PRODUCT FEATURE | Utility rooms and hidden kitchens
Caesarstone says its worktops are a must for utility spaces, making every-day cooking and baking easier
Retailer viewpoint
Trevor Scott, managing director at Rugby Fitted Kitchens on the ways manufacturers could better help retailers to design, market and sell utility rooms and hidden kitchens to clients, and on the sorts of products that are most useful.
“Currently there are not many ‘off-the-shelf solutions that solve the complexity and installation issues that need to be dealt with to create these hidden rooms, so it is still mostly reserved for the more creative and higher-end, German suppliers. “So, you need to stock a range of
products, such as wider doors, and the components to set back plinths need to be available. More pocket door solutions would also be useful.
“Single tall doors, solutions for plinth fixing, hinges that open past 100 degrees, panels to line the interior of the walk way, and internal door size furniture, as well as pocket doors, are all very useful, and often required for such projects.”
This is all very well for those with a large house to accommodate such an area, but more often, clients very much want a traditional utility room but just don’t have the space for a whole separate room to be created, and there are likely to be considerations to be made around budget. In this case, there are a couple of options – either ‘pinching’ a section from a long kitchen to create a small utility room, as recommended by Helena Myers,
or creating a
hidden laundry space behind some pocket, or folding doors.
This solution can be more cost-effective and no less practical, laundry appliances could still be stacked, leaving a small amount of storage either side, as long as the designer pays careful enough attention to air flow and management of the smaller space.
On some of the innovations that are coming on to the market to support this category, head of UK operations at Rotpunkt, Matt Phillips notes: “A game- changing innovation for designers in this area is the new generation of access doors that can effectively screen a storage area, hidden kitchen or utility room away from guests so end users can focus on front- of-house tasks knowing that everything else is completely out of sight and out of mind. The beauty of these products is that they open in reverse for the ultimate in discreet entry through a continuous run of tall units. This means the homeowner can maintain a hidden area which is self-contained from the rest of the kitchen living space. I think that designers can be inspired by the latest premium products which can ensure high function and stylish design.”
Hidden
On a similar note, Jonathan Hunt, marketing manager at Hettich UK, adds: “The use of folding doors is way of maximising the open living area while hiding elements of the kitchen we don’t want on show. It is a premium-looking solution but without the cost and space implications of a separate utility room. “In addition, designers might demonstrate how part of the client’s home can be transformed into a
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personalised ‘bootility’ area with custom storage and extra seating so a previously underused zone can work much harder for a busy family.” So, in summary, a modern utility room is generally still used as a laundry room – a place to hide the washing and whatever else homeowners don’t want their guests to see, or potentially a sanctuary away from the hustle and bustle of the main kitchen. But, going back to what Myers says, it is also totally personal, so ensuring you ask the right questions is imperative. A large proportion of customers won’t know what’s available to them so it’s up to you to let them know that they can have a dog bed, or welly stands, or whatever it is you think their lifestyle might benefit from. In addition, Daval’s MD Simon Bodsworth notes that exploring all these options offer retailers great opportunities for an up-sell, “especially if you have a firm understanding of the needs of the client. “This could include showing how appliances can be safely integrated and hidden away from pets behind closed doors for extra protection. Of course, the pets themselves can present a natural opportunity to explore if a grooming station and storage for pet
food and accessories would be a valuable addition to a utility space.” So far, this feature has focused more on utility rooms, largely because most of our contributors were focused on the former, but ‘hidden kitchens’, or areas within the kitchen that hide away elements – most commonly breakfast things such as the toaster, a kettle, coffee machine, etc – are increasingly popular, as are walk-in larders.
Trend
“This is not a trend we see disappearing anytime soon,” comments Poggenpohl UK dealer manager Scott Rotchell, “with many of our designs including pantries and larders – some behind Crittall-style doors, and visible, or others behind pocket or sliding doors, so homeowners don’t need to worry about how tidy the space is when guests suddenly appear.” Hettich’s Hunt adds that it’s practical but also “pleasingly theatrical to shut down all or some of the kitchen zones when their work is done for the day.” “There is no question this adds value,” he adds. “It makes spaces more liveable, impressive and sophis- ticated. Customers can only be wowed.”
• February 2024
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