Smart Kitchen Ideas

Throughout the generations, a well-designed kitchen has always been the hub of family life. It is also one of the main selling points when one decides to sell, or buy a new house.
Not only is the kitchen a place where memories are made, in a modern society a well-designed kitchen helps busy families function effectively and orderly

What are some of the main factors to consider when you plan a new kitchen?

Kitchen work triangle

Commonly referred to as the “kitchen work triangle,” the concept describes how efficient your kitchen layout is, both aesthetically and functionally. The “triangle” is represented by imaginary lines between your stove, sink and refrigerator. In effect, it means how easily and efficiently one can move back and forth between the food storage, cleaning, preparation and cooking areas. If these areas are far apart, or difficult to reach, your entire cooking experience will suffer. If there is regularly more than one cook, plan the working triangle to accommodate more than one person.

Design and layout

A variety of traditional kitchen layouts and designs are possible to ensure both a practical and attractive kitchen configuration. Of course, one can be creative and design a kitchen perfectly suited to your specific space, needs and preferences. Depending on the size and shape of your kitchen, here are some ideas:

L-Shaped Kitchen

Installed along right-angled walls with an open area in the middle, an L-shaped kitchen provides you with easy access to all the major appliances and work surfaces.

U-Shaped Kitchen

Your cabinets, appliances and worktops are installed along three connected right-angled walls, with an open end for access. Alternately, the third side can be utilised as a serving or eating area in an open-plan kitchen. If you entertain often, or cook as a family, a spacious U-shaped kitchen allows two or more cooks to work side-by side. Because it restricts through-traffic, it keeps others out of your way while cooking.
In a small kitchen, this could feel cramped however.

Kitchen Island

In a large kitchen, an island can be a great feature, which simultaneously adds more storage and working space. It also creates an attractive sociable area to dine around or have your friends close while cooking.
In very large kitchens, an island can be combined with any number of other kitchen layouts.
The island should be carefully designed to make sure it does not interfere with the workflow or access to the work triangle.

G-Shaped Kitchen

The G-shape is a variation on the U-shape to connect your kitchen to an adjacent room and maximize space. By adding a “peninsula” to the u-shape, you add extra storage and work space and incorporate the breakfast or dining area into your kitchen.
One of the great benefits of such an open plan is that it visually creates the feeling of spaciousness between kitchen and dining room, or even family room.

Galley Kitchen

If you have a long, narrow kitchen, the cabinets and appliances are installed along one or both sides of a central working area or walkway.
In a large multifunction room, a galley kitchen on one wall can be successfully combined with an island to separate the kitchen from the family room or dining room.

Pullman Kitchen / One Wall Kitchen

If a galley kitchen is installed along one wall only, it is also known as a Pullman kitchen. This layout is particularly suitable for studio apartments and loft spaces. Like the Galley kitchen, it can successfully be combined with a countertop or island to serve as a dining area or separation between the kitchen and living area.

Worktop Materials

The worktops are arguably the most important part of any kitchen, since it is the first part that anybody notices and it can make or break the general aesthetic appearance and the feel of luxury. The quality of the worktops will also determine the lifetime of the kitchen and how long it remains in fashion. With the right choice of worktops, it is a simple matter to reface your cabinets.

There is a huge variety of worktops in different materials, colours, textures, thicknesses and price ranges available on the market. For more detail on each of the top-quality materials, please consult our Worktops page.

Quartz

Quartz worktops are made from re-engineered natural quartz, the hardest worktop material known to man. At the top end of luxury, premier quartz worktop brands like Silestone, Ecostone, Compaq and Technistone, are formed through a special heat and vibro-compaction process, by combining at least 90-94% ground natural quartz with 6-10% resins, polymers, and pigments. The end result is a beautiful three-dimensional crystal-like surface that is more durable and more resilient than the original quartz from which it is made.

Quartz worktops are completely nonporous and never requires any sealing. It is ultra-hygienic, easy to clean and actively resists heat, water, bacteria and stains. Silestone has silver ions as an active ingredient to actually fight bacteria.
Quartz worktops are available in a vast array of colours and surface textures.

Silestone Silken Pearl

Solid Surface

Solid surface worktops are a magnificent improvement on natural luxury. Created from a unique composite of pulverised natural minerals and pure acrylic polymer, it enhances the appearance of marble and granite, while also improving the strength, durability and hygiene factors of the natural minerals. All the imperfections, fissures and cracks are eliminated from the original stone, while retaining, even enhancing, its beauty.

Top products such as Corian, Diore, Hanex and Hi-Macs are created to last a lifetime. The stone-hard worktop can be shaped, moulded, sanded, engraved and fabricated to meet any design requirements. It is completely non-porous, easy to clean and maintain and highly resistant to stains.

Integrated sinks and bowls, upstands and downturns, and accessories are fabricated in the same colour – and because joints are almost invisible – it gives a truly uniform appearance of everything being created from a solid block of marble or granite.

Corian Tumbleweed

Natural Stone

Solid stone worktops are completely natural and are synonymous with luxury. They are tough, durable, easy to clean and heat resistant.

Solid worktops made of Sensa Granite, Granite, Marble and Limestone are fabricated from individual slabs of natural stone, which guarantees each slab is unique and has its own characteristic touch of elegance.

Natural stone has fissures and is not completely non-porous, but the best brands of worktops use only top-quality slabs and protect the surface with superior sealants.

Sensa Granite Indian Black

Natural Solid Wood

The longer you have your solid wood worktops, the better they look! As it ages, wood matures and develops a patina (gloss or sheen), causing its natural colour to become deeper and enriching its appearance.

Top quality timber worktops are hard-wearing, resistant to heat and impact and easy to repair. Contrary to what some believe, solid wood worktops are hygienic. If properly sealed and sterilised at regular intervals, water does not penetrate the surface and if properly done, the almost seamless joints do not leave crevices for germs to accumulate. Even if bacteria do enter the wood fibre, they do not multiply and can easily be disinfected. strong and very resilient and if cared for properly they can last a lifetime. Wood is and scratches can be sanded out.

Beech Wood Worktop Surface

Glass

While traditional classic materials still reign supreme, some look for a more exquisite look and feel. Materials such as quartz and for some tastes glass, often fill this niche.

Glass countertops are available in a wide variety of styles, colours, and textures in new or recycled glass. Designs that stretch the imagination are possible with glass, because it can be shaped and formed into an endless number of different eye catching styles. Variations are possible with recycled pieces of crushed glass set in acrylic or concrete, can either give the appearance of glass floating in liquid, or arranged artistically for a mosaic-like look.

Except for custom designs, glass would usually cost less than quartz, solid surface or natural stone worktops. Reinforced and thicker glass worktops are safe and durable. They are hygienic and easy to clean. Joints can be sealed almost imperceptibly or can be disguised.

Stainless Steel

Stainless steel may not exude the luxury of quartz, solid surface or natural materials, but the top brands can be aesthetically very pleasing and modern.

In certain work areas are very practical because they are resistant to water, heat and stains. No type of liquid or substances can penetrate into the material at all and they can easily be cleaned.

It is important to use good quality thicker gauge stainless steel (14-18 gauge) for durability and resistance to dents and scratches.

Laminates

As a cheaper option, laminated worktops have always been popular. The laminate covering the substrate is nonporous, and does not absorb water and food spills and the surfaces are easy to clean.

The development of laminates has come a long way in the past decade and popular brands such as Formica and Wilsonart offer a large variety of attractive styles, colours and textures are available. They are versatile and can be cut into just about any shape or size. If special care is taken to seal ends and joints, they are pretty hygienic.

Concrete

Especially in outdoor entertainment areas, well-designed concrete worktops have become more popular, because they are highly resistant to the elements. To make them aesthetically attractive, materials such as glass fragments, stones, shells, and fibre-optic lights can be embedded.

Kitchen Cabinets Facing

The cabinet doors and drawers define the aesthetic appearance of the cabinets and complement the worktop surfaces. Doors can be overlayed – meaning they are mounted on the front of the cabinet frame; or inset – meaning they are fitted on the inside of the frame with exposed hinges.

Facing materials

The traditional choices include solid wood, any one of the worktop surface materials mentioned in point 3, or even painted MDF.

Facing styles

The choice here is almost endless, ranging from flat panels, to raised panels, to ornately shaped or engraved door and drawer fronts.

Slab/Flat style

Plain slabs, with no adornment. It gives a clean, contemporary look. It can be used on both framed or frameless cabinets

Shaker style

Based on Shaker-style furniture, these units that are simple but attractive. The recessed solid panel doors, light finishes and basic hardware are basic features. A variation is to use a glass or mirror panel insert.

Glass doors

Glass can be used as a central panel, be frameless, or even sliding doors to show off the china inside the cabinet.

Single arch

Also known as cathedral style, the door has an attractive grooved rectangle with a single arch at the top for a pronounced effect. Typically solid wood or other material that can be grooved is used.

Double arch

The double arched cathedral style door has an arch both at the top and at the bottom.

Beadboard

Doors with a bordered edge in a large variety of styles and glass, stained glass or mirror panels are best suited to country style homes and kitchens.

Raised panels

Raised hardwood panels protrude above the base, rather than being recessed as in the other styles, such as shaker.

Tongue and groove

Flat panels of wood joined with v-groove or tongue and groove joints can be framed with a border, or be used borderless. This style has again become popular in cottage-style kitchens.

Sliding doors

Particularly useful in compact kitchens, because the doors do not need space to swing open.

Heritage style

This is a traditional style which is more ornate than the Shaker-style. It has a raised central panel with more intricately detailed woodwork. It is particularly suitable for large kitchens where the ornamentation will make the kitchen more interesting. In smaller kitchens it may be a bit overwhelming.

Louvred doors

Made from horizontal wood slats, louvres create the illusion of space and make the cabinet look wider and vertical louvres make the door look taller. Apart from the appearance, work particularly well where ventilation is required (vegetables, etc.)

Distressed facing

Very popular with those who love antiques and vintage stuff. Various techniques are used to create a rustic or antique appearance.

Thermofoil

This is a lower budget option that may not last as long, but can still look good. These cabinet doors are made from medium-density fibreboard wrapped in a plastic coating of various designs, colours and textures.

Smart storage

Storage space in a kitchen is always at a premium, but the secret is to things stored orderly, with easy access. Here are some ideas to plan your storage areas:

Think vertically

By extending cabinets to the ceiling, you not only maximize kitchen storage space, it looks attractive and eliminates areas where dust can collect.
Store plates upright to give easy access without heavy loads or breakages
Organise trays and cutting boards

Utilize existing space

Paint a chalkboard for your grocery list, to-do list, measuring quantities, etc on one of the inside of a cabinet door
Put retractable drawer inside the cabinets to eliminate difficult access areas. Instead of having to dig at the back of the shelf, you pull the drawer out and pick out the things at the back.
Install retractable racks inside cabinets to store pans
Install pull-out storage shelves in your grocery cupboard
Install low shelves between the regular shelves, or between the top and floor units, or inside doors for spice jars, jams, etc
Install narrow or two-sided retractable shelves to access from both sides when pulled out

Thinking of a new kitchen?