These interior experts know a thing or two about making a kitchen work well and run smoothly – no matter what size family or space you have …
STORAGE
Effective storage is key to making the kitchen operation run smoothly, keeping it tidy and making it easy to use. Effective storage solutions include deep drawers for pots, pans, bowls and plates (gone are the days of stuffing them into a cupboard), pull-out pantries may work well for some families, as will easy-to-reach on-counter storage systems in which you contain your coffee station, microwave and other everyday essentials. This kitchen boasts ample storage space, and so can keep its seamless, contemporary look making the overall effect of this Arena Kitchens kitchen uber cool, calm and collected. www.arenakitchens.com
USE YOUR BASEMENT
Talk about making every room in the house count and work hard. Interior architect Sterrin O’Shea, advises on how to transform a basement into the key gathering space. She and her family did not want a dark basement that they would never use, so they added a very modest extension at the basement level, with a large roof light to maximise the natural light. Now the basement incorporates the kitchen, a playroom to the front and family room to the rear, plus a wet room and utility room under the stairs. “When we entertain, we open up the basement completely. It also has a little sunken patio where we enjoy family time on summer evenings, often watching impromptu ballet performances!” Read more about her kitchen here.
HIGH CEILINGS
If you want to make the most of your high ceilings, and not turn a blind eye to your extra space overhead, the interior experts at Neptune suggest incorporating ceiling-high cabinetry – and for extra points, a ladder. In this particular kitchen interior designer Kate from Neptune helped the homeowners with their design choices. Kate suggested that they should really show off the ceiling height. They added the oak ladder to reach the higher shelves. They love how it looks so smart in the space. It is practical and a great design choice. www.neptune.com
FLOORING
Interior designer and Home of The Year 2024 judge Sara Cosgrove advises that if you opt for timber flooring in your kitchen, incorporating a shuffle zone, a tiled area around your sink, or placing a mat underneath your sink is a smart design choice. This is the area of the kitchen that gets the most water splashes, spillages, wear and tear and so the timber floor can get destroyed. The tiles of the shuffle zone will take that on. Sara will be incorporating a shuffle zone in her new kitchen redesign.
Top tip: This is a feature that can always be retrofitted so do not panic if it is not on the immediate plans. See more expert advice on flooring here. www.devolkitchens.co.uk
LAYOUT
The experts at The Panelling Centre give some key advice to those who are planning a kitchen redesign. With regard to the layout of your cabinetry, the arrangement of your units should provide the best functionality and ergonomics possible within your space. You don’t always have to position your new layout exactly as your last. Take time to consider the other options that might help you maximise your work area.
Top tip: They encourage you to bear these factors in mind before you embark on a redesign: Allow a minimum of one metre between units that face each other to allow for doors or drawers on both sides to open without crashing into each other. The busiest space is usually between the sink and hob so try to maximise that space where possible. To read more of The Panelling Centre’s planning advice see here: www.panellingcentre.ie.
KITCHEN ISLANDS
The expert designers over at O’Connors of Drumleck know a thing or two about kitchen islands. In terms of the placement of appliances, they say most people are deciding to place the hob on the side run of cabinetry and not on the island. Of course, it all does depend on what suits you, but it can turn out to be more expensive having all of your electrics operating in the centre of the room. No matter what, you should decide early on in the design, say the experts, so the electrical wires are all definitely going to the right place. The same goes for the plumbing going to your sink.
Top tip: In terms of island size, designers at O’Connors say you shouldn’t go over 1600mm in width, as it will be too had to manage. You can still have room for a wine fridge! www.oconnorsofdrumleck.ie
VENTILATION
Interior designer Sara Cosgrove, tells us that appliance technology has moved on and so we should move with it. She says never add dedicated ventilation, the integrated induction hob with an inserted ventilation system is the best route to take. It is so easy to use – you can put the vent in the dishwasher and keep the hob out in the open, like in this Noel Dempsey kitchen. www.noeldempsey.com
Top tip: Remember – air fryers are great (we do love them) but there is no in-set ventilation system for them. It might be a good idea to set your air-fryer beside your ventilation hob when you’re using it to avoid odours in the house. Or better yet, explore the option of an oven with built-in air-fryer function, as mentioned below.
SMART APPLIANCES
Nobody is banging holes in walls anymore, Sara says, the integrated extraction is a huge development in technology, and one we need to make the most of. Another development in technology is the Home Connect App, with which you can now download additional functions onto your Siemens oven, like the air-fryer function! Wine fridges are also very trendy at the moment – just in case you needed an excuse. www.siemens-home.bsh-group.com
Top tip: Read the manual! Learn about your appliances so you can make the most of them or simply book a demonstration at the Home of Innovation to find out all you need to know. www.homeofinnovation.ie.
