Putting Together the Heart of Your Home

A kitchen is a room that serves many purposes. So why not give it the five star treatment it deserves?

It’s often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. We use it to cook, to dine and to socialise. We decided to put our kitchen right at the heart of the house – it replaced the old living room to become the central room – the first that guests enter and the first room when coming downstairs in the morning.

The kitchen is probably the most well used room in your property, which is why you want it to be absolutely perfect. So what should you look for when furnishing your kitchen? Well, you want to invest in products that not only look great, but stand up to the demands of a busy kitchen. To help you get started, here are some suggestions.

Kitchen Units

Salcombe units from Herringbone Kitchens

Your kitchen units will set the tone for your entire scheme. You can keep it traditional with wood, lighten the mood with white or go for a contemporary look with colourful, glossy units. As well as a great finish though, you want to look for quality. Kitchen cupboards will be subject to spillages, knocks, exposure to heat and water – the list goes on! So it’s really important that you choose your units carefully.

If you are going to build the kitchen yourself, you can buy units direct from companies such as Ikea, Howdens and B&Q. However, if you want a really good finish then a reputable local company with some great customer testimonials is the way to go – after all, this is one room you don’t want to cut corners on, and a professional fitter will ensure the best finish possible.

Finding the Perfect Worktop

After you’ve bought your units, what’s the next thing to think about? Worktops, of course! There are plenty of options out there, but there’s only one way to go if you want something that looks great and will last.

Stone worktops may be a little pricier than their laminate counterparts, but they’ll see you through years of use – saving you money in the long run. Granite worktops are a popular choice, as they are extremely durable and made from entirely natural materials.

Another great option are quartz worktops. Extraordinarily strong, watertight and available in a wide array of colours, they’re perfect for even the busiest of kitchens. Whatever you chose, make sure you get your worktops installed by a professional, as they’re heavy and need to be treated with care.

One consideration – worktops can be easily changed. Laminate is about 1/10th of the price of stone, so if you are on a tight budget, install laminate first and then upgrade the worktop when you can afford it. We went for a speckled laminate that looks, at a distance in poor light, that it could be stone.

The Finishing Touches

Once your units and worktops have been fitted, you can start thinking about those all-important finishing touches. Furniture is so important in a kitchen, as it turns the room into a space that’s suitable for all the family to spend time together in.

Again, strength and durability is key, and some Rustic Oak pieces add warmth and a country-kitchen feel to the room, which is especially important if you have stone worktops and glossy units. A table and chairs is the obvious place to start, but there are other options such as benches if you want something a little different.

If you’re blessed with a lot of room, why not invest in a dresser, island or bookcase too? They’ll add plenty of character to the room, and give you some extra storage space. Do not make the mistake of adding an island in a small kitchen – it will forever be in the way and make the room appear much smaller.

So there you have it – your guide to putting together the perfect kitchen! It’s worth investing in the best products that you can. After all, they are going to see a lot of use over the years. So whether you’re just sprucing up the room or starting from scratch, you know what you need to put on your shopping list! After you’ve kitted out your kitchen? It’s time to create the kitchen of your dreams!