Spending more time at home lately has created a renewed interest in making sure our homes are as warm, welcoming, comforting and cosy as can be. Our interiors are our sanctuary; a space where we can relax and indulge our passions for pastimes perhaps long forgotten such as baking, crafting, exercising, reading and going back to a simpler age where we enjoy and appreciate the little things in life. So what better time to start planning that dream kitchen than now, when we’ve all had the chance to find out what does and doesn’t work with an existing design. With life slowly returning to a ‘new normal’, it’s an ideal opportunity to create the kitchen you’ve always wanted in time for the autumn and winter months ahead and to stay one step ahead of the latest trends, this year it’s all about going green!
Take inspiration from the great outdoors and think rich moss green, sage, mint, leaf, forest and olive tones on everything from cabinets and tiles to wall colours, appliances, accessories and textiles. Bringing the colours of the outside in helps to create a calm interior that is ideal for spending time with the family, cooking up a feast at the weekend, baking cakes with children on a lazy afternoon and whipping up new recipes for a midweek supper. Painted wooden cabinets are a great starting point and a simple Shaker style is the perfect choice. Add a personal touch with fingertip handles in a brushed brass or bronze or go for an on-trend rose gold bar handle for a splash of bling. As the kitchen above demonstrates, fresh white appliances, worktops, sink and splashback also create a lovely crisp contrast. Rangemaster’s Classic Deluxe 110 dual fuel range cooker with brass trim takes centre stage and offers instant impact when teamed with a matching Rangemaster cooker hood and marble surfaces to enhance the luxe look. As well as a huge choice of cookers and hoods to suit your style and fuel preference, Rangemaster also offers a selection of ceramic and fireclay sinks in the classic Belfast style, as well as inset and undermounted designs in single, double, 1.3 and 1.5 bowl versions with circular sinks handy for islands or utility rooms. The Aquatrend dual lever monobloc tap in brushed brass really brings out the green and white, finishing the look beautifully.
The great thing about this modern take on Shaker-style cabinets with its in-frame panel doors, is that it lends itself perfectly to a hand painted finish. When you fancy a change from green, it’s easy to have the doors re-painted in a different shade. For now though, green in all its guises is a trend that’s set to stay. It just works so well with many different colours, materials, finishes and textures. Take this kitchen for instance. Providing a practical focal point is the Rangemaster Professional Deluxe 110 induction range cooker in white. Combining an energy efficient induction top with two ovens, separate grill and warming drawer, it’s teamed with a Rangemaster grey glass splashback and 100 Hi LITE hood for a modern look that offers all the professional features and functions you’d expect from this quality brand. Another on-trend element to watch out for is herringbone and parquet flooring; a great way of adding interest underfoot. Look for engineered wood rather than solid timber, as this is better suited for kitchens, as well as LVT or luxury vinyl tile. Hardwearing and low-maintenance, it’s just the thing for busy lifestyles.
If you are a recent convert to induction cooking, you might want to check out the Nexus SE 110 from Rangemaster, which combines an induction top with multifunction oven, fanned oven, slow cook oven and grill. Shown here in a sleek slate finish, it’s modern and stylish and perfectly designed for contemporary green kitchens and open-plan living. If you like the idea of healthy cooking, take a look at the latest Nexus Steam range cooker, which features a dedicated injection steam cavity to help retain food’s natural vitamins, minerals and flavour.
The key to making this trend work is about keeping a balance. If you overdo the green, it swiftly becomes twee and overpowering. Stick to a statement shade for the cabinets or an island and tone it down with white, natural wood and metallic accents for the rest of the scheme. You can always add some natural greenery with pots of fresh herbs on open shelving or the window sill as well as hanging pots of ferns, miniature succulents and even preserved plants, which are one step on from faux plants as they are the real thing but the natural sap is replaced by a special solution, so they last for years without the need for watering. Another way to break up the look is with a contrasting sink and tap. Rangemaster’s collection of stainless steel designs is robust and hardwearing as well as easy on the eye. The Rockford design is the perfect partner for the Pro Spray single lever pull-out tap in chrome, turning any sink into the ultimate work station.
For a really modern look, consider a pale mint shade with a handleless door featuring a metallic J-pull and team with darker tones for worktops and sink. Rangemaster’s Elements granite inset sink in Ash Black really pops out against the green and grey backdrop and looks stunning with the Aquaquad dual lever monobloc tap in a luxurious brushed brass finish. Use this metallic trend to pick up on throughout the rest of the scheme with accessories and accents that mirror the look. Whatever shade you decide on, by using it as the starting point of your new kitchen project, you’ll soon build up around it with complementing or contrasting appliances, worksurfaces, sink, tap and all the other elements that will make any guest green with envy.
