• Kitchens

    Celebrate National Vegetarian Week

    by  • May 20, 2013 • Favourite things, Kitchens, Shopping, Storage, Uncategorized • 0 Comments

    Today is the first day of National Vegetarian week. So why not stock up on lots of seasonal veg and try one of these delicious vegetarian recipes.

    Now you’re going to need somewhere to store all those extra vegetables. So check out these stylish storage solutions.

    Wicker baskets are ideal for storing vegetables. Display them on open shelves and add contrast, texture and a rustic feel to your kitchen.

    This kitchen has been given a truly vintage look, by transforming an old dresser into a set of drawers for storing vegetables.

     

    Or what about this cute little 3 drawer wooden vegetable storage unit?

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    Must read: Glass Doors

    by  • May 9, 2013 • Kitchen design, Kitchen trends, Kitchens, New designs • 0 Comments

    I’m not a very good, or a very keen cook and I particularly don’t like spending hours in the kitchen when the weather is nice outside. So having a run of  folding-sliding doors which I could fling open and let the sun and light in, as I slave over a hot stove, is hugely appealling.

    Which is why I couldn’t wait to read the Beautiful ideas for Glass Doors feature in our June issue – on sale now.

    There are six pages of inspirational ideas, showing you how to let the outside in. We’ve included

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    Realistic wallpapers for your kitchen

    by  • May 6, 2013 • Finishing touches, Kitchens, New designs • 2 Comments

    Do you fancy something a bit different on your kitchen walls? How about a wall of natural bamboo, climbing plants, or glamorous black sequins? All are possible and much more, thanks to the Captured Reality Collection of digitally printed wallpaper murals, from Mr Perswall. The collection features 26 designs that create the illusion of architectural details, industrial finishes and textured surfaces. I particularly like this realistic Brick Wall.

    Mr Perswall – Captured Reality Old Brick Wall E020601-0

    but perhaps this industrial style Painted Concrete Wall is more your thing?

    Mr Perswall – Captured Reality Painted Concrete Wall E020801-6

    or you could add natural warmth with an Old Wooden Wall

    Mr Perswall – Captured Reality Old Wooden Wall E021001-4

    a splash of colour with bright Turquoise Mosaic walls

    Mr Perswall – Captured Reality Turquoise Mosaic E020501-8

     

    or add rustic charm to your kitchen diner with White Flake Off Paint walls.

     

    Mr Perswall – Captured Reality White Flake off Paint E021901-8

    Do you like the look? We’d love to know what you think.

    Sally

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    Kitchen idea: pastel shades

    by  • May 3, 2013 • Kitchen design, Kitchens • 0 Comments

    The bank holiday weekend is nearly upon us, and with all its promise of sunshine and warmth (touch wood), we’re dreaming of lazy days and ice-cream at the beach. I’m generally one to avoid pink so I was surprised how much I liked the use of soft pastels in this country-style kitchen.

    Pastel shades are having a moment right now, and this space shows that powder pink can feel smart and sophisticated when teamed with pale creams and the vanilla richness of that Aga. And I love the softer touch of that striped rug against the traditional flagstones.

    Crisp, modern details like the recessed spotlights, stainless steel fridge freezer and contemporary bar stools keep the overall look fresh so that it has just the right dose of sweetness for me. What about you? Have you got a sweet tooth or is this just too sugary for your taste?

    For more pink kitchens, head over to House to Home and join us on our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter for more great kitchen ideas.

    Enjoy the bank holiday!

    Heather

     

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    Beautiful Kitchens – June 2013 issue – on sale today

    by  • May 2, 2013 • Favourite things, Kitchen makeovers, Kitchen news, Kitchens, Shopping • 1 Comment

    Our fabulous June issue goes on sale today.

    This month we have 50 surface solutions for beautifully  colour co-ordinated floors, walls, worktops and more. We’ll help you find the perfect sandwich toaster, taps, washing machine and comfy cushions and we have expert advice on built-in ovens, sinks and French-door fridge freezers. Do you dare to go neon? Our Shopping guides will

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    Black and white kitchens and accessories

    by  • April 29, 2013 • Appliances, Favourite things, Finishing touches, Kitchens, New designs, Shopping, Small appliances, Uncategorized • 0 Comments

    Today I have some gorgeous black and white kitchens to tempt you. What do you think of this monochrome kitchen-diner? The light-hearted artwork and cat wall art are a nice touch.

     

     

    The curvy chairs and the semi-circle worktop soften the look in this monochrome kitchen and make it feel very inviting.

     

    White crockery and black and white family photos stand out against the black feature wall, in this modern, monochrome kitchen

     

    If you don’t fancy a black and white kitchen scheme, how about some black and white kitchen accessories?

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    New! Helpful heating app

    by  • April 28, 2013 • Apps, Favourite things, Finishing touches, Kitchen makeovers, Kitchens, Shopping • 0 Comments

    It’s hard to think about heating if you’re looking forward to summer but if you’re fitting a new kitchen, considering how you heat it is vital.

    Underfloor heating is a fantastic option but pipes usually need to be fitted as part of a whole floor renovation, while electric mats can be pricey to run. The solution most of us choose is a radiator.

    As I discovered when I revamped my home, the choice is huge, ranging from blocky white basic models to sleek designer ones. And that was before I even got into how much heat they produce, which is displayed in btu (British thermal unit).

    If only Bisque‘s free iPad app had been around to help me!

    Use Bisque’s new app to see products in different colours and finishes

    Not only does it show all its radiators in a variety of colours, there’s also a service to send you colour or finish samples at home.

    It even has a heat loss calculator, so you can work out how many watts you need, plus suggestions for which radiators work best for that room. Just fill in the size of your room, wall type, windows and any variations.

    Getting hot and bothered with btu figures? Try the heat loss calculator

    Why not have a go? Let us know what you think by leaving a comment.

    You can find more kitchen inspiration on on the Beautiful Kitchens homepage, join in the fun on our Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter.

    Rachel

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    Must read: The Working Triangle

    by  • April 25, 2013 • Kitchen design, Kitchens • 0 Comments

    There are many things I don’t like about my kitchen. The lighting is all wrong for a start and I wouldn’t have chosen the wall or floor tiles, but as they were there when we moved in and are fairly new, I can’t bring myself to replace them. But one thing the previous owners did get right, was the layout. The three major working areas, the fridge, hob and sink are arranged in the classic working triangle, which makes cooking much easier.

    So, if you’re planning a new kitchen, I suggest you read the Working Triangle feature in our May issue, first.

     

    There are five pages of beautiful kitchen schemes, all showing you how to make this tried-and-trusted

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    Celebrate National Bread & National Coffee Week

    by  • April 22, 2013 • Appliances, Favourite things, Gadgets, Kitchens, Small appliances, Uncategorized • 0 Comments

    Did you know today is the last day of National Bread Week? No? And to think if we hadn’t pointed it out to you, it would have passed  you by. The purpose of this week is to celebrate the ‘roll’ that bread plays in our daily diet.

    If you love your daily bread, then you ‘knead’ to make room in your kitchen for the Dualit Architect 4 slot toaster. The side panels are available in a variety of colours, including lime green and bright pink and you can change them yourself. So, you can update your toaster and add a splash of colour to your kitchen, whenever you fancy. Of course, it has everything you’ve come to expect and love from Dualit, too, including extra wide slots, a warming facility and defrost function

     

    Dualit 4 slot toaster in citrus yellow

     

    If you’re sorry to hear that National Bread Week is nearly over, don’t despair, tomorrow National Coffee Week begins! To celebrate DéLonghi is adding eight new colours and a new coffee machine to its PrimaDonna range, including Mint Green…

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