Angela Bower, owner of Bower Willis Designs, gives us her take on the five key trends to look for when designing your dream kitchen.
---
1. Colour is king.
After a period of huge popularity for high gloss finishes in black and white, there is now an emerging trend for a burst of colour in otherwise neutral schemes. Customers are choosing to add a flash of bold colour such as fuchsia pink or pillar-box red, to enliven a natural wood scheme. Rather than opting for coloured units, growing numbers of kitchens now feature bold coloured splash-backs in ceramic or glass.
---
2. Cooking to an audience.
In a nod to the fashion for chef’s tables in high-end restaurants, customers are increasingly asking for dining areas to be incorporated into prep units. As well as a food preparation area and sink, or a set of induction hobs, customers want their family and guests to be able to sit with them whilst they cook.
---
3. Multi-tasking measures.
Kitchens are no longer just about cooking. They’ve become the central room of a home and need to be able to handle homework, watching television, working from home and curling up with a good book. Bower Willis designs frequently include a study or chill out area within their kitchen plans to accommodate the growing need for a living space that suits varying demands.
---
4. The right tools for the job.
From taps that provide instant boiling water and smart touch technology to wok burners, wine fridges and steam ovens, there are limitless appliance options to bespoke a kitchen and reflect your cooking preferences. We love the range of steam ovens from V-ZUG that are an absolute dream to cook with, as well as being an effortless way to eat healthily.
---
5. Storage to suit.
Some like everything tucked away out of sight so that nothing detracts from the sleek, sharp look of modern units. For others, open shelving is their preference to show off everything from crockery and glassware, to mixing bowls and measuring jugs.
Whatever your preference, storage is critical to the overall design of a kitchen and it’s essential to think about how you live, to ensure you factor in the design features that will suit your lifestyle. An integrated bin can be made up of four sections to allow for easy separation of your recycling. Pan drawers can be built at differing heights to accommodate tall steamers as well as smaller pans and utensils. With comprehensive input from the customer right at the start of the design process, anything is possible.
*******
For more information about Bower Willis Designs and greater inspiration for dream kitchens, visit www.bowerwillisdesigns.co.uk or call the showroom on 01608 690870.
3 New Street, Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire CV36 4EW
Facebook: /BowerWillisDesigns
Twitter: @BowerWillisUK
