Essential Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Magazine February 2013 Back Issue

It’s always such a treat to get out on one of the many photoshoots we do every issue to bring you the latest and very best of interior and product design. But it is especially lovely to meet the owners of our real kitchen case studies. This month, I spent the day with Chris Collins and her delightful four-year-old, Lauren. Their new kitchen, Seeing The Light (p10) has perfectly married the needs of a busy couple with that of the younger members of the family. Echoing the architecture of the stunning Victorian home, their kitchen just worked so well. Not only is it wonderful to see these kitchens first hand, but discovering how they work in reality is also valuable. When we embark on creating a new room many of us can be clouded by how it will look, yet it is equally important to consider all the practical elements, so as well as stunning looks, the finished result is a truly enjoyable space to live in. At the other end of the design spectrum is Opposites Attract (p 30). Nicky and Tony Maude wanted a complete change, having lived most of their lives with the constraints that a period house places upon design. The striking end result of building from scratch shows how a new way of thinking can achieve easy modern living. We’ve tried to pack so much into this issue, with a little help from three of the country’s top interior designers offering advice on how to add personality to a new kitchen (Designer Elements, p 65) to our choice of the top 10 ultimate cook’s appliances (p 72) – I certainly have a new wish list of items for my kitchen! Then Hi-Tech Bathrooms (p 92) is a round-up of every new advance in bathroom technology, which will send you giddy with choice and amazed at what can now be achieved in a domestic setting. Enjoy the issue.