Majjie's Blog

There are two types of small kitchen; there's the type that takes up a small part of a much larger room; and then there's the sort that needs to be fitted into a tiny room. A lot of kitchen design guides are talking about the first type, when they mention small kitchen design ... which seems to be very irritating for those looking for the tiny room variety.

Do you want to know how to decide on your kitchen layout? Forget those work triangles you've been told about ... and ignore all those kitchen design guides you've seen that tell you your kitchen should be a galley shape, or an L-shape, or a U-shape. Some kitchens are best laid out in those shapes but many more are not ... especially in older and larger UK kitchens, which have often been extended a few times.

I've just been catching up with the comments on my Solid Surface Worktops blog - written nearly two years ago - but still attracting regular comments. Jonny - the latest visitor - was talking about his undermounted sink. It's fitted into a Wilsonart Earthstone worktop ... and Jonny was surprised at how the sink looked (with only a very thin layer of Earthstone above the rim of the sink).

One of the most common complaints my clients have - about their old kitchen - is that it doesn't have enough worktop space. There are usually two reasons for that. The first is that there isn't enough storage space in the kitchen either ... and the worktop is being used to store things that would be better kept in a cupboard ... and the second is that there are lots of small appliances sitting on the worktop. Here are a collection of cluttered kitchens - from my "before" picture album - look anything like yours?

Everybody uses mixed finishes in their kitchen, of course, unless they’re complete minimalism freaks. I have seen a few pure white kitchens (but mainly in glossy magazines - they’re very impractical for anyone who does any proper cooking). What I’m talking about, though, is using two or more different door colours or finishes and maybe different worktops. Like these different coloured doors in a Crown Imperial kitchen:

Outdoor kitchens have been big news in the USA for some time and, with the warm weather of last week, perhaps more people in the UK will be considering a kitchen in the garden, as their next development project. For those who are still reluctant to move house, it may be one of the few home improvements left to carry out and - with the new air of austerity around - eating at home, is definitely the new going out. And - no - I'm not just talking about a big barbie! 

Of course you may have already heard of Westin ... but their cooker hoods are not widely available on internet shopping sites, so I thought I'd bring them to your attention. With more and more kitchens being situated in big open plan spaces ... where you're likely to be dining, relaxing and generally entertaining friends ... high performance, quiet and efficient cooker hoods are becoming much more desirable. 

I last wrote about the features of induction hobs nearly two years ago when I went through the pros and cons and also complained that there wasn't a standard, free standing cooker available - that had both a double oven and an induction hob. So how have things changed in the meantime?

I've had a question from Caroline - asking for some ideas as to what sort of kitchen would go with the Falcon range cooker and fridge-freezer that she's decided to buy - both in China Blue. 

She hasn't given me any clues - as to whether she wants a modern or traditional look - or as to what her kitchen is like ... big, small, well lit or dark. I thought I'd have a look at a few options though ...

My first thought was that a cream kitchen would look good:

You may have noticed, in the glossy magazines, that Rangemaster have just launched a pair of French style cookers, the Rangemaster Elise SE and the Rangemaster Elise 110. I'm usually a fan of Rangemaster cookers - but I have mixed feelings about these.

Here's the Rangemaster Elise 110 in a beautiful China Blue:

and the Rangemaster SE in Chocolate Brown: