Decorations up yet? Ordinarily it would feel way too soon, but a lot of people are making the best of Lockdown 2.0 by bringing out the baubles. This has been such a strange year but fingers crossed the restrictions end on 2nd December and we can celebrate Christmas with our loved ones.
While we all want to live our best Nigella lives, sipping on a glass of fizz while rustling up a storm in the kitchen, sometimes this can feel more like a Christmas miracle with crying over a pan of sprouts a more realistic scenario. So if you’re going to be spending a lot of time in the kitchen this year it’s worth giving some thought to how to get the best use of the space to ensure more culinary triumphs than tragedies.
A full kitchen overhaul might be a squeeze to fit in before Christmas but there are a few low-budget high-impact tweaks you can make.
Painting cupboard doors gives a new lease of life to tired units. Over the last couple of years there has been a real shift towards bolder colours, such as Farrow & Ball’s Hague Blue, which teamed with statement handles really does look very expensive. We talked about paneling a few blogs ago (Panel Discussion) and adding some detail to plain doors is another option.
Photo credit: Laurel Bern Interiors
Photo credit: Hello Lovely Studio
Updating taps to complement door furniture is a great way to add interest. Brass is very on trend right now and looks so elegant when used consistently across a room. Matt black accents work well in lighter kitchens. Swapping sockets and switches to match as well really pulls a room together.
Photo credit: Martha Stewart
Re-tiling splashbacks can dramatically change the look of your kitchen. We have seen a lot of Portuguese tiling this year which brings a pop of colour when paired with darker units, and metro tiles will never go out of fashion, though arranging in a herringbone style offers a contemporary twist. Classic white or neutral colours work well in smaller kitchens but don’t be afraid to really go to town with statement tiling to create a focal point.
Photo credit: Original Style
For a really luxe look you could opt for a copper splashback. If you don’t want to commit to tiles or a metal panel you might want to consider glossing hardworking sections. It may sound odd given the ubiquity of matte finishes but we’ve seen this approach in a few homes and it can look very stylish.
Photo credit: M.Elle Design
Open shelving is another hot kitchen trend. If you have instagram-worthy crockery and glassware you’d like to show off, or an extensive collection of cookbooks, removing eye level cupboards and adding shelving opens out the space.
Photo credit: House of Hargrove
Of course this also requires you to be extremely organised so if you have the space to create a pantry you won’t regret it. We recently converted an under stair alcove and it has transformed how that kitchen is used.
Photo credit: hunker.com
How about a new counter to refresh the look of your kitchen? Wooden and stone worktops work with most styles of kitchen but you could apply a zinc overlay an existing counter to bring that Parisian bistro feel.
When you finally sit down to eat, dimmable spot lights complemented by statement pendants creates the perfect ambience in kitchen/diners. Take a look at our Winter Kitchens pinterest board for some inspo.
And if you’re not hosting this Christmas, sit back, enjoy a Baileys and help with the washing up.