Be it small and unassuming or large and glamorous, the kitchen’s importance as a gathering point, a hub and the heart of the home remains the same. With open-plan spaces soaring back into popularity, the kitchen’s role has expanded so it now needs to function as an entertaining zone as well as a cooking one.
There are a few key ingredients that contribute to the recipe for stand-out kitchen design; layout, storage, appliances, accessibility and, of course, style. Whether it’s industrial, Shaker, modern, retro or minimalist, an eye-catching kitchen serves up visual impact as well as cooking performance and functionality.
1. Consider your kitchen island’s form and function
Think about how you live and entertain. If you use the island as a servery and sitting area for entertaining, keep it clear of a sink or hob. If you prefer to be engaged with your guests and face them while you cook, turn it into a utility space by adding a sink and/or hob (don’t forget down-drafted ventilation). Either way, give it a point of difference from the back bench, maybe through a leg detail or your choice of materials for the island top or front, such as a monolithic block of stone, wood or glass. Make it look special, because it’s a star feature of any open-plan living space.
2. Think about the way you cook
If there’s generally just one of you in the kitchen, a galley with a narrow gap between the island and back bench is sufficient, but if you cook as a couple or family you’ll need more space for people working on both sides of the kitchen. Now consider how you cook. Do you prep food sink-side or hob-side? Do you clean up as you go? Do you need fridge and pantry close by or do you use them at different times and therefore want them in different areas, for example with the dry goods near the hob and cold foods where you prep…
