Another award nomination for our designer kitchens

We were delighted to find out that one of our stylish yet quirky kitchens, designed by Maxine Hutchinson, was shortlisted for an award too. The vibrant, user-friendly kitchen met all the criteria for a Best Kitchen Under 20k nomination; proving designer style can be affordable.

Discover the award-nominated kitchen

Our designer, Maxine, worked closely with her client and made the most of every last penny in the budget. Her client asked for a wow-factor kitchen and that’s certainly what Maxine and her team delivered! Through getting to know her client – her needs, personal tastes and kitchen requirements – Maxine designed a kitchen with plenty of storage, top-of-the-range appliances and unique style.

In this case, the client’s love of purple and shades of violet was reflected with contemporary, stylish focal points. A purple glass splash back was added above one of the workstations to give the kitchen a bold and vibrant one-of-a-kind look. A casual eating area, which enables the client to entertain guests while cooking, was also incorporated.

Create the look for less: Designer kitchen style on a budget

You don’t have to spend a fortune to get an award-winning kitchen. If you’ve got a budget in mind, here are some ideas to help your prioritise your design.

• Pay careful attention to the visible features. A worktop, for example, is one of the most visible features, so it’s worth prioritising your spend on elements like this. Honed granite makes a good option, but we have plenty of quality designer materials that look great but are incredibly affordable. As with our award-nominated kitchen, make the most of a splashback feature too – with colour, or perhaps painted glass.
• Be inspired by more simple, modern designs. With traditional designs come additional extras like beautiful cupboard handles and knobs. A handleless kitchen is a great alternative – it looks good and is cost-efficient too.
• Marmoleum or porcelain tiles are great options for your new kitchen floor. The former comes in many patterns and colours, is comfortable underfoot and easy to maintain, while the latter helps to achieve a seamless, chic and integrated look in the kitchen.
• Think carefully about overall appliance cost. It can be easy to just pick one of the cheapest, stylish-looking appliances on the market, but it’s important to factor in the running cost too. There’s no point picking something cheap that you’ll be paying for in high energy bills for years to come.
• Find a good fitter. We only work with pros here at Kitchen Design Centre. This means that a client with a more modest budget can still get that wow-factor kitchen they’ve been looking for.

What features would be on your designer kitchen wish list? Tell us in the comments below or tweet us @ModernKitchens