Figures show that most British homeowners replace or upscale their kitchen every 10 to 15 years, and much thought goes into choosing the design and features.
A new kitchen is often a significant investment, and lots of people will have a wishlist of features and functions which would come together to create the perfect space for themselves and their families. For many people, the dream kitchen is a luxurious combination of style, function and comfort, and in this article, we look at the must-haves which make up the ideal kitchen setup.
Space
The one thing that is top of the list for most homeowners is space. Unfortunately, the average UK kitchen tends to be fairly ‘bijou’ with not a lot of space for manoeuvring. Because of this, many people say that at the top of their wish list would be a kitchen in which they are able to move unobstructed from one workspace to another without becoming a contortionist.
While it may not be possible to extend your kitchen to make more space, adding vertical storage, including shelves and cupboards, can help you make the most of your space and give you more room to move around your kitchen while cooking comfortably.
The island
For many years, kitchen islands have been on the wishlists of a large number of Brits, and these come in all kinds of shapes, sizes and designs. For many, the ideal kitchen island is one which provides a generous amount of food preparation space plus handy secret storage in the way of drawers and cupboards. These versatile kitchen items can also double up as a dining table by simply adding some tall stools.
For small kitchens, it is possible to buy custom-made islands tailored to help you make the most of your space.
The dual sink
The dual or double sink is a must-have for many keen cooks as these allow for efficient washing of ingredients such as vegetables at the same time as keeping on top of washing the dishes. These sinks have been increasingly popular in recent years, with many people also choosing to add a waste disposal unit for extra convenience.
Seating
While our living rooms are great for chilling and watching TV with the family, many people enjoy dining and entertaining friends and family in their kitchens. For this reason, sales of good quality kitchen dining sets have been robust despite the economic crisis, which has been affecting a significant number of UK residents. Large wooden tables with padded bench-style seats have recently been particularly popular with British homeowners. For those with limited space, foldaway seating options can help to prevent your kitchen from looking cluttered when not using your table.
Also popular is conservatory seating, and many people choose to have a conservatory added to their kitchen to add a pretty dining area to their space.
Pantries
Although pantries may make us think of days gone by, these have been making a resounding comeback in the last few years. Many British people are choosing to remodel their kitchens to include a pantry in which to keep tinned and dry goods. One reason for this is that many of us are choosing to buy in bulk to save a little cash at the moment, and a pantry provides essential space for these items.
A pantry can be a convenient addition to your kitchen and can even add value to your home, as these are on many homebuyers’ wish lists at the moment.
Range cookers
Range cookers are set to be all the rage for 2023, with sales already beginning to climb. Not only do these cookers have more space (and larger hobs), but they also have multiple cavities, making them ideal for those who choose to bulk cook meals in one go in order to save time and cut down on their energy bills. As an added bonus, these can also help to keep your kitchen warm.
While a new cooker is expensive, it can also be an investment – particularly if your existing model is old and less efficient than more recent options.
The floor show
The majority of UK homeowners say that traditional hardwood floors for their kitchens for both style and practicality reasons. While hardwood floors can be expensive, the good news is that there are some fantastic laminate versions available which are barely discernible from the real thing.
Wood burners
We don’t need to tell you that wood or log burners are hugely popular in UK homes – but they’re not just for the living room. More and more people are now also choosing to have these in their kitchens as an alternative to radiators. While this can be a really efficient way of heating your kitchen, you may need to call in a professional to ensure that the burner is adequately ventilated.
Mosaic tiles
For many people, the humble plain kitchen tile has had its chips – instead, lots of people are opting for colourful mosaic tiles in order to make a feature of their kitchen walls. If you don’t want the faff or expense of tiling your walls, you can get some excellent laminate wall coverings that have the same effect.
These tiles can also look great as flooring to give your kitchen a romantic and exotic feel without a huge expense and hassle.
Kitchens without compromises
Our dream kitchen may be out of reach for many of us, but the good news is that updating or refreshing your kitchen isn’t as expensive as you think. When we think about a new kitchen, we tend to think of an entire refit which involves ripping out your existing units and replacing them with brand-new ones. While this is a common solution, it’s also a pretty expensive one which involves a lot of mess and disruption for your family.
At Kitchen Makeovers, we believe that everybody deserves to be able to refresh the heart of their home, and this was part of the inspiration behind our kitchen refacing service. Instead of tearing out your kitchen and starting from scratch, we can save you time, money and hassle by simply replacing your kitchen’s features.
Our team can quickly replace your worktops, cupboard doors, drawer fronts and fixtures and fittings such as handles and knobs for a fraction of the cost of a brand new kitchen – and with none of the fuss. With a huge range of colours and finishes to choose from, we’ll help you reimagine your kitchen, whatever your budget, and provide you with a great new space to cook and relax with your family.
If you’re ready to hit reset on your kitchen decor, get in touch with our friendly customer service experts for a free, no-obligation quote.
