We’ve been in this house now since September. It’s been a godsend in terms of the school run, but Craig isn’t happy here. For all of Craig’s qualities (of which there are many), perhaps my favourite, is his love of cooking. We’ve been together for almost 5 years, and I can count the number of times I’ve cooked dinner on one hand. Just as well, as my track record isn’t great; I’ve set fire to a communal kitchen at university, and once infamously hospitalised several friends when I unsuccessfully followed one of Jamie’s 15 minute recipes.
The thing is, Craig is pretty unhappy with the new galley kitchen. We struggle to both fit in there at the same time, and he’s been feeling increasingly isolated whilst cooking. Now, rather than finding it a great way to de-stress after work, we’re eating food with minimal prep time and I know this is because he’s falling out of love with the whole thing.
The only person who fits comfortably in our kitchen, is Heidi
So… rather than move again (I think 6 times in 5 years is a bit much) - we’re extending the kitchen into the dining room. Having lived in a similar house before, we know this is a much better use of space. It’s a really exciting project, but one we need to get right. We need something that works for the entire family, is easy to keep clean and bright and functional to double as a workspace for the kids when they start bringing back homework.
Handily I tumbled on an article by kitchen worktop specialists Mayfair Granite who have compiled some of their kitchen trend predictions for 2016. It seems 2016 is going to be the biggest year for the kitchen since the reemergence of the Shaker style in the late 90s. Just as well as I fancy going bold with our kitchen interior, I’m bored of sterile-looking kitchens and want to flood this room with light and texture.
Here’s some of my top picks from their list:
Large-format tiles
Tiles have always been a popular choice for kitchen floors as they are hard wearing, easy to clean and available in a wide range of colours. I think Craig and I are pretty much set on tiles and I love the idea of less grout lines and a cleaner look through using bigger tiles. This really appeals to us as our kitchen will open straight onto the garden through french doors - keeping the floor clean with two preschoolers is therefore a major challenge.
Colourful Cabinets
Contrasting cabinets are also set to to be big this year. Combining different colours, textures and materials into one room will give the overall design depth and produce an eye-catching and exciting space.
By the same token, open shelving is also predicted to be big this year, and this looks stunning if done correctly. A major departure from the bland soul less kitchens of late, this means you can make a feature of dishes, glassware and cookware by storing in open view. Not only does this maximise space, it also encourages you to cull unattractive bits and live minimally. As in the example below, it’ll also increase the amount of light in the room and therefore give the illusion of more space.
Luxurious Worktops
Granite and Quartz worktops have always been a popular choice for the kitchen due to their durability. With a variety of grades, effects and colours available, they also contrast well against block-coloured cabinets. Fortunately advances in production and cutting techniques now mean that granite and quartz worktops are more affordable and be cut to size for even the trickiest project. Dark greys and blacks are trending right now, perfect for creating a luxurious look, although I’m more inclined to pick a lighter style to better reflect the light.
Colourful Sinks
Much like kitchen cabinets, sinks are trending away from basic white and stainless steel. The bright and vibrant colours now coming onto the market are a great way of adding a splash of colour and creating an eye-catching focal point. Of course, similarly, coordinating this with cabinets and appliances also creates a more cohesive look.
Pendant lighting and LED strips
Lighting is key to balancing ambiance and function. Thankfully harsh strip lights and recessed lighting are on their way out this year and 2016 will see trendsetters opting for pendant lighting and under cabinet lighting instead. In fact, LEDs are the only change we’ve made in our kitchen since moving in and they’ve been great for quick tasks in the evening when you don’t need Blackpool illuminations to see what you’re doing.
I’m also loving the trend for pendant lighting this year - especially in industrial materials such a copper and steel. Popping these over a dining table casts brilliant pools of light for eating and working, and if hung at slightly different levels they make a dynamic feature in their own right.
Bold Appliances
People rarely move beyond standard coloured kitchen appliances, tending to go safe with either white black or stainless steel. I’m all for colour though and just love this bold and brash SMEG fridge. In fact SMEG are soon to get a real run for their money as there’s murmurings about some budget brands bringing out colourful retro ranges too - making this trend available to the masses.
What do you think? Are any of these kitchen trends for 2016 jumping out at you?
