Out & About January 2018

OA interiors

Cupboard love

W hen it comes to kitchens, having a small space doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style or function. It’s all about making the most of what’s available. In small kitchens, good storage is key. Utilising wall space is a fantastic way to create storage without minimising your floor area. Beautiful floor-to-ceiling cabinets work really well and building upwards keeps your worksurfaces free from clutter. Bespoke fitted cabinets make use of the ‘dead space’ that you get with standards cupboards and create a seamless look and feel. You don’t have to opt for floor-to-ceiling cabinets as one. You can choose double-stacked cabinets which give an equally seamless style, but don’t overwhelm. Consider having glass-fronted doors for some of your cabinets, this will give a wonderfully light and airy feel to your kitchen, it also creates visual interest and allows the opportunity to display those extra-special pieces you don’t want hidden. Floor to ceiling fitted cabinets work for all styles of kitchen, from classic to contemporary and even retro. If you have high ceilings this is a fabulous way to draw attention to the height and create an unforgettable look. Or get creative and add some wall hooks for your pots and pans, another effective and eye-catching way to use wall space and keep your worktops uncluttered. Well thought-out drawers with dividers can also transform the way you use your kitchen, keeping your surfaces tidy and providing a practical solution when it comes to cooking, making your kitchen an enjoyable place to be. When space is limited you’ve got to get smart with storage. This is where you need tailored cabinets, which can make the most of awkward spaces, especially if you have an unconventional area with sloped ceilings or exposed beams. Installing a ‘magic corner’ unit in a small kitchen makes great use of the ‘dead space’ of a deep corner unit and nothing will get lost at the back. If you love the idea of having a pantry, but are short on kitchen space, a slim pull-out pantry can be tucked into the tightest gap, and even items way at the back are easily accessible. The right colours in a kitchen will provide the lift needed to update and open up the confines of a small kitchen. Shades of white are always a good choice if you have a small kitchen, as they reflect light and create the impression of spaciousness. You can always liven up a neutral kitchen with pops of colour. Reflective surfaces amplify the effect of natural and artificial light. Having a mirrored spashback not only transforms your kitchen into something of elegance, but it creates a simple yet extremely effective way to make your small kitchen feel bigger, especially if it reflects the view from outside. Clever lighting is important to consider, a simple ceiling light is often insufficient, especially in a small kitchen. Adding down lights underneath cabinets makes a small kitchen feel much bigger and brighter. Dark areas can often make a small kitchen appear even smaller, by shining light in all the corners of a room, details that would otherwise go unnoticed can be accented. Try using hanging pendant lights to make the room look bigger too, these look best above a kitchen island or table. Get more small kitchen design advice, tailored for your home from John Lewis of Hungerford. www.john-lewis.co.uk 0700 278 4726 No matter what size your kitchen these handy tips from SOPHIE RANDALL will help you make the most of your space

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