Blogs
More Patterns
by Majjie | Mon, 18/02/2008 - 13:39
If you love the new patterned looks which feature in my January '08 newsletter - and you're looking for a new kitchen - and you're brave by nature - then check out Mirari's "Individual" range.
The units have modern flat doors and they are teamed with practical glass splashbacks - nothing unusual in that - except that both the doors and the glass can be customised with your choice of pattern.
The units have modern flat doors and they are teamed with practical glass splashbacks - nothing unusual in that - except that both the doors and the glass can be customised with your choice of pattern.
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"Free" Kitchen Designs - Are They Becoming a Thing of the Past?
by Majjie | Fri, 15/02/2008 - 16:16
I have to say that I do hope "free" kitchen designs are on the way out. That's not just because I charge for my designs - although, it has to be said that I'm not completely impartial on this subject! It's because I think the practice of not directly charging for kitchen plans devalues the job of the kitchen designer and results in poor quality kitchen designs.
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Taps with Lights
by Majjie | Fri, 08/02/2008 - 17:40
I've mentioned Blanco's BlancoOval tap before:
It has built in LED lights which illuminate the water flow and change colour with the temperature of the water. It looks great and is also a useful feature. You can see when the water has got hot!
It has built in LED lights which illuminate the water flow and change colour with the temperature of the water. It looks great and is also a useful feature. You can see when the water has got hot!
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Pricing - How Do You Decide What to Buy?
by Majjie | Wed, 30/01/2008 - 13:23
How do you decide what you're going to buy? Obviously I'm thinking about kitchens and kitchen design services, but the same principle applies to almost everything we buy.
Do you always look for the cheapest price/quote that seems to meet your requirements? Or would you always avoid the cheapest?
I was asked to do a kitchen design recently, for a cabinetmaker. He actually sent me to see the potential customers to discuss the design and then he went back with the plan and sketches and his quote.
Do you always look for the cheapest price/quote that seems to meet your requirements? Or would you always avoid the cheapest?
I was asked to do a kitchen design recently, for a cabinetmaker. He actually sent me to see the potential customers to discuss the design and then he went back with the plan and sketches and his quote.
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What's New in Traditional Sinks?
by Majjie | Tue, 29/01/2008 - 15:19
The Belfast sink remains very popular, especially in more traditionally styled kitchens. The big bowl is very useful for all sorts of things, including cleaning oven trays and washing the dog!
Personally I think the standard Belfast is too deep to work at comfortably - especially if you're quite tall (although in some kitchens you can adjust the unit height to suit the main bottle washer). I also like to put a double sink into a kitchen whenever there's room, so I tend to use the shallower Farmhouse sinks, which also come in double bowl versions.
Personally I think the standard Belfast is too deep to work at comfortably - especially if you're quite tall (although in some kitchens you can adjust the unit height to suit the main bottle washer). I also like to put a double sink into a kitchen whenever there's room, so I tend to use the shallower Farmhouse sinks, which also come in double bowl versions.
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The All Singing All Dancing Fridge
by Majjie | Thu, 17/01/2008 - 16:51
It must be something about the large amount of space a fridge-freezer takes up, but manufacturers are always trying to think of extra gadgets or accessories that they can add to their fridges and fridge-freezers. The American inspired ice and water dispensers are common in the UK now; but it doesn't stop there .....
The latest one to be released is Whirlpool's Espresso Fridge-Freezer ... which does look quite impressive.
The latest one to be released is Whirlpool's Espresso Fridge-Freezer ... which does look quite impressive.
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Outdoor Bins - the Ultimate Solution?
by Majjie | Thu, 10/01/2008 - 14:17
Ok, I know I'm beginning to seem obsessed with bins now ...but I also noticed that The Corner Fridge Company (makers of hugely practical large indoor fridges) has introduced a BinRefrigerator for outdoor use.
It houses one, two or three wheelie bins, plugs into a 13 amp power supply and keeps the bins at 5 degrees C.
I know it's unpleasant when the bins start to smell in summer but I'm not sure I'd go as far as to buy one of these.
It houses one, two or three wheelie bins, plugs into a 13 amp power supply and keeps the bins at 5 degrees C.
I know it's unpleasant when the bins start to smell in summer but I'm not sure I'd go as far as to buy one of these.
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Waste Bins - New Designs
by Majjie | Thu, 10/01/2008 - 13:58
Following on from previous discussions about waste bins. I noticed that Brabantia, the bin people, have asked final year Product Design students at the University of the West of England (UWE) to come up with the kitchen bin of the future.
This is the news link on the UWE site, if you're interested.
This is the news link on the UWE site, if you're interested.
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Happy New Year!
by Majjie | Thu, 10/01/2008 - 13:10
Yes ... a possibly belated Happy New Year to you all. Am I the only one finding it difficult to get back into the swing of work?
Don't get me wrong, I love my job and I'm usually a complete workaholic, but there's something dispiriting about dismal January days when friends and family have all gone their individual ways again, after the festivities. The house seems very empty.
I'm beginning to find some returning enthusiasm now, though, and will very shortly be adding the next newsletter ... the first for 2008.
Don't get me wrong, I love my job and I'm usually a complete workaholic, but there's something dispiriting about dismal January days when friends and family have all gone their individual ways again, after the festivities. The house seems very empty.
I'm beginning to find some returning enthusiasm now, though, and will very shortly be adding the next newsletter ... the first for 2008.
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Do You Cook in Your Kitchen?
by Majjie | Wed, 28/11/2007 - 15:11
A surprising 6% of the people questioned in a recent survey, claimed to have no oven or cooker in their kitchen, and the figure rose to 10% amongst young professionals.
Legal & General, the insurance company, has been conducting an ongoing survey on how people use their homes, called "The Changing Face of British Homes" and in July of this year asked over 4,000 people about their kitchens.
Legal & General, the insurance company, has been conducting an ongoing survey on how people use their homes, called "The Changing Face of British Homes" and in July of this year asked over 4,000 people about their kitchens.
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