Apr 29 2008

DIY KITCHEN UPDATE continue…

Published by dodo at 12:27 am under Accessories, China, Container, Cookware, Countertop, Decoration, Fridge, Pans

Sinks and Taps

Essentials like sinks and taps are such an integral part of the kitchen that it’s easy to forget what a variety there is to choose from.

Old-fashioned porcelain butler’s sinks (the deep rectangular tanks that have been turned into so many container gardens over the years!) are still very appealing for country-style kitchens. The disadvantage with traditional installations was that the join between sink and adjacent wooden draining board was difficult to seal, allowing water and waste to get into the gap. If you’re buying a new butler’s sink, look for a design with an edge that overlaps the worktop, to avoid this problem.

Big sinks like these aren’t really practical in small kitchens, though, and they don’t offer many of the useful features of smaller, neater designs. A double sink is the best idea, so that you’ve one sink free for washing up if you’re using the other for preparing food or draining pans. If you haven’t room for two full-size sinks, a single sink with a half-size drainer will do the same job.

The most practical kitchen tap is a mixer that provides hot and cold water from one spout and can be swivelled if it needs to serve more than one sink. Look for lever handles too — these are easier to use than screw-top taps if your hands are wet or sticky from cooking.

Kitchen Essential

KITCHEN LIGHTING

Kitchen lighting is essentially functional, so it needs to be bright and well directed. Ceiling spots and downlighters will provide good general illumination, although if the ceiling is very high you may prefer a rise-and-fall pendant lamp which can be pulled into position over a table or work top.

More specific task lighting can be supplied by fluorescent strips fixed under wall units.

KITCHEN FLOORS

The most important consideration for a kitchen floor is that it’s easy to clean. It also needs to be hard-wearing, but comfortable to stand on.

If you’re laying a new floor, vinyl and linoleum are the most economical option and give you the widest choice of colours and patterns to match the rest of the room. Cork tiles are another practical and economical alternative and provide a warm, neutral background similar to wood or terracotta, but they will need sealing.

Ceramic tiles fit the first part of the bill and always look good, but they will be chilly underfoot in cold weather and they’re not for the clumsy. Anything breakable will have little chance of surviving if dropped.

If you prefer the traditional look of wood, old boards can be painted with a washable finish, or varnished stripwood flooring laid to give a cleaner, more contemporary feel. And if your kitchen is used as a living area too, sisal and coir are a good way of achieving a warmer effect.

KITCHEN WINDOWS

Blinds are more practical than curtains in a kitchen: you don’t want flapping fabric getting in the way of your cooking or washing up. If you prefer curtains, one option is a purely decorative curtain that is never drawn across but hangs to one side (away from the hob) and is firmly held in place by a tie-back.

Shutters painted in an eggshell or gloss finish are even more practical because they can be wiped down to get rid of cooking smells and splashes. The neatest arrangement is to fit them with the panels hinged Z-wise, so that they can be pulled aside with a compact, concertina action.

KITCHEN DETAILS

Accessories in a kitchen are never purely decorative, but the best of them look good as well as serving a practical purpose.

Storage jars Pretty containers will add extra colour and decoration. Even clear glass jars (useful for seeing instantly what’s in them) will make your shelves as colourful as a sweet shop once they’re filled with lentils and dried fruit.

Plate racks Technically designed for draining your washing up, these are also a marvellous way of keeping pretty china on show.

Cup hooks Hanging a whole row of cups or mugs along a shelf edge or wall will provide pattern and colour like an instant dado rail.

Utensil storage Keep essential tools where you can get at them easily. Gadgets can be hung on a rack or pole or stood in jars and jugs on the work top. Knife blocks keep handles within easy reach and blades safely out of the way.

Wine racks Can be built into a fitted kitchen, or freestanding on the floor or work top. Linens Tea towels and table cloths can add as much colour as your curtain fabric. Fabric offcuts (you can even use dusters and tea towels here) made up into drawstring bags will keep things like pegs and laundry and shoe cleaning items neatly hung on a wall or door.

Knobs and handles Will make all the difference to the overall look, but think about the design you will find most practical too. D-shape handles may be easier to use with wet or sticky hands.

KITCHEN CHECKPOINTS

  • Make sure that cooker, sink and fridge form a practical work triangle.
  • Don’t waste time and effort trying to accommodate fittings you don’t really need — concentrate on making the best use of the space for the way you want to use it.
  • Organize your storage so that regularly used items are easy to reach.
  • Make the most of wall space, ceiling hangers and wasted corners for extra storage.
  • Ensure that the floor is hard- wearing and washable.
  • Use portable trolleys and foldaway table tops to provide extra work surface.

More Help'n Tips: floor, handles, kitchen, practical, provide, sink, sinks, sinks and taps, storage, wall.

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