A Happy Kitchen

How are you all?

We really hope you and your families are well during this difficult time we’ve all found ourselves in…

Over the past month you’ve probably spent a lot more time in your kitchen than usual. Whether that be home-schooling at the kitchen table, learning to cook or improving your culinary skills, rearranging and sorting your cupboards, constant trips to the fridge or (more likely) sneaky visits for wine and gin - your kitchen has definitely had a lot of attention recently.

Here at Collins Bespoke, we want our kitchens to be happy places for our customers; living-spaces that promote well-being and bring families together. And, whilst we know that so many of your kitchens are the social-hubs of the home, eagerly awaiting the time for parties and sociable Sunday roasts again, we also understand that your kitchen should provide a spot for calmness and comfort.

Kitchens often have a tendency to become cluttered and uninviting, so we’ve put together a few ideas to encourage and promote healthy ways of living, in a stress-free, organised, and ultimately happy space.

Styling and Open Shelving

Whilst we all want our kitchens to be practical living-spaces, we also want them to show off personality and style. It’s easy for a kitchen to be both functional and a pretty statement within your home, and the desire for open shelving to be included within our designs is on the rise. Well organised open shelving can create the illusion of more space in the kitchen and helps to make the room feel more inviting. Open shelving not only breaks up heavy ceiling to floor cabinetry, but it also provides the perfect spot to display accessories, adding to the overall ambience of the room. From crockery and ornaments, to glasses and scented candles, get creative with your shelf styling!

Here are my top styling ideas to create a welcoming space that you and others enjoy spending time in:

• Soft furnishings - who said cushions are just for the lounge?

• A big stylish fruit bowl - there’s just something so inviting about a big bowl of fruit. Plus, it promotes healthy eating for the little ones.

• Mirrors - help make your kitchen feel as light as possible (even with dark-painted cabinetry) - you want people to feel uplifted as soon as they come in. Mirrors are a great way to reflect light around a room. We especially love mirrored antique glass splash-backs - a real talking point!

• Artwork - bring your personality to the kitchen and draw people in. This is the perfect spot to hang-out, after all.

• Something for the kids - chalkboard, anyone? Fun for adults too, and great for family shopping lists!

Plants (this styling tip gets a title of its own!)

Studies have shown that having plants in your home enhances productivity, concentration and creativity. Having a few plants in each room is a real mood booster and can reduce stress, fatigue, sore throats and colds. They bring life and prettiness to your living-space - who wouldn’t want that!?

Natural Lighting

Many of our customers are fully renovating their homes and something that’s always top of the agenda is to let in as much natural light as possible. If your rooms are flooded with natural daylight, you instantly feel more alert and uplifted. Even on gloomy days, if natural light is flowing through your rooms, you don’t have to rely on electric lighting.

Making the most of natural light is a great way to create a welcoming and inviting kitchen. However, opening up your bespoke kitchen to the garden is a whole new level of WOW. If your kitchen opens directly on to your outdoor living space, it’s really going to encourage you and your family to spend time outside. And, even if it’s just in the comfort of your own garden, we all know sunshine and fresh air helps to soothe the soul! Summer BBQs and children’s parties await (if not this year, then definitely next…)

Island Seating

If space allows, island seating is usually a must-have for families. It provides an informal spot for quick family meals, and under normal circumstances - evening homework sessions, busy breakfast times and after-school snacks. Islands are often the central point within a sociable kitchen design - not only practical for family life but ideal for entertaining too! Comfortable island seating gives guests a place to perch whilst catching up over a coffee - or cocktail. Island seating makes for a happy space!

This leads on nicely to…

Open-plan Living-Spaces

Again, if space allows, open-plan living-spaces can bring people together, promoting that feeling of well-being and togetherness within your household. Social spaces where people can sit in comfort can also encourage a relaxed atmosphere.

Healthy Eating with Steam Ovens

A healthy diet makes for a healthy and happy mind, yes? With Siemens combi-steam ovens and steamers you can cook gently and naturally. The hot steam keeps flavours, vitamins and minerals in the food, and foods retain their natural appearance. Only hot steam is used to cook the food in the steam cooker, so vegetables stay firm and potatoes don't become overcooked and start to fall apart. .

They also add a modern design statement to contemporary or traditional living spaces. The good news is - we’re Siemens dealers!

Drinking Healthy with a Quooker Tap

Easy to use, practical, stylish in design and energy efficient - it’s no wonder the Quooker tap is a current kitchen must-have. And, if you feel like you aren’t drinking enough water, pop some lemon (or other fruits) into your favourite mug and fill up with boiling water to kick-start your day. It’s the perfect appliance to encourage the whole family to drink more water!

Bespoke Cutlery Storage

Oh, the epitome of organised. Hands up if you’re cutlery drawer just HAS to be neat.

Our bespoke cutlery dividers are created with you in mind and designed to ensure there’s room for everything. They really are the ultimate way to organise your drawers. Some of our customers decide to have two or three, because sometimes one just isn’t enough!

Deep Drawer Storage

A real must-have for those of us who prefer to hide things away. Out of sight – out of mind. Sound familiar? However, effortlessly concealed, deep drawer storage, is definitely the right way to do it. It’s that super easy kind of organisation, that is totally satisfying, but with minimum effort. And, because they are easily accessible, many of our customers choose deep drawer storage to hide away larger pots, pans, baking trays and dishes.

A Touch of Luxury

Beautiful bespoke cabinetry really does lend itself to being dressed with equally beautiful handles. And, we all need a little touch of luxury to keep us happy, right? We love the ranges by Armac Martin. As a family owned and run business, they are committed to manufacturing in the UK, which we also love! Whilst chrome handles will always be a timeless and elegant choice for Shaker-style cabinetry, we’ve seen a rise in much bolder choices too. Chocolate Bronze, Matt Black and Burnished Brass finishes are popular choices and fun to colour-match accessories, ornaments and taps with.

Colour

Whilst greys are timeless and calming, we’ve been seeing a rise in demand for crisp blue hues recently! The colour blue triggers feelings of relaxation, peace, quiet, grandness and expansiveness. When used inside the house, blue creates the same feelings of tranquillity, space and luxury. It is also a well-known stress reducer, helping to slow down your heartbeat and lower blood pressure. Blue kitchens are right on-trend, blending perfectly with Shaker-styles as well as minimalist, modern designs.

Hygge

How many of you are familiar with the word Hygge?

Hygge is all about feelings. It’s the Danish way to ‘live well’.  It’s an atmosphere. An experience; the idea of feeling totally safe, comfortable and ultimately happy in your surroundings. I’m pretty sure it’s my favourite word – I mean feeling. To me, Hygge conjures up cosy thoughts of blankets, oversized slipper socks, endless amounts of tea, Netflix-binging and delicious scented wax melts. But, Hygge isn’t just for the living room. The kitchen is a perfect ‘happy place’, too. Surely, the hub of your home must encounter the most Hygge moments? After all, it is where that magnificent scent of coffee wafts from.

I’ve shortlisted my favourite Hygge concepts for the kitchen – enjoy!

• Warm colours have the ability to transform any room from ‘just a space’ into Hygge Headquarters. In the kitchen, this can be achieved with beautiful painted cabinets or accessories. I wrote about blue being a calming colour, but how about a rich dark green instead, like Farrow and Ball’s Bancha?

• Wood plays a huge role in the Hygge performance. Wood in the kitchen makes us feel closer to nature; it is simple and natural, just like the concept of Hygge.

• Styling your dresser with beautiful ceramics is sure to give you that warm Hygge glow.

• Create a Hygge moment by adding a bespoke bookshelf and showcasing cookbooks.

• Butler sinks are not only incredibly easy on the eye, but they also enhance that cosy farmhouse feeling.

• The ultimate Hygge vibes come from comfort food. You’re definitely allowed days away from the steamer! I can’t think of anything more Hygge than home cooking on an Aga. Can you?

Of course, it goes without saying that if you’re investing in a handmade bespoke kitchen, then you can choose all the elements that go into creating the dream space for you, your family and your lifestyle. And, our designers will bring clever ideas to the table to ensure it’s an organised and practical living-space - allowing you to enjoy it properly.

Whilst you’re currently at home with your family, now is a really good time to reflect on your kitchen; what works well, what doesn’t and what you’d like to improve on within your existing space. Take this time to create a wish-list for your ideal kitchen. Think about what can be changed to add some extra sprinkles of happiness!

Our showroom may still be closed, but our team are still working hard to help with your new kitchen planning! We can provide free initial estimates and plans, and are happy to discuss everything via email, telephone or Zoom! But, of course, we’ll look forward to welcoming you all to our showroom again soon.

crisi@collinsbespoke.com

01233 822595