value.
Brands such as Bosch, Siemens and Neff inspire confidence and reinforce your
pride in your property. A good looking and well respected appliance always will
enhance a kitchen, having a quiet and efficient dishwasher can make a real
difference in a kitchen dinner. Consider Induction hobs as a realistic
alternative to gas and with the incredible safety features they are really
worth considering, and they are becoming more affordable, electric gas! The newest appliance on the market is the Steam
oven, these are now getting more adaptable and certainly worth consideration
dependant on your cooking requirements. The combination Microwave ovens are the
most popular appliance at present with all its features and enabling you to
have a streamline built in finish as shown above. The most popular combination
is a single oven with a combination microwave oven, instead of the double oven,
larger capacity and more functions. Remember your new kitchen is an investment
so spend your money wisely and buy the best you can afford as it will last. The
latest statistic indicated that a new kitchen added 5% to the value of your
property, so a wise spend actually can cost you nothing!
WORK SURFACES
For your work
surfaces all solid surfaces will elevate the value of your kitchen.
Irrespective of the style of kitchen the durability and appearance of these
surfaces means that objections from prospective purchasers are rare. If you are
improving not moving then you get to use the best surface available. In the
last 6 years granite and quartz work surfaces have become more accessible and
the differential in cost between these surfaces and the more common laminate
surfaces has decreased. The Wow factor will always be an influence to
prospective buyers, and the durability of stone work surfaces is a huge bonus. With
the advance in technology the new designs in Quartz worktops are amazing and
well worth looking at. Products based round acrylic, e.g. Corian and Encore
have the ability to be seamless however be aware of the durability of these
products, although the choice of worktops is usually determined by budget and
design requirements.
Timber worktops
are beautiful and always look stunning but do require a lot of hard work
keeping them finished. Possible not the most practical worktops in a busy
kitchen, but they are the marmite of kitchen tops.
Laminate worktops
have increased their variety and are still quite popular and the quality is
excellent if you purchase the high density versions. A kitchen is as good as
its components and spending money of the work surfaces will always be a good
investment.
TAPS
& SINKS
It is important to choose high quality taps and sinks,
inferior sinks mark and scratch easily. Taps and sinks are the centre point of
any kitchen, so a good looking tap provides a good impact visually combined
with an attractive sink reinforces the pedigree of your kitchen. Manufacturers
like Abode, Perrin and Rowe, Grohe, Franke, Blanco and Carron Phoenix produce
some very good looking taps but always check with your designer that they are
suitable for your existing water supply, many taps are not completely suitable
for gravity systems.
Generally taps are much higher than in previous years and
are intended to make that impact in your kitchen and there are also many taps
which have more than one function. Tap manufacturers such as Grohe, Triflow
concepts, Franke and Quooker produce taps that will provide you with hot and
cold water and boiling water, in some cases chilled filtered water is also
available. There are also many specialist taps that will provide filtered water
only, but bear in mind that this will require another hole in your worktop irrespective
of what sink you choose.
There are many quality sinks on the market made from
different materials; Ceramic, porcelain, composite brass and stainless steel.
The most popular sinks in my market are ceramic and porcelain for their ease of
cleaning and also the impact they have on a kitchen, especially under mounted
bowls. I find them easy to specify as most housewives love bleach and this has
an effect of both composite and stainless steel sinks, but ceramic and
porcelain sinks are impervious to such cleaners However the myriad of designs
available from the stainless steel manufacturers, Franke, Carron, Blanco and
1810 to name a few make the stainless steel sinks a design feature and there
will always be a place in the market for them. Composite sinks are available in
many colours and are popular when a kitchen requires a co-ordinating sink but
be careful when cleaning, always read the manufactures instructions regarding
cleaning.
LIGHTING
When you are
investing in an expensive personal project don’t forget these important
finishing touches. Good lighting is crucial, this is the most underestimated
area in Kitchen design, and proper lighting will lift your kitchen. Make sure
that you have installed lighting that can illuminate different areas of your
kitchen for different usage. There is nothing worse than poor lighting in a
kitchen, leaving working areas in the dark and the inability to create mood
lighting or having areas with specific lighting.
Operate
different areas on separate switches, to enable you to provide differing
lighting solutions for different needs.
Ceiling
downlights are very popular with the new ‘fit and forget’ Led versions offer
different types of light, Daylight, natural light or warm white, Day light is
quite a bright light and the natural light is probably the most popular however
there are more dimmable downlights on the market now so you can alter the
lighting effects. But don’t forget that even when they are the dimmable variety
you may what to light certain areas with a softer light, i.e. a peninsular or
island where you will be eating and you don’t want the ceiling lights on, so
consider pendants over these areas to give a softer feel.
There
are then a myriad of different forms of lighting to light up specific areas of
your kitchen; plinth lighting is fast becoming a very popular addition enabling
you to just light a pathway without having to put on the main lights, internal
drawers lights mean everything is easily seen, under wall cabinet lighting is
always popular highlighting specific work areas, under work surface lighting
with LED strips create a wow effect making worktops appear to float and
lighting in display cabinets showing your finery to its best.
Getting
this right is crucial to your final kitchen feel as good lighting creates a
great atmosphere and can change the feel of a kitchen, so discuss this with
your designer as part of your brief.
FLOORING
Don’t
forget the floor finish it is the largest area of colour in your kitchen and so
it is a very important part of the overall design. Whatever materials you use
from vinyl sheet to natural stone ensure that it does not compete with the
kitchen and it provides a base onto which the kitchen comfortably sits.
Consider that the flooring and the worktops need to co-ordinate as they are
both on the same planes and therefor your eye will be drawn to making a
comparison to the colours.
If
your budget can stretch to natural stone finishes its still one of the best
loved surface and with new sealer technology makes keeping the floor clean and
preventing staining very easy and a simple one application project. All natural
stone and some porcelain tiles are porous and will have to be sealed and
remember sealing the tiles also seals the grout one of the biggest concerns of
homeowners, dirty grout. However there
will always be a place for the other variations of flooring available, ceramic
or porcelain, timber, vinyl sheet, vinyl tiles, eg. Amtico, Karndean, Neobo and
Polyfloor to name a few and the waterproof floors like Aquastep, Altro and Plus
flooring. All of these flooring types have their place in a well-designed
kitchen and the decision is often based on wear ability, usage and height of
finished floor, which is often overlooked. The expansion of hard vinyl tiles in
the last 5 years has been enormous and the ability to recreate a natural stone
or timber look is staggering, they have texture and size and are less expensive
to lay and also far thinner.
The
market for flooring has expanded beyond belief and the variations in colour and
texture are vast and the durability of some of the products is impressive. So
don’t forget to spend a reasonable time on choosing your flooring as it is
these finishing touches that make such a difference in the look of your overall
project.
Monday 24 June 2013
Kitchen design your thoughts
Kitchen Design is it an art or a science? I would be interested in people’s
thoughts and comments. There are not many professional kitchen designers but do
there need to be? What is the basis of a good kitchen design; is it the
distribution of working areas in the ‘working triangle’ as often put forward as
a basis of good kitchen design, Or in reality is it just the best use of the
space for every ones kitchen based on personal choice and input from a designer
who has knowledge and a good amount of common sense. Kitchen units are
mathematical units, and kitchens are a fixed size, we cannot imagine more space
than there is, we can advocate the removal of walls to create more space but we
must be mindful of our clients brief. There are many ways in which to increase
the usage of the available space by the use of clever storage solutions in base
and wall units. The choice of worktops can greatly increase the usability of a
kitchen with different sinks being used with different worktops. All appliances
irrespective of the manufacturer come in sizes suitable for fitted kitchens so
again they can only be fitted in certain positions. Islands are a great idea
for a kitchen, an additional working space and seating areas as well, however
not every clients kitchen is big enough to take an island. So the designer must
listen to the client and ask questions that require the client to think before
answering so that the he or she will be able to prepare a specification that
matches the client’s requirements. I will be really interested in hearing your
thoughts on what you expect from a kitchen designer.
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