Bright ideas to cook up your perfect new kitchen

Yorkshire Post - 20th August 2008 - Life & Style Section: Homes

Interiors

Interior Designer, Jamie Hempsall, continues his look at how to make the most of your kitchen. Here he suggests ways of sprucing up the hub of the home without going for a total refit

Whilst a new kitchen may not be a realistic prospect for everyone in the current climate, you can do a cost effective make-over to update its look – making a room you use every day a pleasure to enter and entertain in!

The cheapest place to start is the colour scheme on your walls. A fresh coat with a contemporary, light colour will brighten the room and give an instant lift. If you have a slightly larger budget, consider wallpaper.

There are many great styles to avoid plain walls: shun patterns that are too bold or strong colours in smaller kitchens as these can make the room feel oppressive. To overcome concerns with condensation on the paper consider a top coat of water based acrylic varnish this will also enable your paper to be wiped clean.

Kitchen work surfaces are most affected by fashion and an important area to ensure hygienic food preparation. Tiles look dull and heavy, whilst Formica has come a long way in the last ten years. Visit Kitchen showrooms to consider which of the latest trends appeal to you. Granite in a matt finish is the ultimate luxury item, but patterned Formica with a rounded or metal edge is equally trendy and less costly. Your local DIY store should be able to help with pieces cut to size. Avoid wood as it requires considerable maintenance and can quickly look dishevelled, integrated drainers are also costly and rarely practical.

Replace a badly scratched or tea stained sink with a new stainless steel bowl and drainer. They can be extremely affordable and look contemporary. If opting for a single sink and drainer ensure your unit has a “half” sink in the middle. This is invaluable for tipping away residues to allow you to keep your dishwater clean and eliminates the need for a plastic washing up bowl.

Consider new taps. Brass and gold fittings are dated, stainless steel is the only real option. Although a considerable investment (£150 is not an unusual sum), the effect is normally amazing.

Avoid changing the doors on your kitchen (still a reasonable expense and only to be considered if you have a good carcass) and freshen the look with new handles. Brushed steel or shaped acrylics are very en vogue: medium sized knobs or long handles being the most cutting edge. Consider the holes that may be left behind and look carefully at how you will cover any marks. Try just one door before replacing the whole kitchen.

Lighting is exceptionally important for creating a kitchen that is both practical and aesthetically pleasing. Get rid of strips lights without a second thought they provide harsh, unfocussed light. Replace fixed overheads with fittings that contain spotlights that can be angled. These are much cheaper to install than recess spots and allow you to position them to highlight key features, such as a table centre piece or artwork.

Under cabinet lighting is the bastion of a modern kitchen, providing ambience and practical assistance. Units are now extremely discrete and symmetrically placed these lights will provide a touch of understated elegance. If electrical installation is a problem, there are even LED products that are battery operated.

Replace yellowing switches and plug sockets, with fresh white ones, or for those with a greater budget, metal in brushed steel or chocolate to help update your scheme. If taking the metal option, choose a finish sympathetic to your overall look.

Finally, a word of caution: if you have any doubts about your DIY capabilities employ a qualified professional. The extra money will be well spent and they may even be able to get you a discount on some of the items!

Jamie Hempsall is one of the regions leading interior designers. Visit him at www.jamiehempsall.com or call 01777 248463.