For many of us, browsing through interiors magazines, kitchen brochures and online resources such as Pinterest and Houzz is a great way of finding inspiration for everything kitchen related. When you’re on the lookout for appliances, sinks, taps and hoods, there’s no better place than this product-packed Rangemaster website! But while it’s fascinating to see how large open-plan kitchen spaces are designed and decorated, most of us are faced with the challenge of squeezing all the everyday essentials into a less than spacious area. But don’t fret, as there are so many ways of making the most of a compact kitchen – from clever design tricks to products specially created for small spaces – and don’t forget, a compact kitchen will take less time to clean, too! In many cases, less is definitely more.
Take this kitchen as a classic example. Light and fresh, it has a U-shaped layout to make the most of every inch, and shows how the working triangle can be the optimal configuration for sink, cooker and fridge, which is concealed behind cabinet doors on the right. The Rangemaster Professional Deluxe 90 takes centre stage as the focal point and with a matching stainless steel extractor hood, it combines a professional look with high-performance cooking. Modern and contemporary, this space ticks lots of boxes. A predominantly white scheme is great for smaller areas while the high gloss slab cabinet doors help to ‘bounce’ light around the room, making it feel larger. Open shelving rather than wall units prevents it from feeling cramped and closed in while the darker worktops and flooring create contrast and depth. Using accessories to add pops of bright colour also helps to bring personality and pizzazz into the kitchen.
This next design is just about big enough to include an island unit in the centre. Multifunctional and perfect for casual dining as well as food prep and storage, islands are super-handy if you have the space. The rule of thumb is that you need at least 1m all around an island for it to work comfortably. Rangemaster’s Nexus SE 110 dual fuel cooker looks stunning in a black finish and provides a stylish contrast against the cashmere coloured cabinetry. Again, white brick tiles and white walls inject a feeling of light and space while solid surface worktops are hardwearing and bang on trend. To bring warmth into the space, pale timber flooring and wooden furniture prevent the kitchen from feeling cool and stark.
For a more traditional look, this kitchen combines classic in-frame painted timber cabinetry with the Rangemaster Elan Deluxe 90 range cooker in cream. Also available in black, cranberry, olive green and royal pearl, it boasts spiral handles, beautifully crafted control knobs and curvaceous doors. Savvy storage is an essential in any scheme but for compact designs it’s even more important. Consider pull-out magic corners and Le Mans systems that enable you to pack plenty in to corner base units while making everything easier to reach. Natural stone flooring and timber worksurfaces add to the rustic look while a chimney breast kitted out with a sleek integrated extractor removes cooking odours and steam, keeping the room fresh and clean.
One of the biggest trends in kitchen design is for pocket doors and these are ideal for the compact space. Floor-to-ceiling doors either slide back and fold in or open up concertina-style to reveal the contents within. Use to conceal appliances such as wine cooler and microwave or turn it into a handy bar area, breakfast cupboard or storage zone. Cucina Colore pocket doors from Mereway feature slide away technology and can hide away a range of wine racks, open shelves, drawer packs and utility larder units. Available in matt woodgrain, gloss acrylic, super matt and designer collections, kitchens start from £10,000 at www.mereway.co.uk
Providing contrast against the white high gloss slab doors, this Ca’Pietra flooring shows how large format tiles work particularly well in a smaller space. Lucca Limestone Velvet has a tactile finish and a hint of warmth accentuated by a combination of sandblasted and satino finishes. Prices start from £78 per sq m at www.capietra.com
We love these Long Island Marble Honed Metro wall tiles from Ca’Pietra, which give this kitchen a luxury finish that works wonderfully with the cool grey of the painted timber units and elegant white solid surface worktop. Brick tiles are ideal for modern and classic schemes as well as the on-trend industrial look. These tiles cost £66 per sq m at www.capietra.com
A really tight space, this kitchen designed by Harvey Jones oozes charm and character. Open shelving sits snugly beneath the sloping roof and provides plenty of storage for ceramics, crockery and glassware. The Arbor cabinetry collection is modern yet traditional at the same time while decorative wall tiles make an instant impact and bring colour and pattern into the room. A rooflight floods the space with light while built-in appliances keep the look sleek and streamlined. Kitchens start from £18,000 at www.harveyjones.com
(insert pics 7a & 7b here)
Clever storage is key so consider tall larder cupboards with pull-out tandem units to pack plenty in. In this stunning Parma Grey Farrow & Ball painted kitchen design, the oak worktops are priced from £110 for a 2m length at www.worktop-express.co.uk
(insert pic 8 here)
