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accessible kitchen
How to get the look of concrete Concrete is a popular choice for kitchen worktops at the moment, and it looks fantastic in both traditional and contemporary schemes. It’s prone to staining, though, so if you’re not keen on imperfections, try a concrete alternative instead. The designer of this kitchen suggested an engineered quartz material that replicates concrete, but with added practicality. The worktops are less porous and more durable than concrete, but still have the same look. The material has also been used on the wall as a splashback to keep the look consistent
Surround with storage Here’s a clever design: storage has been added on all sides of the bench seat. The designers have fitted attractive doors to the front of the banquette to hide any items stored underneath. They’ve also built a framework around the seats, and incorporated a shelf above and two tall units either side.
Sit back and unwind If you’re planning to spend a lot of time on your banquette seating, it’s worth making it as comfortable as possible. Consider fitted seat cushions as well as a padded back rest. Here, the designers have upped the comfort levels by making the back slightly sloped. Household members and their guests can sit back comfortably on the cushioned seats
glam banquette
Consider pull-out storage If you’re lucky enough to have a pantry cupboard that goes from floor to ceiling, this idea will make life easier. Store all those heavy items, such as potatoes, in boxes on wheels at the bottom.
pantry idea- built in corner of the kitchen?
platter and plate storage and display in corridor space
Tuck in some storage Why let that space below your base units go to waste when you can use it for storage? The designers of this kitchen have replaced the usual kickboards with shallow drawers, which are ideal for storing wide platters or baking trays, or for tucking away placemats and table linen. The design of the drawers is simple, with a flat front and a small pull handle positioned at the top, which helps the drawers look unobtrusive when they’re closed.
A corner of calm At first glance, this seems to be just a very nicely organised pantry. But look again – it’s a corner cupboard, with cleverly angled shelves and neat rows of ingredients packed into every organised inch of this tricky space. Not convinced? I defy you to look at the boxes of cereal on the bottom shelf and not feel a rush of calm and happiness at the way they perfectly fit into that little square of space.
platters, boards etc
a pot hanger suspended from the ceiling is good way to make use of unused space. This one is positioned just above the cooker to provide a very useful place to stash pans and utensils.
Opt for made-to-measure The owners of this kitchen have the best of both worlds – they’ve used Ikea carcasses and finished them with doors from a firm that specialises in providing replacement fronts. With this approach, you can request samples to choose your finish, send over your measurements, and then receive the doors ready-made.
Go up and over While the previous idea used wall cabinets on the floor, this designer has cleverly done the opposite. To gain extra storage, Ikea base units have been slotted above the wall cabinets. They fit perfectly in the gap between the units and ceiling, and the fact that they’re deeper doesn’t matter at this height. In fact, the protruding edge has become a feature that frames the white units, and provides a great spot for recessed lighting.
Think outside the box How about this for a clever idea? The Ikea kitchen units have been extended through to the dining area to form some very handy bench seating. The designers have used wall cabinets for the bench base, positioning them on a shallow plinth to allow the doors to be opened easily. Then the iroko worktop has been shaped to fit on top. The look is streamlined and simple, and the owners have gained bags of seating and storage space.
This kitchen wasn’t large enough to accommodate an island. Instead, the dining table has been pushed up against a compact, freestanding, mobile unit, creating a lovely dining area that doubles up as an island and work space.
Skip heavy handles Cupboard door hardware might seem like an inconsequential space-saver, but the visual effect of streamlined cabinets is important, as is the lack of handles to catch your clothes on in tight spaces. Look for designs with inset troughs to grip or choose slimline pulls that follow the line of your doors.
Float your fruit and vegetables Get rid of that cumbersome fruit bowl by storing your produce in suspended wire baskets like these. You’ll need something for them to hang from without knocking the wall – either a hook in the ceiling or, if that’s too high, a fairly long bracket protruding from the wall.
Partition your cabinets One of the key features of a designer kitchen is bespoke storage tailored to your needs. Adding partitions to your cupboards is a simple way to create smaller compartments, seemingly designated for particular items.
Elevate it If you dislike bending down to load and unload your dishwasher, then elevating it may be the solution for you. Building your dishwasher into a taller cabinet – similar to how you would with an eye-level oven – will be easier on your back. Make use of the extra space below the dishwasher by including a drawer that can be used to store anything from dishwasher tablets to plates or chopping boards. You can finish the height of the cabinet at the top of the dishwasher or continue it to a higher level and include more storage, or even a microwave space, above
Fit a drawer instead Planning your kitchen from scratch? Consider an under-sink drawer rather than a cupboard
Comfy banquette seating fits snugly around a dark wooden table, while a genius pull-out draw under the bench provides secret storage
two different heights
corner shelves
splashback-height shelf
Section your drawers
finger holes for handles
the table is great
Q