BRANDT DESIGN

HEART OF THE FESTIVITIES

Entertain at home this Christmas with kitchen advice from Hertfordshire-based Brandt Design

By JULIA STEADMAN

With the cold weather and dark night’s drawing in, the home naturally becomes our place of warmth and comfort, and as we approach our busiest social season of the year, it makes sense to make sure you have everything in place for a perfect Christmas at home.

Given much of the winter months are spent in the kitchen, have you considered how you plan on preparing, cooking and serving this year’s Christmas dinner with all the trimmings? The latest built-in ovens are an ideal solution if space is limited as they are designed to fit neatly inside dedicated housing alongside kitchen units of the same depth, meaning you have the advantage of floor-to-ceiling storage. You could even opt for a dedicated steam oven for cakes alongside a fan oven for roasts, and when needing to cater to both vegans and meat eaters, why not consider separate ovens for special dietary requirements so you can please every member of your family!

In contrast, a range cooker o ers up to 30% more cooking space with two or more ovens, selection of hob burners and a grill, which promises a much greater output compared to a conventional oven. Today’s designs will suit both contemporary and more traditional schemes and there’s also plenty of scope for re-conditioning and re-enamelling some models.

At Christmas, seating for your guests is bound to be at the top of your wishlist so that you can enjoy their company while you crack on with the meal. Having an open environment with clear sight lines means that you can enjoy a conversation and others can also lend a hand with food prep. An induction hob ensures safety first in a busy family kitchen complete with a concealed extractor, and a mixture of deep drawers and top units increases storage options without encroaching on social space.

Before you determine the right kitchen layout for you, it might be worth asking yourself a few questions. Do you love to entertain at home? Are you a keen home

“A one-size fits all kitchen is now a thing of the past”

chef or is it a necessary chore? How do you prefer to cook and who will you be cooking for? How often do you use your kitchen?

If you love to socialise at home with your friends and family, then err towards a multipurpose island unit or peninsula design, which are designed to accommodate casual dining through to full-scale entertaining. Designs can include practical seating areas, integrated wine coolers so drinks are chilled to the right temperature, generous bar–style countertops and statement extractor fans that work hard to keep your kitchen space free from grease and fumes when cooking. It is also worth thinking about accent lighting, as you will be able to set the mood with a range of di erent LEDs and if you like to cook when entertaining, consider a series of pendant ceiling lights to provide the right amount of targeted light on the island alone.

Practical design is key in a family kitchen environment, so a multi-purpose island unit that caters to di erent needs is going to be your best option. Think about how you can add function. Keen cooks may want to include user-friendly features like integrated chopping boards within the island and interior drawer solutions that organise cutlery and utensils, plus instant hot taps for quick food preparation and hot drinks on demand. If you have a big family, I recommend a double-bowl sink with pull-out rinse, alongside induction hobs that cool down almost instantly and slimline dishwashers for quick, hygienic dishwashing. If space is at a premium, then an Island Table is the perfect solution as it will provide a dedicated space to sit and dine without the need of a full-sized dining table. To further define the cook zone from the dining area, two-tier designs are creating practical breakfast bars that can be set to the right height for dining, as well as create a recessed area to ensure plenty of legroom and space. If you want to control the flow of your kitchen and avoid potential obstacles, then you can also opt for a Block Island design.

With trends towards multi-generational living, a one-size fits all kitchen is now a thing of the past. Instead, future-proof kitchen design has taken over to ensure the market is able to cater to a growing population that is living longer, marrying later and demanding more from their homes – all year round, whatever the season.

Julia Steadman is the Commercial Director of Brandt Design; brandtdesign.co.uk