Kitchens

The kitchen has come out of the basement and found its place in the heart of our homes. As such, it is often a multi-purpose room, needing to be both functional and comfortable. Nina Campbell shows you how.







Mix old and new

Nina's signature style is to combine the best of old and new - and she makes no exception to this rule in the kitchen. Of all the rooms in the house, she believes that the kitchen is the one where modern technology is most welcome.

Chic new appliances, a good quality oven and practical storage units that look both sleek and work well are essential to make the preparation of food as easy and enjoyable as possible.








However, with all that technology and modernity, it's good to have elements that give character and reflect the general style of your home. For example, in a New York loft, Nina hung a chandelier over the modern worksurface. Alternatively, an old table works well with a contemporary kitchen. Classic fabric used for curtains or blinds and vintage crockery on display also looks homely.

Before adding design details, think about what you'll be doing in your kitchen - if you're a prolific cook, a chandelier and excessive soft furnishings will only collect grime. However, if you're more of a takeaway or microwave dinner person, you can afford to be more decorative and less practical.

Also, if you do prefer your home to look old-fashioned, remember that many kitchen essentials can also be traditional in appearance - think retro fridges, traditional fuel burning stoves, and classically styled kettles, toasters and food mixers.

A new look for less
Replacing a kitchen is an expensive job but as long as you are happy with the existing layout, it is possible to update your room on a more modest budget:

• Change the worksurface - it will transform the look of your room. Make sure you get a professional tradesman to do the work as mistakes can be expensive.
• Change the cupboard doors or handles. Replacing small round knobs for longer, brushed steel handles will instantly bring your kitchen up to date. New doors can give the room a facelift. It's much less expensive than replacing the units, and it works.
• Alternatively, if you like the look of your doors but still fancy a change, why not repaint them. If they're wood, you will need to sand them back first. Whatever material your doors are made of, ensure you get compatible paint to get the best effect.

Review by interior design Nina Campbell


Space

Kitchens are at the heart of modern homes, so space is at a premium. Yet there are many essential items and appliances that need to be located in the kitchen.

If you're thinking of redesigning your kitchen, shop around and get at least three quotes, as the cost of the design and installation can vary widely.









The golden triangle
Much is spoken of the 'golden triangle' principle of kitchen design and there are many variations on the theme, but the over-riding common sense principle is that the most used equipment and work areas should be grouped together to allow the user to operate effectively and efficiently while cooking.

The problem with the triangle theory is that individuals rank their most used equipment differently. Some would choose the cooker, refrigerator and sink, others might add a dishwasher or microwave as their most used items. It's unlikely that the plumbing for a sink or dishwasher could be altered easily, so these items should anchor the 'triangle'.

Storage myths and musts
Kitchens invariably suffer storage problems - too little and surprisingly, too much.

• Too little - if you don't have the cupboard space for everything you need to store in your kitchen, consider creating a suspended pot rack that makes use of ceiling space. Don't forget that the tops of eye-level kitchen units form extra shelf and storage space, though the items are less accessible and prone to dust.
• Too much - just as it's a shock to hear a room can be too large, some kitchens are designed with too much storage space. Clutter expands to fit the cupboard space available. Throw out unused fondue sets and a sell-by date check can often halve a grocery collection. Banks of cupboards are unnecessary and unattractive in a kitchen and disposing of some may leave space for a breakfast bar or another appliance.

Kitchen replacement vs revamp
If you are happy with the positioning of appliances and storage within your kitchen, then a revamp may be more cost-effective than full replacement. Changing a few elements from the list below will give your kitchen a fresh look:

• Re-painting or re-papering walls
• Re-tiling or replacing splash-backs with chrome or waterproofed tongue and groove.
• Changing cupboard door handles
• Painting or cladding cupboard doors
• Replacing doors (some companies do a door-only service)
• Replacing work tops
• Introducing new elements eg cooker hood, butcher's block
• Updating appliances

If you plan to install a brand new kitchen think before you decide to do it yourself because:

• Plumbing and electrics are involved, as well as cupboard assembly.
• Rescuing a botched job could be more expensive than a full installation fee.
• Shop around, the price and quality of units varies widely, as do installation charges.