With Christmas Day now done for this year, you’re probably already planning the next annual family gathering for 2018, and how you’re going to use your kitchen. Or, you might be thinking about redesigning your kitchen to become more of a social space – a common vision for many of our customers here at Kitchen Design Centre. Whatever the case, you’re sure to find this week’s blog equally useful, as we delve into the best ways to make your kitchen a true social space.
Humans are daylight creatures; put simply, natural light makes us happy. It also helps us to feel more energised, so it’s no wonder it’s such a common requirement for customers who plan to have spend a lot of quality social time in their kitchen. Lots of natural light not only makes us happy, but it also gives the illusion of more space (we’ll come to that in a moment). If you have the option, designing larger windows into your kitchen will create a noticeable vitality and energy in your finished kitchen. Our recent case study featuring a contemporary family kitchen is a brilliant example of this principle in action!
Central islands and tables (such as the one featured in another of our recent case studies) fulfil many roles for your kitchen. As well as being fantastically useful when cooking, storing and preparing food, they also provide a brilliant ‘anchor’ for your kitchen. In other words, a place for you and your family or friends to gather round, chat and spend quality time as you eat or drink. And that’s just everyday living – they really come into their own in a party scenario! They’re great for showcasing nibbles or hors d’oeuvres, and people can introduce each other or chat as they collect and enjoy their food.
All of the kitchens we design here at Kitchen Design Centre are open plan, blurring the boundaries between cooking and living. Giving people the space to move around goes a long way towards making them feel comfortable, and the seamless transition from cooking to dining helps people to think of your kitchen as a true social space. This traditional shaker style kitchen with a modern twist is an excellent example; its spacious feel makes it a fantastic place to settle into and spend quality time, whether with family or visitors.
Designing your kitchen to showcase one or several unique focal points is a brilliant idea – not only does it help you express your style and personality, but in social situations it can even provide an icebreaker for your guests! In this case study, aptly named a Quirky Social Space Unlike Any Other, a colourful chair provides a fascinating focal point – at the customer’s request, it served as the bedrock for the rest of the design!
At Kitchen Design Centre, our mission is to help you make your dream kitchen a reality. If you want your kitchen to be a true social space, you can count on our talented designers to come up with creative, beautiful solutions, sure to be the envy of everyone who attends your next Christmas party! Feel free to pop into any one of our designer kitchen showrooms in Manchester, Barrowford or Blackburn, where one of our designers will be only too happy to sit down with you to discuss your ideal kitchen.
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