Stylish kitchens: Design style, space and flooring

ABOVE (click on gallery image to view larger picture): Geometric kitchen, from £18,000, excluding installation, Metris Kitchens.

Key industry design experts share their knowledge and experience to help you achieve your dream open-plan space. This part looks at choosing the right flooring and the most functional, practical layout.

Make the most of your space

Graeme Smith, Conceptual Designer at Metris Kitchens:
‘Your choice of how to extend your kitchen will depend on which option offers the best use of space and creates a room that’s best suited to your lifestyle.

‘A popular way of extending your kitchen without building on to the property is to knock down a stud partition wall to create a kitchen-diner or a kitchen-living space.

‘If your property is a traditional Victorian terraced house, for example, by simply filling in the side return you can transform what can be an awkward galley kitchen into a wider, brighter space that can be large enough to include a dining or relaxing area.

‘You must ensure that you get advice from a structural engineer before knocking down any walls. If you have the budget and there’s room on your plot, the best way of creating enough space to plan your perfect kitchen is by adding a large extension to your property.

‘A conservatory or glass extension leading into a kitchen can be another desirable way to extend. However, be sure to check with your local council before starting any structural work, as some planning authorities are not keen on this style.’

Opt for the right flooring

Lynda Phelan, a Home Design Consultant at Fired Earth:
‘Using the same tiles throughout a dining area and kitchen will draw the eye across the room, enhancing the space. You can use different flooring to delineate zones. Wood is a great choice for a dining space but isn’t practical in a kitchen as water will warp it. Tie the scheme together by picking up on wooden accents in the kitchen.

‘Kitchen floors are subjected to splashes and spills, so they need durable, low-maintenance flooring. Porcelain design has become more sophisticated, with replica stone, terracotta, slate and wood styles – beautiful for a dining area.

‘If you choose terracotta, real stone or slate, ensure that it’s sealed correctly when it’s installed to protect it from stains. It will occasionally need re-sealing or waxing, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions.’

ABOVE (clockwise from top left): Breton Limestone, (W)40x(L)40cm, £85 per m²; Cotto, (W)30x (L)30cm, £34.90 per m²; Belgian Blue stone, £175 per m²; Arboreto porcelain wood grain planks, (W)10x (L)40cm, £89.89 per m², all Fired Earth.

Choose the best style for you

Jason McNulty, Head of Product Development at Wren Kitchens:
‘Today’s kitchens need to accommodate modern lifestyles as well as being able to double as a space for entertaining. Wood and painted kitchen units provide a warm ambience, while glass display cabinets add to the overall dining room effect. Ample storage is also essential, keeping any clutter to a minimum and helping to create a space that is both welcoming and stylish.

‘For a contemporary scheme, high gloss units work especially well in a kitchen-diner. You can offset this sometimes minimalist look and create a little warmth by using colour cleverly – this will transform what could be an austere space and inject some vibrancy. Use your chosen shade carefully, on a few wall units or as a drawer line, for example. It’s best to choose a colour you love rather than follow the trends as colours go in and out of fashion.

‘Your choice of furniture should complement the kitchen units to get the perfect result. Brightly coloured chairs will create fun and interest in a white kitchen – but if there are a lot of colour features in your design scheme already, then clear acrylic styles are a good option.’

ABOVE: Boyd kitchen, from £182 for a fully assembled 60cm base unit (when purchased as part of a complete kitchen), Wren Kitchens.

FEATURE JO MESSENGER
All prices and stockists correct at time of publishing
Featured in the November 2011 issue of Real Homes