IH KITCHEN SPECIAL Mornington Shaker Edge kitchen in Stone and Porcelain, from £12,000, Second Nature
because there are often eccentricities to the space or the client’s needs which can inspire something that breaks out of these set layout types and makes for something really special,’ advises Howard Miller, of H Miller Bros. Indeed, as great as the standard kitchen layouts are for guidance, you can really have fun creating something a little bit different. ‘Bespoke requests for custom-made food stores or a multipurpose workstation that would once have been considered “off-plan” have become everyday design considerations in the modern kitchen, changing the typical U- or L-shape kitchen layout to include a space for a home office, for example, a dedicated bed area for the family pet or an integral boot room for storing outerwear or laundry appliances,’ says Simon Bodsworth.
WHICH LAYOUT IS BEST FOR A FAMILY-FRIENDLY KITCHEN? When designing a layout that works well for a family, an open-plan arrangement is generally seen as the best choice, but
there are other solutions if that option doesn’t appeal or work in your space. ‘Open-plan kitchens can be used for anything – from cooking and entertaining to relaxing, working from home and for doing school homework,’ says Sally Hinks. ‘If you are committed to an open-plan scheme, it’s important to consider all the roles that the space will play and understand how you are going to use it to be sure that it will work for you.’ As an alternative, the ‘broken-plan’ look is seeing a rise in popularity for family-friendly kitchen layouts. ‘Something we’re quite conscious of is that if you’re not careful, things can fight with each other for territory,’ says Howard Miller. ‘We’re noticing a shift to what some people call broken-plan layouts that allow families to still be in the same space, but with increased privacy. This defined design layout helps families to differentiate cooking, dining and living areas while preserving the overall open-plan feel of the space. In order to create a brokenplan layout, we use bespoke solutions such as slatted screens, open shelving, and freestanding bespoke furniture.’ Whether you stick with an open-plan kitchen layout or not, a kitchen island is definitely worth considering if space allows. An island helps define zones between kitchen and living areas, as well as adding more surface area and seating. ‘The island unit creates a centrepiece in the kitchen, allowing you to utilise your kitchen as both a work space and social area where friends and family gravitate
L-SHAPED KITCHEN A more traditional kitchen layout, the L-shape is usually based around a corner and formed by counters and cupboards running along two perpend ls.
U-SHAPED KITCHEN This kitchen design runs against three walls, creating the classic ‘U’-shape. ‘This is my favourite kitchen layout,’ says Sally Hinks. ‘It allows for a lot of worktop space, which you can never have enough of.’
MARCH 2022
131 IDEALHOME.CO.UK
Corner larder, from £1,103, LochAnna Kitchens
