Looks, practicality and efficiency in modern kitchen designs

Press, 31 August 1989, Page 26

Looks, practicality and efficiency in modern kitchen designs

Kitchens have never before had so much potential for combining aesthetics, practicality and efficiency. Design has transformed kitchens into places where it is a delight to work.

Because there are so many options, kitchen design and choosing fittings and appliances can seem daunting; the choice of building materials is seemingly endless. So before becoming

alarmed by the number of samples on a swatch of laminated surfaces — if that is what you have chosen for your benchtop — you should sit down and draw up a list of requirements before you begin looking. Consulting a qualified kitchen planner later will be time well spent.

Where to locate the kitchen is your starting point if you are building a new home, and possibly even

if you are remodelling an existing home. Always the hub of the home, kitchens in the past have often been positioned so that they are in a straight line with the rest of the plumbing, regardless whether this is the cold side of the house and environmentally unattractive.

Much time is spent in the kitchen, so you should enjoy being in it. Good natural light and an attractive garden outside

will make the kitchen a pleasant place. Family and friends gravitate naturally to the kitchen, so it needs to be close to a living or dining room. When guests come to dinner, the cook does not want to be separated from the conversation. A kitchen which gets early morning sun is better than one where the sun shines in during the afternoon, dazzling you when you are preparing dinner. An early decision to make is about the style of the kitchen — whether you want a rustic, cottage type or the crisp, clean lines of a “hi-tech” kitchen. Having planned the style of the joinery, the cupboards must also be planned down to the last detail if you are to have optimum usable space.

A walk-in pantry, or pantry cupboard should be included in kitchen plans if you can.

The shelves should not be too deep or you will

have trouble reaching the goods at the back. Adjustable shelves are a must and the pantry should have its own lighting. Space for a work area is a bonus. In the course of the planning, you should write down everything which annoys you about your kitchen. Most probably it can be improved. If your food processor or food mixer lives in a low cupboard, you probably are not getting full use out of it. A solution is to have a cupboard on the bench with a roll-up door so that you can simply pull the appliance in and out. Everyone appreciates easy-to-clean kitchens. Laminated surfaces inside and outside cupboards are perfect for that. Technology has produced drawers on special glides which will not fall out on your toes if you pull them out too far.

Removeable plastic inserts for cutlery drawers and adjustable cupboard

shelves will make life easier. Plastic-covered wire baskets for storing vegetables can be custom made. A lazy susan or carousel lets you into the farthest corner of the most awkward cupboard. Advances in hinges allow them to stand open at 90 degrees or snap shut when the door is a short distance from the cupboard. Drawers for pots near the stove or hobbs are popular in modern kitchens. A rack for lids will let you quickly match saucepan and lid. An under-bench hot water cylinder cuts electricity costs. If you plan to install a dishwasher, you may need to consider whether to include this option as some types use cold water only. Other things to plan for are adequate socket outlets, lighting, storage for wine, a pin-up board for notices and perhaps a small television.