The Home Improvement Centre » Kitchen

Back to Basics

Laura Elahi — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 09:56:12 +0000

Late last year experts at IMM Cologne, an exhibition and event business, revealed that minimalist interior design would be hot in 2011. And now we have proof!

According to findings compiled in the book ‘Interior Trends 2011′, ‘Emotional Austerity’ is to be a big trend this year.

As a result of the credit crunch, IMM Cologne believes that people are questioning what it is they need to live well. This is leading to a greater desire for simplistic, formal or severe designs that combine the basic and old with the modern and the high-tech.

John Lewis

Homebase

The Home Improvement Centre has indeed noticed a growing number of simple yet stylish room designs and accessories cropping up in the interiors world.

Kate Jacobs, home interior stylist for the Guardian, for example, recently created a variety of looks for the kitchen, bedroom and lounge, all devoted to caramel and nude hues. By blending a host of natural colours together, Kate says homes can avoid looking dull but instead be subtle and lavish.

She said: “I love white, but too much of it can be boring, so I like to use it with other neutrals.”

The Daily Mail’s Design File also tipped chic white accessorise as a celebration of the minimalist trend.

Their reporter, Emma Love, said: “Could there be anything more clean and crisp than pure white? It’s fresh, spring-like and a big trend for interiors this season.”

So to get you back to basics, here are some of our favourite items for 2011 inspired by Emotional Austerity.

New look Neutrals

Top to bottom:

Megan left hand corner unit by Homebase.

Washed Linen Bedlinen, Natural, (£25 standard pillowcase and £220 super kingsize duvet cover) by John Lewis.

Ombra Chair (£125 set of two) by Next.

John Lewis reports rising sales of wine cabinets

Laura Elahi — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 09:42:50 +0000

JLWF603 Wine Cabinet

Department store John Lewis says that sales of wine cabinets have risen by 27 per cent over the last six months.

According to the retailer, customers are choosing to invest in more sophisticated models that offer greater flexibility and storage options.

Vic Sinclair, central buyer for large electricals at John Lewis, said: “Wine cabinets are becoming the must have appliance for the kitchen. Over the last six months we have seen the strongest sales in the mid to high end models, including the John Lewis JLWF603 wine cabinet, that benefits from a twin temperature control unit, allowing you to store red and white wine together. We also have orders placed for the newly introduced Sub Zero wine cabinet, perfect for wine connoisseurs who also want the wow factor.”

ICBWS30-S-TH-RH Wine Cabinet

John Lewis JLWF603 Wine Cabinet – £599

This John Lewis 60cm wine cabinet has the flexibility to store different wines in one cooler. Separate cooling zones allow you to keep your red and white wine together, but at different temperatures, thanks to a twin digital temperature control unit. The upper zone allows you to store up to 16 bottles of white wine between 5-10 °C and the lower zone allows up to 30 bottles of red to be stored between 10-8 °C.

Sub-Zero ICBWS30 Wine Cabinet – £8,750

This seriously-stylish wine cabinet will keep your wine in the very best conditions. A stainless steel and full-view glass door allows you to show off your collection, as well as storing up to 147 bottles, on 15 pull out cherry wood roller shelves. Touch pad controls make it easy to set the correct temperature from 3°C to 18°C in each zone and you can chose between Celsius or Fahrenheit for the display.

Recession or not 2011 is all about luxurious living

Laura Elahi — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 09:36:46 +0000

Create a stunning wine collection with Spiral Cellars

According to an article by the Independent, homeowners are defying the recession aftermath and embracing stylish household gadgets.

The must have accessories this year reflect domestic comfort and glamour. So if you’re thinking about starting a new project in your home, here’s are few ideas to consider, as well as some (slightly more) budget friendly alternatives.

Wine Cellar/Fridge

Us Brits love our wine. According to Vinexpo figures we consumed 1.7 billion bottles last year and spent more on wine than the French! These statistics could help to explain how a “must have” trend for wine cellars has developed in the UK.

Spend – Combining style and technology, a stainless steel wine cellar can in some cases hold almost 2,000 bottles. Top of the range cellars feature LED lighting, glass panels and temperature controls.

A Cylindircal wine cellar from Spiral Cellars can store 1,870 bottles, from £14,500. Visit www.spiralcellars.com for more details.

Save – Wine fridges are becoming increasingly popular with new fitted kitchen installations. John Lewis stock a varied range with prices starting from around £199.

Orangery/Conservatory

A conservatory is an easy way to add value to your home or simply create some more living space. But if you’re looking for something a touch more modern then an orangery may be for you.

Spend - An orangery can cost around £40,000. Taking a step beyond conventional conservatories these rooms feature more brick than glass but can also boast energy saving technology thanks to insulating membranes. To view some beautiful examples, visit www.theenglishglasshouse.co.uk.

Save – A conservatory can be just as stylish as an orangery (in our opinion) but without the high price. A basic 3m x 3m style can be from £10,000.

Coffee Machine

The coffee machine is today an essential gadget in the kitchen with appliances coming in stand alone or built in options.

Spend – The latest award winning coffee machine from Dualit, the Espressivo, costs approximately £175. The advantage of this product is that it enables you to use both ground beans and capsules, making it much more versatile. Take a look at www.dualit.com.

Save – If you just can’t get enough of your coffee but want it at a friendlier price tag, check out the Dolce Gusto. This product retails at £99 and can be purchased at www.dulce-gusto.co.uk.

Fitted kitchens are now available at Habitat

Laura Elahi — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 09:52:46 +0000

Habitat has cooked up the perfect fitted kitchen range for 2011.

The household specialist Habitat now offers a fantastic range of contemporary and stylish fitted kitchens in five of its stores across the country.

Designed to suit all styles and tastes and at amazing prices these fitted kitchens are specially made to be practical and beautiful.

Kitchens come with top brand appliances, modern storage solutions and a huge choice of worktop finishes and colours.

To help you to create your ideal kitchen Habitat has over 100 door designs to choose from, 16 carcass colours and an array of complementary worktops. Surfaces include laminate, granite, corian or stone. Plus, staff at Habitat can be on hand from conception to completion, thanks to their bespoke design service.

For peace of mind, all kitchens come with a five year installation guarantee and a lifetime guarantee for every kitchen carcass. To complete the package, Habitat also offers integrated appliances from quality brands such as AEG, Baumatic, CDA and Neff.

The fitted kitchen range by Habitat is currently available at its stores in Cambridge, Oxford, Lakeside Thurrock, London Kings Road and London Tottenham Court Road.

Kitchens start from about £5,000.

Further department stores by the brand will be opening throughout 2011.

Habitat’s tapas inspired textiles and furniture brings with it the flavour of spring

Laura Elahi — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 09:32:19 +0000

The Spring- Summer 2011 Collection by Habitat takes its inspiration from the heat of the Meditteranean, fun at the seaside and lazy days in country gardens.

It’s enough to make you long for the spring and summer months. But while homeowners continue to shiver their way through the winter, atleast there’s the latest collection by Habitat to give us something to get excited about.

Tapas in the Med

Bring into your home the intoxicating warmth and vibrant colours of the Mediterranean. This is a trend that brings to mind quayside tables, flickering candles, good food, and the best of friends. A great way to brighten up fitted kitchens and upholstery.

A Trip to the Seaside

Sun-bleached hues, roughened textures and fun mix and match items are great for home interiors as well as picnics on the seashore. Take a look at Habitat’s quirky melamine crockery and plush towels. We particularly like the sherbert cotton throw (as seen right).

Afternoon Tea

The Joanie range is created to reflect the designer’s burgeoning collection of tea plates both from family heirlooms and charity shops. Use it in your kitchen to inspire lots of tea parties and home baking.

To visit the official Habitat website, click here.

Fitted Kitchens at Recession-Proof Prices

admin — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:21:11 +0000

Although not everyone will have the available funds to splash out on a new fitted kitchen, those who are planning to spruce up their existing kitchens with entirely new designs and fittings are advised to shop around.

Unfortunately, a new kitchen design can set the average homeowner back around £7,500 – excluding new appliances and depending on the size and shape of the kitchen. However, whilst this price will be considered acceptable by some people, many others would expect more value for money in this challenging post-recession age (admittedly, the UK economy is not quite out of the woods just yet).

In fact, it is more than possible nowadays to purchase fitted kitchens for £5,000 or less. Furthermore, before splashing out on the lavish £10,000 option provided by your local home improvement retailer, it is worth contacting a reliable and professional builder or carpenter for a quote on a custom-built solution. Indeed, many experienced woodworkers will be able to provide excellent rates for replacing worktops, fittings and doors, although remember that basic kitchen appliances such as fully integrated ovens and fridge freezers must also be factored into the overall cost and purchased separately. Nevertheless, inexpensive fitted kitchens from popular high street retailers can be found with a little effort.

Ikea’s stylish Applad Kitchen with Faktum frame costs just over £1,100 for just about everything except the kitchen sink… and taps, appliances, lighting, knobs and handles. The Applad’s effective use of draw and cabinet space makes it attractive for many customers. At the other end of the price scale, the Driftwood Kitchen from Kitchens Direct is arguably just as aesthetically pleasing as Ikea’s Applad but, at just under £5,000, it offers a more complete design comprising modern styled slab doors, high quality cabinets, twin steel sided drawer boxes, laminate faced worktops, end gables, accessories and an attractive platinum plinth.

Tap in to a New Kitchen Look

admin — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 08:24:55 +0000

A relatively simple method of updating the look and feel of a kitchen whilst also improving basic functionality is to replace old taps for new. Indeed, modern tap designs offer a range of practical and aesthetic benefits over older style taps, which not only impact on the look of the sink area but also affect water pressure.

A replacement tap can breathe new life into an area that is often overlooked as being utilitarian, when in practice a visually pleasing tap installation can significantly improve the kitchen space.

Before purchasing a new tap from the local hardware store, it is important to consider how it should be mounted on the sink. In this respect, the traditional options are wall, worktop or sink mountings, and which of these will be chosen is a matter that largely depends on the existing sink elements and whether the buyer is willing to make changes – or even buy a new sink. Indeed, if is often easier to obtain the desired look by replacing the whole sink unit.

Nevertheless, a change of old for new taps will usually involve the introduction of monobloc taps into the home. These describe taps that include the faucet and levers in a single unit, which means that they only require a single mounting. Generally speaking, monobloc taps are the way to go as they offer considerably more functionality than traditional pillar taps.

They also come in a range of styles, including swan-neck taps, chrome taps and spray taps, which comprise a retractable hose or spout that is perfect for rinsing food or washing draining areas. In summary, although it may seem like a minor feature of the kitchen, the tap can affect both aesthetics and functionality.

Cook Up Something New in Your Kitchen

admin — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 09:21:31 +0000

The kitchen is the heart of the modern home and, whatever its size, there are several practical and aesthetic considerations that need to addressed in any kitchen design. A kitchen is, of course, primarily a functional space used for the storage and preparation of food but, above and beyond that, it should also be a warm, comfortable space that you can enjoy for its own sake.

Cabinets and worktops are integral components of any fitted kitchen, and from the point of view of hygiene, durability and aesthetics, you can choose from a range of materials such as wood, laminate, granite or stainless steel to suit your own taste and practical requirements.

All kitchens also obviously have walls and floors and the characteristics of wall and floor coverings should reflect the practical use of the kitchen. Tiles are easy to clean in the event of spills or splashes but wallpaper or paint can be a cost effective alternative and humidity resistant, easy to clean versions are available specifically for use in kitchens. Vinyl flooring similarly is water resistant and easy to clean and can provide the look of ceramic tiles at a fraction of the cost.

A large proportion of the activity in a kitchen takes place during daylight hours so bright, bold colours are often appropriate. For food preparation after dark, however – or for creating the right atmosphere for a “candlelight” soiree, if your kitchen is large enough – task and ambient lighting is important. Ambient lighting, which provides general illumination for a kitchen space, can be provided by a central ceiling fixture or multiple recessed fixtures for example. Task lighting on the other hand which allows you to see what you are doing can be included beneath kitchen cabinets, for example, for the illumination of the work surface(s) below.

In with the Old…

admin — Wed, 04 Mar 2009 13:17:13 +0000

From Michelle Obama resigning her high-flying job, which was at the time better paid than her husband’s, to support Barack’s presidential campaign, to Nigella Lawson, the undisputed poster child for domestic goddesses everywhere, it would seem that the retro 1950′s wife is back in style. This is a woman who wants not what is best for her but what is best for her family. This is a woman who, as the Daily Mail reports on the 2nd March 2009, uses her ‘honed professional skills’ to further her husband’s career. This is a woman who has it all and does it all: perfect children, perfect husband, perfect house!

This is a woman who other women aspire to yet it can be difficult for mere mortals to live up to such standards. However, do not fear, because you too can embrace the latest trends in house Deco 1950s style! Follow the simple style guidelines of Sky Life Style at Home and you too can exude 1950′s housewife kitsch.

The perfect place to start is with a Nigella Storage tin, as available from Debenhams, which is perfect for storing those (faked or baked) homemade cookies! Clean up any crumbs with a retro 1950′s Gingham American Diner style napkin holder from www.dollydagger.co.uk. Forget your modern mobile and call your ladies round for lunch on a fabulous 1950′s Diner phone – a bargain at £60 from www.notonthehighstreet.com.

From the kitchen to the living room, bring your leather sofa back in time and up-to-date by scattering a few Rose Print Cushions – £28 a piece from www.next.co.uk. Perfect for serving nibbles strategically place some brightly coloured Cath Kidston Bowls around the room, a steal at under £18 and available from www.cathkidston.co.uk. Further impress your guests as they powder their nose with a credit crunch beating Marni Bathroom Soap Set which comprises soap dish and dispenser, available from www.zarahome.com.

Take the 1950′s theme through to armchairs, tables and lamps. From the high street to virtual shopping carts all over the internet, the 1950′s theme is 2009′s hottest interior decoration and accessories trend.

Interior Design Trends for 2010

An Eco-friendly Kitchen for 2009: Introducing 'gReenaissance'

admin — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:25:40 +0000

In these days of environmental awareness designers are constantly looking for eco-friendly ways to improve the home such as installing solar panels on to rooftops in order to generate green electricity. Indeed, there are many green additions to houses these days but what about changing fundamental aspects of the home itself?

Italian kitchen design outfit, Valcucine, which prides itself on developing kitchen accessories with the lowest environmental impact has recently announced the development of a truly exquisite kitchen unit made from recycled aluminium.

Invented by Gabriele Centazzo, this 100% recyclable fitted kitchen comprises glass base units, aluminium work surfaces and mechanical joints. The concept underpinning the design is twofold: that it includes a composition of recycled materials and that it can be completely recycled if necessary. However, it is difficult to imagine consumers throwing this unit on to the recycling tip any time soon.

Indeed, the preliminary drawings of the design which debuts at Fuorisalone later this year depict a wonderfully simple, clean cut green (literally) kitchen unit that oozes both style and substance. Furthermore, the flexible construction allows for easy assembly and Valcucine has suggested that its INVITRIUM glass base unit will make reassembly a trivial matter. Additionally it would appear that most typical kitchen spaces, which are often somewhat narrow and elongated, will accommodate the gReenaissance’s long, straight dimensions.

As aforementioned the unit adopts a mechanical joint design which means that no glues or formaldehyde emissions are present. Furthermore the aluminium and glass surfaces provide complete resistance to water, steam and heat damage that affect so many other types of kitchen surface. So there should be no need to worry about setting down that saucepan anywhere…

According to Eco Friend, the use of recycled aluminium represents an 80% reduction of the energy that would be required to source primary aluminium, which is great news for anybody aiming to increase their use of green energy over traditional, environmentally damaging methods.

In conclusion the gReenaissance looks set to be an instant hit amongst home improvement enthusiasts and those who care about the environment.