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of the kitchen, such as striking, sparkling worktops, shelving and kitchen islands, to bring the space to life and make it feel bigger in the process.


WHAT ASPECTS OF KITCHEN DESIGN DO PEOPLE TEND TO OVERLOOK? One thing that self-builders may not consider when designing their dream kitchen is the layout of the utilities, such as water supply, waste and electricity. hen fit a kitchen as part of a


renovation, it requires the previous design to be completely removed, leaving the bare shell of a room and a seemingly blank canvas to work from. However, historical features such as water pipe placements and electrical wiring can be costly to relocate. t’s important to consider this when designing your kitchen space from the outset, to reduce the need for supplementary works. For example, if you are introducing an island and would like a sink, hob or extractor unit in it, you will need electricity, water and waste plumbed supplied to the location before finishing floors and walls.


aving sufficient access to electrical feeds such as wall sockets and charging points is a must when planning any kitchen, but they should be discreetly positioned to avoid looking untidy.


neutral tones like whites, creams and soft greys opening the room up more. Such classic hues remain popular across ren’s ranges and offer timeless appeal. owever we’re seeing a strong trend


toward bolder, more dynamic colours like blues and greens. As we approach the end of 2024 and head into a new year, homeowners are increasingly seeking the ‘wow factor’ in their kitchen choosing rich striking shades and accents that make a real statement. Fuller, more vibrant colour schemes paired with contrasting worktops are set to become more commonplace across British homes as people embrace kitchens that are


14 www.sbhonline.co.uk


as unique and expressive as they are functional.


HOW CAN YOU MAKE THE MOST OF THE LIGHTING IN A KITCHEN?


The lighting in your kitchen has a huge bearing on the overall look and feel of the space and it’s important to utilise the natural light available.


Whether you have access to grand open window frames, sky lights of more subtle sources, the natural light in your kitchen can really complement the artificial light fitures you choose to give the room ambience and that homely feel. Not only that, but the right lighting can really help highlight the key features


HOW CAN YOU SIMPLIFY THE PROCESS OF DESIGNING YOUR KITCHEN? The whole process of designing a kitchen can be quite daunting and time consuming especially for first time self-builders. To make the process easier, customers can kick start their journey online 3D kitchen planning tools, which can provide a fully immersive service, allowing you to personalise your design to match exactly what you want within your kitchen. hether it’s a more striking contemporary look you’re going for or a more traditional, homely kitchen space, these tools can allow you to experiment by mixing and matching styles, colour schemes and worktop materials before working closely with trained experts to bring the vision to life. ren’s planning tool for eample has become extremely popular among customers at the start of their planning ourney and it’s anticipated this will continue to be used extensively in 2025.


Debra Hutt is a kitchen expert at Wren Kitchens


nov/dec 2024


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