IMPROVE
CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT DESIGN CONSULTANCY APD INTERIORS
Q. I would like to update my kitchen. What’s trendy at the moment and how can I make sure it will still look good in a few years?
A. The choice of kitchen cabinets should generally depend on your future plans. If you think you will never move from your current home you can allow yourself to be indulgent, but if you have an eye on your home’s resale value you should try to ensure that whatever you choose will appeal to a broader market. A new kitchen will generally cost over £10,000, so be mindful of the fact that the highly-coloured units with the concrete worktops that you love could put off a potential buyer. A better choice would be a more neutral base with splashes of colour on items that can easily be changed. Remember neutral colours do not mean boring. You could add colour by introducing a painted wall, or a highly coloured splash back behind the hob.
In the last few years, white gloss units have become popular and are now available from all manufacturers. The look achieved using this finish is effective and can look stunning but remember that maintenance is required since finger prints are fairly noticeable on this style of cabinets. If you do want this look without the maintenance, a new style is available that has a glass front offering a matt finish – it is more expensive but worth the extra money.
For worktops, natural stones such as granite have fallen out of favour and have been replaced by engineered stone such as corian and silestone. These products are fabricated to exactly fit into your kitchen. This allows you to create a worktop in any shape or size you want.
The most requested kitchen appliances these days are steam ovens, inbuilt coffee machines and a hot water taps.
Inbuilt coffee machines look great in a tall kitchen cabinet units beside the oven. The only problem is that they start at around £1,000, so you really need to be a dedicated coffee drinker to buy one. Hot water taps are also a recent addition to the UK market with Quooker leading the way. They removes the need for a kettle and provides instant hot water for any use within the kitchen.
If you try to remember these points, and don’t get carried away with the most fashionable finish, you should achieve a kitchen that will provide you with years of good service and, more importantly, not look outdated.