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At the heart of every home you’ll find the kitchen. A place not just for cooking, the kitchen is a space where you start the day, gather with friends, and share with your family. It plays a huge role in day to day life, so it is important that it is a welcoming environment, whilst remaining practical and fully functional. Create a space where the whole family can relax and feel at home with these fitted kitchen ideas to suit a range of tastes and requirements.
Country
Create the charm of rural living by transforming your kitchen into a rustic country haven. Whether you live surrounded by the rolling hills of the countryside, or amongst busy city streets, creating a country-themed kitchen is easily achieved with the right choice of materials and accessories. Natural, handcrafted furniture should take centre stage, with a focus on wooden surfaces which can be perfectly offset with light and bright fabrics. When it comes to storage and cupboards, opt to keep some shelves open in order to display your rustic and antique dishware and don’t forget to bring the outside in with fresh flowers.
Contemporary
Make your kitchen the coolest room in the house with a cutting edge, contemporary design. From sleek glossy finishes, to European-inspired matt designs, there are a range of options available to you if modernity is what you seek, with state-of-the-art gadgets and appliances to provide the ultimate in kitchen functionality. Minimalism is key to the contemporary kitchens and can be created with rich wood and luxury gloss finishes teamed with large storage units to leave surfaces clear of clutter. When it comes to appliances, freestanding ovens and fridges with clean lines and futuristic features will bring the room right into the 21st century.
Green
As one of the most frequently used rooms in the house, the kitchen (and your bank balance) could benefit from an environmentally friendly makeover. One of the best ways to achieve eco-friendly status is to create a space with energy efficient windows or a skylight to allow plenty of natural light in. When it comes to appliances, it is often recommended that you replace older, energy sapping models with newer, more economically designed products. Refrigerators, dishwashers and washing machines are some of the biggest culprits when it comes to wasting energy, but this can be easily minimised by upgrading to environmentally friendly appliances.
Traditional
Like a country kitchen, a traditional theme creates a welcoming feel with historic touches from England and the feel of rural France. However, there are many differences between the two designs, most of all the colour scheme. Instead of the bright tones you might find in a country kitchen, a traditional space incorporates the more muted tones of cream, light grey, soft green, and white. Without leaning too far in any one direction, a traditional kitchen combines a range of styles that comfortably blend with one another, whilst avoiding pieces of no defined period. Instead, use a small selection of favourite period furnishings and create your theme around these; the room can then be tied together with fabrics adorned with natural images, such as flowers, fruit and vegetables.
