April 28, 2021
The kitchen is the heart of the home and for many families, the room where most family time is spent. This is why it’s so important that your kitchen is a functional, safe and pleasant space to spend your time with your family.
When planning a kitchen renovation, ask yourself: What could we use the kitchen for if we dream big? Where do we want to take our meals? How will the little ones interact safely in the kitchen?
There are many considerations that come into designing a bespoke family kitchen. Here is a short guide from our kitchen designers on best practices for creating the ultimate family-friendly kitchen:
Think safety first
The kitchen can be one of the most dangerous places in the house, so a design that is safe for the whole family is vital.
Choosing to raise your oven to eye level will not just make it more convenient for you when cooking or baking, it also keeps it out of reach of small children. Opt for an induction hob rather than gas, since there is no dangerous flame, and the surface stays cool even during cooking. Also, a Quooker tap that provides boiling water straight from your sink can be safer than a kettle as it has a safety tap and can’t be knocked over or spilled.
Choose durable, easy to clean materials
Spills are bound to happen, so using high quality surfaces can help your kitchen last the test of time. Ask our kitchen designers about Corian, Sensa or Silestone for your worktops to learn how stain resistant and resilient these materials are.
Make room for seating
You’d like there to be plenty of space for everyone to sit in the kitchen, so creating an open plan kitchen that features seating options is a great idea for the whole family. Integrate a breakfast bar into a window seat or choose a large island that can accommodate stool seating so your little ones can be in sight while you’re preparing meals.
Consider safety when planning seating within the kitchen. For example, if you have young children and are planning to have your hob on your kitchen island, it would be safer to keep them further away from potential burns. A kitchen designer can advise on different options like integrated booth seating or a raised bar table at the end of the island.
Implement easy access storage
It’s easy for the kitchen to become cluttered, especially since it’s typically in the centre of the home and the first place everyone ends up when arriving home. Planning the kitchen to include plenty of discrete storage is key to keeping the space tidy.
Consider not only where utensils, food and crockery will be accessible yet tidy, but also how other items that may end up in the kitchen will be stored so that you can minimise clutter. Bespoke kitchen areas like a doored coffee bar and custom corner pantry can keep the kitchen looking neat. Opt for a luxury wine chiller with a lock to keep bottles secure and consider a kitchen trolley for anything you might like to have more accessible at child height.
Ensure there is plenty of workspace
Custom, well planned storage will not only help with decluttering the kitchen, it will also free up workspace so that everyone can work or play in the kitchen. Plan for workspace at different heights to suit all members of the family and consider areas for not only cooking but for studying and arts and crafts to make the kitchen a hub of activity for all.
Invest in a custom kitchen
With families spending so much time at home, the kitchen is the most essential room in the house. Investing in a bespoke fitted kitchen that incorporates a design best suited to the space can make a world of difference, not only to you but to all members of the family.
So, in conclusion: choose flooring and surfaces that doesn’t stain easily, invest in safe appliances, and plan your kitchen layout with an expert designer for the best use of space in your custom family kitchen.
Bespoke Interiors designs luxurious bespoke kitchens, bedrooms and bathrooms throughout Newcastle, Durham, Northumberland and the North East. Our Newcastle showroom is now reopen and we are still offering a remote design service to continue to provide service to those wishing to refurbish and renovate while practicing safe social distancing. Contact us to discuss your project!
