Essential features for a fantastically functional kitchen
The kitchen is often the most used room within a home, and is frequently referred to as the ‘hub’ or ‘heart’ of the home. For this reason, it makes sense for your kitchen to be filled with purposeful details that enhance its space, style and useability.
When it comes to designing a kitchen that’s the perfect balance of functional and fashionable, there are some must-have features to include. Here are some of our top favourites:
Innovative storage solutions
There’s no such things as too much storage! And the kitchen is one of those rooms that requires a great deal of space-saving and innovative storage solutions, so that every nook and cranny is being put to good use. Here are some smart storage ideas:
Narrow pull-out drawers for utensils, spice jars, and containers. This eliminates the need to reach to the very back of the shelf for that jar of paprika!
Lazy Susan-inspired corner storage, with shelves that spin so that everything is within reach. Traditional corner cupboards tend to be awkward to reach into, and so the rotating shelves make finding your pots and pans effortless!
Benchtop appliance garages, or appliance hideaways, are the latest kitchen must have. They enable you do hide appliances behind closed cabinet-style doors to reduce clutter.
Built-in bin drawer with room for a recyclable, soft plastics, compost and general waste bin.
A next-level butler’s pantry
These days, butler’s pantries are becoming the new normal. So, in order to take your kitchen to new heights, you’ll need to add extra functional flourishes. Within your spacious butler’s pantry, consider installing:
An integrated dishwasher
Lots of bench space
Intelligently placed power points for appliances
A double sink
An abundance of open shelving
Deep drawers
Smart lighting
Cocktail and/or coffee bar
This is where you put the ‘fun’ in ‘functional’! It’s true that many people enjoy a coffee (or three) in the morning, and look forward to a cocktail on a Friday night to get into weekend mode. Integrating a coffee and/or cocktail bar into your kitchen is a great way to elevate the space, and turn everyday routines into moments to relish. Think integrated coffee machines, mirrored shelving (just like you see at those fancy cocktail bars), and sleek cabinets to store glassware, cups or mugs.
Lighting
Every kitchen needs great lighting. As well as enhancing the natural light in this space through considering the layout and positioning of your kitchen, also think about installing some great lighting solutions, such as:
Pendant lighting over the island bench to create a beautiful and central feature.
Accent lighting, such as LED strip lighting above the splashbacks and below the overhead and under bench cabinets to add drama.
Task lighting, such as downlights or strip lighting over shelves or within cabinets to cancel out any shadows cast by ambient lighting.
For more design ideas when it comes to building your dream home at Panorama Portarlington, check out our large range of blogs.
