The kitchen is the heart of the home. This became even more the case during the Covid-19 pandemic when many families spent a large chunk of the day together in the kitchen doing work and home schooling as well as everyday domestic tasks.
The children are now back at school, and many of us are back at the workplace for at least some of the working week. However, the expanded role of the kitchen shows no signs of changing. Most modern families in the UK ideally want their kitchen to:
- have space to work from home where needed;
- have a comfortable sit down dining area big enough for entertaining;
- have a distinct drinks area with coffee machine and perhaps even a bar;
- be able to safely accommodate children and pets.
So if you are planning to replace or extend your kitchen, here are three top tips to ensure that it is family-friendly.
Customise your zones to suit your needs
Forget the traditional so-called “work triangle” of cooker, sink and fridge. This concept dates back to the 1920’s and is becoming increasingly irrelevant to the modern kitchen. Instead, decide what kind of zones you want to have in your kitchen. Our recent article Are you ready for the six zone kitchen explains six different areas that are now worth considering if you are having your kitchen redone. They are:
- Cooking: Oven, hob and worktop appliances;
- Cleaning: Sink, dishwasher and rubbish disposal.
- Consumables: Storage for fresh and dry food.
- Non-Consumables: Storage for pots and pans, crockery, cutlery, and glassware;
- Preparation: Worktops and food preparation area;
- Social: Places to eat, drink, work and enjoy daily living.
Make the most of clever storage solutions
The key to having a multi-purpose kitchen that is truly family-friendly is plenty of storage. The more you have the better. It will help you to keep your kitchen clear and uncluttered no matter how many different people are using it for a range of different purposes.
Some innovative storage solutions that you might want to consider are:
A separate pantry
We love the secret pantry pictured below, which featured in a handmade in-frame shaker kitchen we recently installed.
A pantry unit
If you can’t accommodate a separate pantry, a pantry unit could work well. The one pictured below is contained in an elegant unit. It has drawers for each member of the family – even for the dog!
A kitchen island
As well as providing extra seating and a place to socialise, a kitchen island can also give you more valuable storage space. The example pictured below goes one step further, with a wine conditioner and an under counter freezer in addition to the seating and drawers.
Creative storage ideas
Don’t rule out using every inch of space as a storage solution. There are ways to do this without making your kitchen look cluttered. For example, tall cabinets can provide space at the top for lesser used items, and open shelving can be a great way to store quirky items safely and add a bit of interest to your walls.
Keep children and pets happy and safe
When thinking about zones in your kitchen, you may want to include specific areas for children and pets to enjoy.
You may also need to take some extra precautions in the rest of your kitchen for the safety of children and pets. Five things particularly to consider are:
- Ensure that cabinets and other kitchen furniture do not have sharp edges or awkward corners that could cause injury. A professional kitchen design can help you to do this.
- Bear in mind the need to protect your kitchen from the wiles of children and pets by making everything as stain and scratch resistant as possible! It is worth investing in either natural stone or high quality man-made alternatives which not only look good but are very durable.
- Position all heated areas and surfaces well out of reach of small hands and paws.
- Choose your flooring carefully to make it as slip proof as possible. If you decide to have rugs in the kitchen make sure that they are non-skid rugs.
- Keep work surfaces as clear as possible by storing away as many small appliances and kitchen tools as you can.
So, if you want to make your kitchen even more the heart of your home, Stone and Chrome would love to help you to design the kitchen that is right for you. Start by taking a look at our kitchen portfolio, then make an appointment to come and visit our Camberley showroom.
We look forward to meeting you soon and helping to create the best kitchen for you and the whole family.