• Posts Tagged ‘kitchen makeover’

    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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    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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    Meet the aquarium TV

    by  • April 21, 2013 • Favourite things, Kitchen projects • 0 Comments

    With the rise of open-plan living comes the need to conceal – kitchen appliances behind tambour doors, knife blocks tucked into drawers… but what to do with the TV?

    Most hang as featureless black slabs on walls when they’re not on and seeing as increasing numbers of kitchen-diners have one, the question about where to put it becomes more pertinent.

    I particularly like this solution, which uses Parapan in Cream White – a sleek hi-gloss acrylic material often seen in kitchens as worktops, doors and splashbacks.

    TV meets fishtank… from £6,806

    Designed by David Free of Picture House Cabinets, it houses a 52in screen, which lifts up when required, sliding back down when not in use, It’s also available in bespoke sizes and 22 different colours if you’d like it to match your kitchen cabinetry.

    Would you have it in your home? Leave us a comment below.

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

    Rachel

     

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    Undercounter retro fridge

    by  • April 3, 2013 • Appliances, Eco, Favourite things, Finishing touches, Shopping • 1 Comment

    Retro-look appliances have been making a resurgence lately – KitchenAid, Gorenje and Smeg all have gorgeous new offerings and deVOL has an entire range of cabinetry – but if you have a dinky kitchen, you might not have room for one of the tall fridges.

    Enter Husky and its fab undercounter fridge:

    Retro fridge in Black, £449

    At just 84cm high and a width and depth of 55cm, it’s sure to fit snugly into even the smallest scheme for a 1950s look with plenty of modern technology concealed within.

    This mini retro fridge can go anywhere!

    Inside, it boasts a generous 108-litre capacity, A+ energy rating and a wine rack. Soon to be available in other colours, find it at John Lewis.

    Love this? Find more appliance guides on on the Beautiful Kitchens homepage. You can also join in the fun on our Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter.

    Rachel

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    Best new online shops

    by  • March 17, 2013 • Accessories, Favourite things, Finishing touches, Kitchen makeovers, Shopping • 0 Comments

    Kitchen in need of a revamp? I’m a firm believer in a little retail therapy in the form of accessories.

    This week, clearly just in the name of research, I have been scouring the internet for the best new online shops that offer quirky kitchenalia.

    Fans of real stars and stripes Americana, get ready to bookmark Lexington – a treasure trove of flag-tastic tableware. I love these Country Placemats, which declare that ‘Happines is Home Made’.

    Country Placemats from Lexington, £20 each

    Also check out their Mini Cups – United States of Adorable!

    If you have more modern tastes, take a browse around Forever Contemporary, a sleek boutique with lots of interesting products from independent designers. Not that I open many bottles but I do have a soft spot for this cute character – the Undergrowth Bottle Opener. It’d look just right standing on my open shelving.

    Undergrowth Bottle Opener by Vitamin, £16

    There’s also brightly patterned mugs, crockery and lighting galore to spice up your scheme.

    Lastly, The Wise House is also all about originality – and one of my favourite features is that whatever you buy arrives wrapped in brown paper and tied up with string.

    Why not try these funky coloured storage tins?

    French Kitchen Storage Tins, three for £37.50

    Love this? Find more kitchen inspiration on the Beautiful Kitchens homepage. You can also join in the fun on our Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter.

    Rachel

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    Add colour to your kitchen

    by  • March 11, 2013 • Accessories, Favourite things, Finishing touches, Kitchens • 0 Comments

    We all need cheering up after the last few months of gloomy, cold weather and I think colour in the kitchen is the way to go.

    Eco Happy is a new range of colourful wallpapers. Hopefully, the name alone has made you smile, if not the range of bold, colourful, floral and graphic patterns, in vibrant shades, will do the trick.

    Eco Happy Wallpaper, 3866

     

    Now, I’m not suggesting you’d want it on every wall. But it would make an impressive feature wall. Here’s a close up of another of their vibrant designs:

     

    Eco Happy Wallpaper, 3850

    Wabi Sabi, from Scion is an equally striking and eclectic collection of prints, weaves and wallcoverings, guaranteed to brighten up the darkest kitchen.

     

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    New! Coloured appliances

    by  • March 6, 2013 • Appliances, Shopping • 0 Comments

    Do you love colour?

    While I aspire to be a colour addict, the sad facts are that the vast majority of my wardrobe is black or grey and my last three cars have all been black. I can’t quite imagine driving a coloured car now.

    However, when it comes to appliances, I’m drawn to colours like a magpie. My latest crush is on the stunning PrimaDonna S coffee machine, which is now available in eight colours, from sublime Mint Green or Vanilla Yellow to a more attention-grabbing red:

    DeLonghi PrimaDonna S in Red Fruits

    Compact, elegant and able to make a delicious cup of coffee, you can find the new DeLonghi machines at John Lewis or Harrods for a colourful £1,195.

    Sadly not in a colour, you should also look out for the even slimmer PrimaDonna XS

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    Virtually paint your kitchen

    by  • March 3, 2013 • Kitchen design, Kitchen furniture, Kitchen makeovers, Kitchen trends • 1 Comment

    Have you ever started to decorate a room and halfway through started to question if you’ve picked the right colour?

    Tester pots are fab but not always the best guide. And if you’re redoing your kitchen, you’ve got quite enough to think about beyond the walls.

    My new favourite online tool is DecorateNow‘s Colour your Room.

    Bland galley kitchen? Let’s get colouring!

    Not sure what your kitchen would look like with some deep red walls?

    Add a splash of sleek scarlet

    Or maybe you’d prefer a hit of sunny yellow?

    Now here’s a bright idea…

    It’s a great way to experiment with colour without all heartache of suddenly realising electric blue isn’t for you…

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

    Rachel

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    Plan your kitchen without leaving the house

    by  • February 17, 2013 • Apps, Kitchens • 0 Comments

    If, like me, you’ve little in the way of spare time (and a tendency to see sitting on the sofa watching boxsets as crucial R&R) but have a kitchen project that needs some attention, there are lots of ways to get it moving without straining any major muscles.

    There’s more planning advice online than ever before, so, here’s a taster to get your design off to a flying start.

    Get inspired

    Beautiful Kitchens magazine makes a great place to start your journey but if you’re not leaving the house, how do you get a copy?

    Our latest March issue

    Simple - Beautiful Kitchens is now available on your iPad – or you can also download a host of issues from Zinio. It’s packed with the latest stunning kitchens and there’s lots of clever ideas to inspire you.

    There’s also plenty of kitchen tours and appliance buyer’s guides on our Housetohome homepage – and a chance to make your own design moodboards…

    BK’s citrus kitchen moodboard

    Start to plan

    Thinking about an extension or an exciting lighting scheme? We also have lots of useful guides for you on Housetohome.

    Then, once you’re ready to move on to drawing up a plan, find a good online planning application. Ikea has a 3D planner as does Alno, Wren, B&Q and Magnet.

    Try Alno’s kitchen planner

    While some of these applications may need a bit of practice, its a great way to really start thinking about the space you have and provide a starting point before you see a designer. Voila – one kitchen mapped out, all without stepping out the door.

    Love this? Keep up to date with the latest kitchen news on our Facebook page, or follow us on Twitter.

    Rachel

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