Inspiration for Zoe: Some considerations for kitchen design

I am in the process of designing our kitchen. This is quite a big job as it involves extending to the back and a complete re-arrangement of the dining area. I am very excited about it, even though it is unlikely to happen for at least another 18 months. Anyway, whilst still in early stages, I thought it would be worth sharing with you some considerations that I have made, as well as showcase some inspirational kitchen ideas.

Layout

Although we are extending to make our kitchen bigger, the final design will still be considered small (it is a shoebox at the moment!). Therefore a functional layout is imperative. I have focused my layout around two rules - 1) Accessibility is key. My food and condiments will be close to the oven, and my crockery and pans, near to the dishwasher and sink. And 2) the famous "kitchen triangle". The sink, cooker and fridge are the most frequently used appliances in the kitchen, to ensure maximum productivity, keep these three appliances in easy reach of one another, working most effectively when they are in a triangle.

Storage

There are so many space saving solutions around kitchen storage - from hanging utensils...

from www.housetohome.co.uk/

From www.housetohome.co.uk/

...to making the most out of your cupboard doors...

From www.housetohome.co.uk/

...to clever cupboards

From www.housetohome.co.uk/

Lighting

I am a fan of the simple down lighters in a kitchen – nice and clean, especially if there is limited natural lighting. Although I have more imaginative ideas for the dining part of the room.

Worktop and floor lighting are a good way to create ambience.

From http://homeklondike.com

And if you have pretty crockery that you are proud of, lighting up a glass fronted cupboard is a great way to exhibit them.

From www.stark-projects.co.uk/

Colour

Colour is such a personal choice, and there are so many ways to bring it into your kitchen. If you know you will be renting out or selling your place in the not too distant future, it might be wise to stick to neutral colours for the main surfaces (cupboards, worktops, floor). But this doesn't have to be boring...