KITCHEN DESIGNS & STYLES
Your kitchen’s overall style will have a big impact on your finished home. From elegant Shaker to sleek, handleless schemes, Lindsay Blair highlights your options
This lightfilled Shaker Kitchen from Olive & Barr (
www.oliveandbarr.com) has been painted in Railings and Pink Ground by Farrow & Ball
Many self builders begin their search for the ideal kitchen with a word or two: slick and contemporary, clean and light, classic and comfortable, homely, industrial, natural or statement – all provide a good starting point. When deciding what’s right for you, it’s wise to take cues from a property’s architecture: what period is the house? Is it afforded lots of light? What kitchen style and materials would be in keeping? Are there features that need to be incorporated, such as structural beams, columns, chimney breasts, glazing or archways, for instance.
Some design pairings seem more obvious. For example, a minimal handleless kitchen within a pared -back, glazed extension, or a traditional Shaker style for a period property. The breadth of door options now available, however, mean there’s plenty of room to experiment and create a space that’s truly unique to you. Here’s your guide to the main kitchen options.