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/

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...

From www.housetohome.co.uk/

...and you can always add colourful personal touches through the accessories.

Le Creuset on http://www.johnlewis.com/

Otherwise – you can go mad! Here are some gorgeous colourful kitchens...

From www.housetohome.co.uk/



From www.housetohome.co.uk/



From http://bijoukaleidoscope.blogspot.com



And whilst we're on the subject of musicals....

Another film I watched recently was The Wizard of Oz. This was one of my favourite movies as a child, and watching it again reminded me why I loved it so much.

Dorothy is catapulted from her sepia existence to a world that is so busy with colour that it looks good enough to eat! She may not be in Kansas anymore but are there hints of Oz in London?

Look at these houses on Portobello road - they would certainly kill any witch they land on.

Picture from http://cuboidal.org

Follow the yellow brick road in Hyde Park?

Picture from http://londonhotelsinsight.com

The Hammersmith bridge wouldn't look out of place in the Emerald City.


Picture from http://en.wikipedia.org



The Rocky Horror Picture Show - It's not just about the songs...

Don't judge me but I love musicals and a recent viewing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show made me appreciate it on another level. Yes the soundtrack is amazing and the costumes are brilliantly outrageous, but this time around I was really taken by the set design.

Firstly there is the outside of Frankenstein Palace - a grand, eerie mansion, a typical setting of a classic horror film.

The lobby of the palace is dingy but defintely a fixer-upper; plus animal heads have made a comeback, you just have to look in Graham & Green to see that.

They've gone for the shabby chic look in the Time Warp room - look at the mouldings on the doors, and the tatty ruched ceiling lights are great!

My favourite room has to the the lab. Dr. Frank-N-Furter's green scrubs are a stark contrast to the pink tiled walls and red accents. This monochromatic colour scheme is dramatic and loud - much like the movie!

The art deco lift is very cool, what a way to enter and exit a room (a corset and suspenders help too!).

Gothic London

I am lucky enough to pass by the Houses of Parliament most days on the way to work; this is a building that has fascinated me ever since I was a child. The intricate detail in the structure makes it look like it is made from matchsticks which would tumble in a strong gust of wind.


Taking inspiration from a recent blog from Nicky Haslam on the restoration of Strawberry Hill, I decided to take a closer look at my three favourite Gothic buildings in London, starting with the Houses of Parliament.

Houses of Parliament (also known as Westminster Palace) as we know it today, took around 30 years to build, starting in 1840. It was designed by Charles Barry.

The level of detail in this building is amazing, hundreds of narrow arched windows, prickly looking spires and miniature gargoyle heads. The yellow stone is contrasted with the grey roof, a combination which is common throughout all three buildings I visited. The gold detail in Big Ben brings an additional luxury (as if it needed it!) to the building. 

Natural History Museum - this beautiful building in South Kensington was completed in 1880, taking only 7 years to build which, considering the detail just on the exterior is incredible (Work began in 1873 and was completed in 1880).

The architect Alfred Waterhouse was inspired by Romanesque style, an architectural style from medieval Europe which developed into Gothic style in the 12th Century, and revived once again in the Victorian era.

I love the contrast of the sand coloured bricks with the blue-grey tones, making the building look fresh, even after 130 years. The aggressive pointed spires and turrets are off-set by the curved windows and the dramatic arch at the front entrance. My favourite feature is the stone gargoyle beasts that dominate the structure - snakes, lions, pre-historic and fantasy creatures guard the entrance, windows and roof; the air vents are adorned with bugs and I even found this guy in the grounds!

In a similar style to the Natural History Museum is the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel.

Originally built in 1873, designed by Sir George Gilbert Scott (it was then called Midland Grand Hotel), has very recently been restored and is now re-open to the public after 76 years.

The exterior is classic red brick, with the features highlighted in sandy-yellow tones, with grey roof, which features sharp pointed spires and turrets. The windows are still arched, however they differ slightly from the NHM in that the arches feature a slight point. Whilst I was disappointed with the lack of scary gargoyles, this Gothic-revival style kicks the trend slightly with out of character adornments, mouldings and tiles that decorate the entrance, some of which border on Art Nouveau (see the blue tiles and corbels).

These buildings are all examples of Victorian Gothic revival. Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is an example of original Gothic architecture. Although it was built 600 years before any of the above, the style has remained so similar.

Deciding on a colour for our front door

Since moving to our flat, I have been trying to decide what colour to paint the front door. Not only does the front door give the first impression of a house, it is also what will greet you after a hard day's work. And so I think that it is something that requires a lot of thought and it is important to get it right.

For inspiration, I had a look around at the doors in my neighbourhood (above is a selection of these). From looking around the local roads, the colour of choice is blue. According to an article in the Telegraph this, along with red and black, is the safe choice; and bright colours such as purple and orange being ones to avoid. However, other sources suggest purple is a colour associated with royalty and as such conveys wealth and extravagance, and orange is associated with joy and happiness. So whilst safe colours may help your house to sell, if you aren't planning on selling any time soon, go for a colour that you love, will reflect your personality, and that you will be happy to be greeted by every time you come home!

Art Deco pin-up

I bought this art deco print from ebay. It is by Alberto Vargas, who was one of the most famous pin up artists. In the 1940s he created a series of WW2 pin-ups for Esquire magazine. I think this print is a page from one of these issues as it is backed with newspaper from 1941.

The subject of the picture is believed to be Vargas’s wife Anna Mae Clift, it is called "Sheer Elegance".

An interior time machine

I recently visited the Geffrye Museum in East London; it shows the shows the changing style of the English domestic interior from 1600 to the present day through a display of period rooms. The museum has been in existence since 1914 and is featured in a Grade 1-listed almshouse, built in 1714.

My favourite room was the 1830s Parlour. I love the bright blue wallpaper and matching curtains, contrasted with splashes of gold in the picture frames, tie-back and fire screen. This blue continues in the carpet, complemented with a deep red.

I also loved this 1890 drawing room. It is so over the top with four different wallpapers and ornaments on every surface. There is a strong oriental influence within the pictures and ornaments as well as a beautiful Art Nouveau ceiling light.

Dark wood was common in all rooms from the 17^th Century until the late 1800s, much less fashionable with modern furniture but within these rooms it creates a look of such luxury and decadence.

This museum is a great resource if you are looking for inspiration for a period property restoration.