A new kitchen is such a big investment, so choosing wisely to ensure the room at the heart of the home lasts a lifetime, often leads to purchasing a neutral, wood or white one, so that it doesn’t date or jar with the rest of the home. But there are many easy ways to stamp your mark on a kitchen that can spice it up and help it integrate with adjoining rooms.
One easy way is to change the handles; whether dramatic metallic ones or coloured porcelain ones, leather hoops – currently in vogue – and these can be done in one afternoon without any specialist skills. For handles look at the ranges available from Zara Home, Shabby Chic and general ironmongers.
Carry the use of handles further by creating a hanging rack for pots and pans, utensils or even strings of chilli’s or garlic, by adding a few to a ready-made coat rack or piece of wood.
Adding splashes of colour – which are the same as adjoining rooms if open plan to maintain a continuity – can be added and changed very easily. Inject colour with accessories, trivets, tea towels, utensils and plant pots. You can add colour with a splashback made from tiles, stainless steel or glass. Funk up the area behind the cooker with the same tiles as your flooring or pick out an element and do a solid colour. There is also the option to use coloured class – a custom made panel in mix of colours of your choice from Mdina Glass or even have one made up in a solid in any Pantone of your choice at Tonna Glass.
Upcycling elements like grilles, pregnant windows, stair rails or gates which were part of your home’s original character by them to hang your utensils over windows or horizontally over the cooker or island, or use smaller pieces as trivets. Use a wire brush and a metal paint to spruce up or leave as you find them to show the layers of life it’s lived.
Bring the outdoors in by creating a kitchen garden in teapots without lids, mini planters or even pouches especially for living walls. Choose fragrant herbs you use most and keep them watered and in a position with natural light.
