Kitchen Essential

Good light in a kitchen is essential from both a safety and a practical point of view. During the day, try to gain maximum benefit from natural light because it is easiest on the eyes.

While it’s not always feasible to enlarge a window to make a dark kitchen brighter, there are other possibilities to consider; in a bungalow a skylight will greatly increase the general light level. One that opens or incorporates a vent is sensible for kitchen use. Other options include clear or opaque glass and blinds — the choice will depend on factors such as whether or not the skylight is in full sun or semi-shade. If you can’t shed new light kitchen from above, look to the walls. Perhaps you can replace some of the masonry with glass bricks; they let light through without exposing you to public scrutiny. Continue Reading »

Your choice of colour will determine the style and ambience of a table, so don’t rely on a quick decision. Colours can be used quite consciously to achieve precisely the effect you are hoping for.

It may help you to run through the colour palette, starting with the colour which appears on almost every table — green.

Green for freshness

For nature lovers, the fresh green of flowers and leaves brings life into the house, especially during the winter months. Therefore green is a welcome addition to the table, because besides its fresh appearance, it has another quality. Green lifts and emphasises other colours, especially its complementary colour, red. You can exploit this characteristic if you place big green leaves on the table and then lay a single, or just a few, brightly coloured blossoms on top (for example, rhododendrons orhydrangeas). Continue Reading »

These examples will show you some different ways in which efficient planning of kitchen zones can be put into practice.

This L-shaped kitchen (left) illustrates the way the work triangle of sink/cooker/refrigerator has been adapted to the needs of the family as well asthe constraints of the room itself. The workflow sequence is not perfect, but it does make sense. Perfection would have demanded costly major structural work not essential to safety and efficiency.

The U-shaped kitchen/living room (below) illustrates the way in which the utility, eating and working kitchen areas have been created. Within the working kitchen are the six zones: food storage, preparation, cooking, serving, dishwashing, crockery storage. In this case, as the fridge is close to both the working kitchen and the eating area, the food store is not in the ideal position. However, the needs of the whole family have to be balanced against the needs of the cook, and this is an acceptable compromise. Continue Reading »

Lighting a kitchen is not easy. Most people get it wrong because they don’t really understand what the different types of lighting will do for them and how to use lighting to achieve maximum benefit. Subtle yet effective illumination is a skill that few have mastered, yet its importance cannot be underestimated. Too many and too bright lights can cause tension, just as dim lighting causes accidents around the house.

This is an attempt to simplify the complexities and try to illustrate the best lighting for each area.

Simple, direct and bright illumination is required for food preparation, cooking and washing up. This can be provided by a number of different fittings depending on your kitchen layout. Continue Reading »

With the integration of the kitchen into the living space, kitchen design involves smart storage and good lighting. Texture and pattern arevital design elements as they provide style and warmth to your look.

Natural light promotes the true colors of food, and neutral tones of white, cream and palest yellow provide an excellent backdrop for the earthy colors of vegetables and fruits. Light colors suggest cleanliness and spaciousness, while bright colours, although dramatic and electrifying, are less appetizing in the kitchen as they are inclined to cast a light that discolors food. Continue Reading »