Galley kitchen Ideal for narrow spaces, having two counters running along parallel walls keeps everything close at hand.

Single – line kitchen Most efficient on space, this works best with the sink in the centre, flanked by the fridge and cooker.

U – shaped kitchen Utilizing three walls, this layout provides maximum storage, but leaves little room for dining.

A kitchen is most functional when you have a nice working surface, and where all the appliances are arranged to avoid you making too many movements.

Cutting costs
Save on kitchen design. Many of the DIY superstores offer good planning advice (check out B&Q’s www.diy.com and www.mfi.co.uk). Wickes and MFI offer free design consultations and will even come round and measure up.

Instead of spending cash on new units, replace doors for a fraction of the price. Check out Just Doors and James Mayor Furniture. If your doors are in good condition buy need freshing up, Spectrum Interiors will respray them in your desired shade (the service comes with a 10- year guarantee). Finish the look with cheap- chic handles from Ikea.

White any space, but particularly in multifunctional rooms like kitchens, lighting should be layered and employ a number of different sources and circuits to provide flexibility. Fitting dimmers adds to the versatility.

Correctly positioned low- voltage directional spots will provide good task lighting. Different lamp beam widths offer different effects for different areas; e.g. a narrow beam works well over a dining table, a wide beam might be better for working zones. Glare can easily be avoided as long as fittings are correctly positioned.

Ambient lighting- eg concealed tungsten or low- voltage lighting over units – provides gentle background light.

DO...

...be meticulous about the finish: where tiles meet units, or floors meets walls, all need to be perfect.

... install deep drawers instead of cupboards: easy to access and ultra- sleek fitted with long metal handles.

...warm up a white kitchen with a wooden floor.

...very textures: contrast concrete worktops with glass splash backs, or lacquered doors with slate flooring.

...contrast modern with antique pieces for eclectic chic.

DON’T...

...install push click catches on drawers with load- bearing weight, as the mechanisms won’t last long.

...skimp on the cost of worktops. The best- looking and most hardwearing pale surfaces are terrazzo, marble or white granite: pricey but worth it.

...forget to plan a space for the bin. It should be within your cooking triangle of hob, fridge and sink.

...only choose standard size units. Design storage to fit a space e.g., tall units in a kitchen with high ceilings

Having your kitchen laid out logically makes cooking so much easier. So the fridge should be next to the food prep area, which should be next to your stove.

Choose the colors carefully There are dozens of different whites out there, so make sure you choose the right one for your room

For a north- facing kitchen... use a warm white paint, such as Pavilion by The Little Greene Paint Co.

For a small- space kitchen...avoid brilliant white emulsion and go for something with a soft, chalky texture, like Homebase’s Powder Puff, which is suitable for kitchens.

For a sunny kitchen...try a blue- based rather than a yellow-based paint, such as Limewash by Cole & Son. For a large kitchen...choose a warm hue to make it feel more intimate. Like House White by Farrow & Ball.

To enhance white units...opt for a contrasting shade like aubergine or chocolate. Try Fired Earth’s Tibetan Purple emulsion or Scrumptious emulsion by Focus.

ENERGY EFFICIENT OVEN

CLASSIC WATERSIDE Waterside is a large single bowl with classic curved bow front, which will look stunning in any style of kitchen, country chic or city slick. It comes complete with central waste outlet to accommodate basket strainer or waste disposer and is available in white and biscuit finishes. The Classic Waterside sink is now available to order Online at www.shawsofdarwen.com or from specialist kitchen outlets throughout the UK. Visit the website to view our complete range of sinks, taps and accessories.

4 New Tap Ranges Launch In Latest Mayfair

The four new ranges from Mayfair are named Flow, Liu, Tait Lever and Tait Cross. They cover a mix of styles from cutting edge contemporary lines to modern classics with a twist. Sarah Wharton, Marketing Manager at Mayfair said "The latest catalogue launched at KBB has been a great pleasure to produce. The different styles of new products bring another dimension to our existing ranges and I think customers will agree the photography is superb".

Mayfair has recently launched a series of display packages that are aiding customers with selling Mayfair products. The range consists of a new 'Stand Up-Stand out' display stand, which holds up to eight products from the Mayfair portfolio. Also available are slim designed mono block plinths that hold a Mono Basin mixer. Coming soon, a Counter Top display unit, accommodating up to 5 products that can be displayed where space is limited. For information on all these items please contact the Mayfair sales team.

The Colourful Approach

Having a small kitchen to begin with will ignite a lot of creativity and resourcefulness on your part. You have to choose every item and detail that you place in the room wisely in order to maintain a neat appearance as well as keep work as convenient as possible.

New Zealand designer Alfred Averbeck spun out this idea for a kitchen that has the equivalent of 12 cupboards in a rotating kitchen, with doors that close to cover all of your unwashed dishes.
So if you live in small spaces, why give up so much to the kitchen? And why move to another part of the kitchen when you can move the kitchen to you? Somehow there are watertight rotating connections in the hub so that you can rotate the kitchen even if the dishwasher is running. Perfect for urban lofts; no walls required!

Here is few tips which help you to create the heart of your home, whatever size it is.

Built-in appliances like ovens are very ideal in a small kitchen so you have more floor space. Compact models for microwave ovens and blenders are also good which you can stock away in overhead cabinets when you’re done using them.

Make sure that the refrigerator is big enough to accommodate common perishables but not too large that it overwhelms the kitchen.

Increase countertop space. Try to increase the areas not covered or occupied by appliances with countertops. Try to make them deep enough so that you can work very comfortably and efficiently. Countertops may also serve as temporary holding areas for common items like pots, pans and chopping boards. Just try to find the right place for every item and keep as much as possible hidden in the storage. A small working area needs to stay clean all the time to avoid a cluttered appearance.

In small places is very important to use every centimetre and keep room light.

Even if you have a tiny kitchen, carve out specific areas where you know you will take care of certain tasks (such as mixing, cutting and rolling). If you do something more than once a week, set up a special spot for that area and store all of the things that you use for that process close by. For example, if you are a baker, store all of your baking staples and tools near ample counter space so that you have room to mix and roll your favourite biscuits.

You need as much storage space as you can get in a small kitchen so add as many cabinets as you can. These will serve as containment areas for dishes, utensils and small appliances. Roll-out pantries, sliding shelves, built-in storage and standalone models are also good depending on your space.

Light is very important in a small kitchen as well. Letting in as much light through the windows, doors and a skylight is preferred to provide the illusion of space. But even if you have lots of day light in your kitchen the room always require proper ceiling lighting effect for efficiency. Kitchen cabinet lighting equipment and fixtures are always very welcome too. It will not only make the work easier but also create nice atmosphere while cooking. Under cabinets lights are available in most hardware stores.

When choosing paint, make sure it compliments other present tones in the room .Aim for nice complimentary colors for the ceiling and floors as well. Pick tiles that can help make the room appear wider and avoid ceiling mold which tends to trap and limit space.

Installing a tile back splash on walls over the sink, counters and range will clean up messes since you can easily wipe it off with a moist towel. Add accessorize to make the kitchen look more appealing. Avoid too many however or you risk getting a cramped look. Glass and stainless steel materials with tall shapes are recommended.