There are many reasons why the kitchen is the heart of the home. Countless hours are spent there baking and cooking delicious meals for family, homework can be done there, guests can be entertained while the canapes are prepared – a beautifully designed kitchen should be the source of joy and happiness. However, it isn’t unusual for an older or poorly planned room to fail to meet your standards. Whether you’ve bought a ‘renovators dream’ or you’ve outgrown your current kitchen, you’ve come to the right place. Below are our top tips for designing your kitchen with custom joinery.
1. You can never have too much storage
The first rule of any kitchen design project is to keep storage at the forefront of your mind. You may have noticed, but even once you feel you can never have any more plates, pots and pans, you always seem to add another item to your collection – that’s why it’s best to overestimate your needs. Joinery design and cabinetry will be the heroes of the room, though you need to ensure they are functional. Don’t invest in a cupboard that’s too deep to reach into, or a cabinet that is too high to reach, and if you do, only use them for the items that you rarely use. Open shelving is incredibly popular at the moment too, and can be a great place to store jars of spices or crockery.
2. Consider an island bench
If you have the space in your kitchen, then an island bench is definitely worth considering. With open plan living becoming the norm, it offers an excellent way to separate your spaces without cutting you off from the rest of the family. Not only that, a well-designed island bench offers more storage (a critical part of any kitchen, as we mentioned earlier) as well as added bench space for preparing meals. For a cohesive finish, match the bench top to the countertops throughout your kitchen.
3. Take inspiration from your architecture
Whilst it can be tempting to create an ultra-modern space that looks clean and fresh, if you have a period home, this may stand out like a sore thumb. Take inspiration from your architecture and your décor to ensure a cohesive look throughout your home – unless your planning a full renovation in the near future. Our personal favourites include flat cabinets for a clean, modern look; shaker style for a Scandinavian or mid-century modern home; and tongue and groove cabinetry for a heritage or period house. Paint colour will also play a huge role, so it may be wise working with the experts to choose the perfect palate for your home.
4. Use a skilled team
As we mentioned above, choosing the right style can be difficult, which is why we recommend partnering with a skilled team. If you’re working with architects and interior designers, they have the experience necessary to uncover your needs and wants – even if you’re not quite sure yourself! They will also be able to design and build high-quality cabinetry and joinery that complements your home and your lifestyle.
If you want your kitchen to stand the test of time and look beautiful and functional for many years to come, then investing in high quality joinery is one of the best decisions you could make. Not only that, by working with a team you trust, you can be sure your needs will be met, both with aesthetics and with storage and bench space. Hopefully this article has offered the inspiration and practical advice needed for you to transform your old kitchen into a space you love.
