Stylish kitchens from John Lewis of Hungerford

Top tips for planning and styling a kitchen from Charlotte Hill at John Lewis of Hungerford

Stylish kitchens from John Lewis of Hungerford

Creating your dream kitchen can be very exciting yet requires careful consideration. As the hub of the modern home, kitchens should be suited to the needs of the whole family, fully functional yet stylish. Used for a whole host of activities from cooking to homework, entertaining and eating, there are more demands on this space than any other within the home.

The most frequent question the designers at John Lewis of Hungerford are asked is what the best steps are to creating the perfect kitchen. While most homes have a lot of similar requirements from their kitchen, each family is unique therefore thorough planning is essential.

What do you love?

Stylish kitchens from John Lewis of Hungerford

Consider all that you love about your current kitchen and what would make it better for you. While the basic layout of your kitchen will dictate which style works think about the layout you like most – U shaped, open planned, L shaped or galley.

Don’t get caught up in rules for planning a kitchen. The positioning of the key elements should not be made into a hard and fast rule. The important and most efficient aspect is to make sure you have a good preparation space between the hob and the sink while maximising storage space.

Think of a kitchen purchase in the same way as you would buying a car. Look for superior quality products. Good cabinets made to fit your kitchen may mean ordering bespoke units from a specialist company, but rest assured it will be well worth it in the long run as your kitchen will be exactly to your requirements. A good kitchen will last you a lifetime and should work for you by making everything as effortless as possible.

Stylish kitchens from John Lewis of Hungerford

Let’s talk design

Speak to a good designer to talk through your ideas, budgets and inspiration; their input will enable you to think differently about the options open to you. They will also offer some useful tips when it comes to considering simple yet often overlooked functions such as having ample space for dishwashers and fridges to open.

Don’t forget to ask about the in-house installation service and what is involved as this will be the last and most important part of your purchase. A fabulous kitchen poorly installed would be incredibly disappointing, so the relationship the designer has with the installer is important.

Style stems from individual taste and this will be reflected in the colour choices and textures as well as the type of furniture you choose. Clever use of colour can pull a scheme together or help create zones if that is what you need. Mix and match colours for a fresh look or simply inject some colour with a glass splas back in a neutral scheme. If you intend to sell on in the next few years, select a more classic attractive style.

John Lewis of Hungerford, Regent Street, john-lewis.co.uk, 0700 278 4726