Kitchen Planning
We all covet a beautifully stylish kitchen, which enhances the period features of our home. However, before we even consider the end design, it is essential to ensure the kitchen not only looks great, but it is also easy to work in. When designing any kitchen, I will first split the working areas into areas - the hot area, wet area, prep area and storage area - which maximises the functionality of the space and will make spending time in your kitchen a pleasure. The hot area
Undoubtedly the heart of the kitchen, the traditional range cooker is the most desirable option in the period home. If you choose to install a range, you will find family, guests and even the dog will automatically gravitate towards it, and it will infinitely enhance the comfort-factor of your kitchen. However, the continuous fuel consumption of a range doesn't suit everyone - particularly if there's nobody home during the day. In this situation, I would suggest an electric or gas on-demand slot-in cooker, rather than a separate built-in hob and oven. With a separate configuration you are basically paying twice - for the actual appliances and the furniture it is installed in. Eye-level ovens in tall housings are not especially attractive and do not suit a period home, but if you have back problems, they can be a good solution. The microwave is a necessary evil in the kitchen but, with careful design and clever installation, we can minimise its impact on the overall design. The wet area
The wet area needs to be designed almost as a separate entity within the kitchen, and special attention should be paid to the surrounding worksurfaces to ensure there is plenty of room to stack and store dishes before and after washing up. The dishwasher is a godsend and I will always try to install one where there is room, but this doesn't mean that the sink becomes less important. Large roasting pans that won't fit in the dishwasher will still need to be cleaned in the sink, while vegetable prepping and straining are both easier in large sinks. In terms of style, Butler and Belfast sinks are favoured for their period feel, but they can be uncomfortable for taller people to use as the bottom of the bowl is very low. Generally speaking, all sinks are equally practical, choosing the one for you is just a matter of aesthetics and what you are used to. For example, stainless steel went out of fashion for a while, and composite sinks in lighter colours were preferred for their ability to coordinate with pale worktops. However, customers soon reverted back to steel when they discovered the composites hard to keep clean. One item I will always try to make room for is the plate rack, which makes drying and storing crockery a breeze.