Kitchen Essential

Fridges and freezers range from the ordinary to non-frost, stainless steel units complete with transparent freezer drawers. Large fridge and freezer combinations have height adjustable safety glass shelves for extra-large items.

The dishwasher should be close to the sink, and may be hidden behind doors with panels and handles that match the finish of your kitchen. It’s a good idea to get two cutlery trays and allocate a 60 cm drawer near the dishwasher for the spare tray. Then the clean cutlery doesn’t have to be unpacked. It’s both hygienic and timesaving to put the whole tray into the drawer and replace the tray in the dishwasher.

Washing machines and tumble dryers can be stacked on top of each other if space is limited, or invest in a combination washer-dryer which allows you to switch functions at the touch of a button.

Your kitchen must reflect your taste, lifestyle, budget and dreams, but select your appliances for their good design, their quality, efficiency and user-friendliness. The choice of finishes on the market has never been more exciting. You can choose from rustic, romantic to hi-tech, and still have an end result that is practical and good-looking.

Stainless steel appliances have begun to dominate the market because they fit in so well with any style of kitchen decor and complement any color scheme. The range of stainless steel appliances includes fridges, ovens, microwaves and integrated dishwashers. All of them have been designed to last, to look good and to be simple to use.

Ventilation is essential, particularly in small and open-plan kitchens. Extractors expel all vapors and odors efficiently. Old fashioned extractor fans used to be hidden behind closed cupboards, but today’s designers turn cooker hoods into dramatic focal points, or create slim-line, fiat panels that can be discreetly tucked away in a wall unit. Their designs have become less industrial and now suit almost any kitchen style. Materials can be glass and stainless steel, plaster or even stone. Fit a correctly sized, ducted ventilation system to all cooking surfaces.

Floor coverings need to be hard-wearing and easy to clean. The range is vast, but the selection does depend on the style of your kitchen. Ceramics are available in a variety of patterns, colours and textures. Clay tiles must be sealed, as they are porous and easily stained. Slate comes in shades of heather, green and black, in rough or smooth finishes. Limestone, travertine and porcelain are other options. Linoleum, in sheets or tiles, is easy to fit, and is warm and flexible underfoot.

Vinyl tiles are practical, non-slip and quiet and comfortable underfoot. Industrial rubber floor tiles are also available in many colors, patterns and textures.

Concrete floors, colored with a decorative screed, are currently popular, and wood is an enduring favorite. Choose from solid wood or the cheaper, easier-to-fit option of laminate – several layers of man-made board topped by a thin layer of wood.

Walls should be washable and color co-ordinated to complement the design of the kitchen. If you plan to paint the room, paint a piece of canvas board and move it around the room to see how the light affects it at various times of the day. Use special effects to give a painted wall a more complex color treatment or a textured look. To hide cracks, try a textured paint ready-mixed with sand, or use the textured look for a rustic finish.

Colorful mosaics in assorted materials, stainless steel, marble and ceramic tiles can also be used for splash-back areas. Ceramic tiles can be painted.

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