A kitchen for

58

Sustainability

Creating 100% climate-friendly kitchen living interiors: Shown here, Rotpunkt’s Memory SL Zero kitchen with island unit door fronts in Black and integrated wall units in combination with Old Forest Oak as a contrast design detail. From £12,500 plus VAT.

Daval’s Renzo Kitchen, FSC Certified, 100% recycled materials: Charred Japanese Wood and Character Oak Tobacco. From £10,000 plus VAT.

Sustainability

A kitchen for a sustainable life

Create a kitchen that’s beautiful, functional and will stand the test of time for your new home!

As part of your sustainability journey, it is important to consider how long a new kitchen will last, how easily it can be repaired and what materials it is made of.

“Fortunately, there are a wealth of innovations out there to help ensure your kitchen has a long and happy life despite any wear and tear,” says Simon Bodsworth, Managing Director of interiors specialist, Daval (daval-furniture.co.uk).

“There’s no doubt that the kitchen is the hardest-working room in the house, which is why you need to find out about the finishes available. Leading manufacturers offer a wide assortment and one of the most exciting areas of development is the self-repairing kitchen. Check out the new types of foil coating on the market, which you can easily repair yourself in the event of a scratch or scuff, so you don’t need to call out an expert at an extra cost.”

Recycling materials is one of the easiest ways to live more sustainably, so make sure you do your homework when investigating the components of your kitchen. Premium kitchen furniture makers have been pushing new boundaries by using recycled elements within their ranges. “The beauty of this approach is that these parts can in turn be recycled – so this virtuous circle can continue,” points out Simon. “It really does pay to find out as much as possible about the options out there so that you can choose a kitchen which is affordable and eco-friendly. In my experience, you won’t need to skimp on style or function to have a beautiful and sustainable kitchen.”

Renewable wood alternatives will prove their worth as an eco-friendly option that does not compromise style or quality. “Innovative solid wood veneers and replica laminate door solutions have become a great way to introduce authentic texture in the modern kitchen and become a sustainable choice that still delivers on quality of materials,” comments Matt Phillips, Head of UK Operations for kitchen manufacturer, Rotpunkt (rotpunkt.co.uk).

“Given the latest research shows that homeowners across all demographics want the look and feel of a real-wood kitchen without the overall weight and price implications, maintenance and environmental impact, I believe climate-friendly design and manufacture is only set to rise in popularity with furniture helping to minimise carbon footprints and promote a reduce, reuse and recycle approach to interior design.

59

Sustainability

60

Dream kitchen: A bespoke painted kitchen from The Used Kitchen Company

Sustainability

Make a celebrity kitchen your own

Not only can you own a designer kitchen at a fraction of the price, but you can also do it sustainably. The Used Kitchen Company’s Looeeze Grossman explains how…

It’s no shock that most of us think our dream kitchen is unachievable due to a number of factors such as cost and space. So, owning a celebrity kitchen must be impossible, surely? But what if there was a way you could own a celebrity kitchen for a fraction of its original cost and even better than that, save it going to landfill? Well, there is.

For most, the kitchen is the heart of the home, and for good reason too. It’s a room we use almost every day for family meals, dinner parties and in more recent years, it has also been known to double up as office space as many of us work from home. It is no surprise that many are wanting to take on a new kitchen project and give this new multi-use space a revamp. A striking kitchen will not only be the envy of all your friends, it will also add value to your property when it comes to selling your home, especially if you have a one-of-a-kind celebrity kitchen.

So how can you bag yourself a celebrity kitchen at a fraction of the cost?

Well, it is a well-known fact that high end – let alone celebrity status – kitchens are expensive, with the world’s most expensive kitchen, the opulent ‘Fiore di Cristallo’, complete with crystal chandeliers and worktops, costing a jaw-dropping £1.2 million. However, the dream of a formerly owned celebrity kitchen can be within your reach. The Used Kitchen Company offers beautiful, bespoke, ex-display, used or cancelled order, high-end kitchens from top British designers like Mark Wilkinson and Tom Howley, along with the ultra-modern German engineered kitchens such as Siematic, Bulthaup and Poggenpohl – all for a fraction of their retail value. What’s more, some of these approved used kitchens were even owned by well-known celebrities, footballers and famous chefs.

With hundreds of kitchens to choose from, many with top-of-the-range appliances and worktops, more than 39 brands, ranging from £1,750 to £50,000, it makes sense to have a look before your kitchen designer arrives to give you the big sell.

Not only will you be able to buy your dream celebrity kitchen for less, you’ll also be helping to prevent the hundreds of tonnes of kitchen waste that still sadly ends up in landfill.

Adopting a recycled kitchens means you can have the top-of-the-range appliances you’ve only ever dreamt of owning, instead of high street alternatives. Top-of-the-range quartz or granite worktops and cabinetry that’s set to last. Not keen on the colour? Opt for a painted kitchen and simply repaint to what works for your new home.

The savings are huge and not only to your pocket, but the environment as well. A used kitchen will also add credibility and value to your property’s price, and all these reasons make it a seriously smart decision.

Looeeze Grossman is the founder of The Used Kitchen Company where you can sell your old kitchen or buy a kitchen for up to 70 per cent off RRP.

www.theusedkitchencompany.com

61

62

Sustainability

Do your bit for the planet and upcycle!

Giving a renewed sense of purpose to existing items by upcycling is a great way to reduce the amount of waste we produce, and there are myriad places to find bargains and inspiration.

“Furniture that boasts upcycling potential can often be cheap to buy or even sourced for free from people who are unaware of its possibilities,” says Elaine Penhaul, interior expert and owner of national home staging company, Lemon and Lime Interiors (lemonandlimeinteriors.co.uk). “Upcycling has endless possibilities for all items around the home – for example, you could repurpose your old China tea set into a collection of ornate candle holders, or you could transform used baked bean tins into a herb garden,” explains Elaine.

“To help keep your costs down, sanding and painting your item of furniture will give it a new lease of life under a limited budget and time. Just a tin of paint is needed to create an upcycled masterpiece – you could even use leftover paint that is lying around in your garage.”

“While asking family and friends to pass on their preloved furniture is a great starting place, if you are looking for something more, then specific local charity shops or Facebook marketplace will have a plethora to choose from – you’ll be amazed at what gems you can uncover.”

Pinterest is a great starting point for inspiration and, if you know the piece you want to upcycle, it is worthwhile searching online for blogs that give step-by-step instructions. Similarly, you could use half a roll of wallpaper, left over from a room redecoration project, to transform the inside of a cupboard or the panels on the front of a wardrobe.

Pine furniture is a great material for upcycling, according to Elaine, adding: “Pine dining chairs, tables, wardrobes and bookcases can be transformed with any colour, whether you prefer something neutral and understated or bright and bold to create a focal point in your room.”

Sustainability

GOING GREEN

As homeowners turn to eco renovations to help combat the energy crisis, property tax specialist Cornerstone Tax looks at the challenges ahead.

With energy prices soaring for millions of households in the UK, homeowners are searching for solutions to ease the increased cost.

The rise was caused, predominantly, by multiple energy suppliers going out of business amid a global energy crisis. Price caps were set to rise by 48% on April 1st – this follows a £139 annual rise which was introduced last October. The increase in energy costs has caused considerable stress for numerous households throughout the UK, but for some, the solution could be turning green.

In the UK, homes are responsible for a fifth of UK carbon dioxide emissions, prompting the Government to pledge that by 2035 every residential property should have an EPC rating of C or above as part of its long-term plan to tackle climate change.

By carrying out green renovations such as loft insulation, solid wall insulation, ground source heat pumps and double glazing, homeowners will make an estimated £890 savings every year. However, the cost of installing these features is a substantial obstacle for homeowners with costs in the thousands.

According to the English Housing Survey, the total cost of upgrading a D-rated home is estimated to be nearly £6,500. The easy option for upgrading your home to become more energy efficient would be to buy a newbuild property, with government figures showing 84% of newly completed properties being given an A or B rating. It is estimated, however, that 30% of homes in England and Wales are still rated E, F or G. A new landmark study from Cornerstone Tax has found that while making homes more energy efficient is a priority for homeowners – with 36% saying it is a priority for them in 2022, many are finding the price of doing so a major obstacle. As many as 45% have looked into making their home more energy efficient but found it too expensive without government support. The research found that 12% are planning to move house to live a greener life, while 45% would prefer to refurbish or extend a current home.

“With the energy crisis in full flow, I believe that households throughout the UK will be seriously considering making their property more energy efficient to combat these costs,” says David Hannah, Principal Consultant at Cornerstone Tax. “By making your home energy efficient, homeowners will save money in the long run and contribute to the UK's sustainability targets also.

“However, the initial costs of making green renovations to your home is still a big obstacle for homeowners to overcome. Perhaps in the future the government can provide much needed support to homeowners who are looking to refurbish their home to make it more eco-friendly. There’s evidently huge demand for greener homes. The benefits of making your home more energy efficient can be substantial. You will feel a sense of pride in helping towards sustainability goals and it will cut costs in the long run.”

ctatax.uk.com