Hayley Gilbert is a freelance interiors journalist with 20 years’ experience in the industry. Specialising in all things kitchens, Hayley has contributed to a wide range of consumer titles such as Beautiful Kitchens, EKBB, KBB, Grand Designs, House Beautiful and Ideal Home, as well as national newspapers including The Sunday Times.... @HaylGilbert / hayleygilbertblog.wordpress.com
This year has already seen a raft of new appliance launches from some of the major brands; from a multi-zone, modular induction hob to a Smart Oven with HotBlast™ technology. Here are some of my favourites…
The story: Located on the ground floor of a beach house facing the sea, with access to an outdoor pool and garden area, this sociable family kitchen was designed for serious cooking and relaxed living. The clients asked for two dining areas to be included within the design – one formal with a large table and a second, café style, to suit small numbers and breakfast.
There’s no question that kitchen flooring needs to be practical and hardwearing but there’s no reason why it can’t be eye-catching, attractive and bang on trend, too. Sometimes, the surface we choose to fit beneath our feet becomes an afterthought in kitchen design yet it can be one of the more costly elements of a scheme so it pays to do your research and choose a material, colour, finish and texture that you’ll love for years to come. Here are some of my favourite new designs…
The story: With a rich history of master cabinetmakers stretching back to the late 1800s, Humphrey Munson has earned a reputation for excellence in the design and manufacture of beautiful handmade kitchens. The Nickelby design embodies the true spirit of the classic contemporary kitchen, using a combination of painted solid wood cupboards and smoked oak accent units. This scheme features touches of pure luxury throughout.
Once the new year begins, it brings with it a renewed interest and excitement in all things kitchens and design, so I’ll be making a beeline to London’s Business Design Centre in February for the Surface Design Show, the only event in the UK that focuses solely on interior and exterior surfaces. It’s a great place to see…
The story: Located in a three-storey Victorian townhouse in London, this kitchen from Harvey Jones incorporates individual touches such as tiled appliance housings, octagonal painted shapes on the wooden floor and herringbone tongue-and-groove detailing on the pitched ceiling. The kitchen was a complete rebuild of the ground floor with a glass roof and cabinetry handcrafted from American hardwood then painted in Farrow & Ball’s Strong White…