04 Aug Family Friendly Kitchen Design Ideas
We’ve collated some simple design tips to help make your kitchen family friendly, and there’s no compromise on your personal style! It is really about making considered choices on materials, features and appliances. Having a family friendly kitchen doesn’t have to mean having a big kitchen either. There are plenty of ways to ensure a small or galley kitchen is still a really practical but stylish space.
If you’re lucky enough to have a big kitchen area…
Breakfast bar
This not only makes a quick breakfast before school quick and easy, but it really multi-tasks in your kitchen too. It becomes a natural spot for homework, a glass of wine with friends and unpacking the shopping! We love a breakfast bar feature on a kitchen island for when you’re preparing a meal but want to keep an eye on the kids. You can easily work and chat to them whilst they sit up at the island with you. Plus, in this way you can get them involved and enthused about food and cooking
A breakfast bar really makes every kitchen a sociable one! And if you don’t have an island but do have room for a peninsula, this will work just as well.
American style fridge & freezer
A decent size freezer right in the heart of your kitchen is a game changer if you have not yet experienced it! You’ll wonder how you managed before with constantly juggling items around to get your week’s shopping packed away.
It is not a budget option, but we do absolutely love the Sub-Zero range for maintaining your chilled and frozen goods in optimum condition. Their food preservation technology really does keep food fresher for much longer, reducing your food waste. Whilst a Sub-Zero appliance is a substantial investment, they are built and tested for an exceptionally long life. They are designed to last for 20 years or more so your investment is a long term one.
Pantry
If you have the space for a pantry cupboard, you will not regret it. Ample room for every flavour cereal your family gets through, dedicated space for spices and condiments, and storage for small appliances like toasters and microwaves. This is the multi-purpose unit in your kitchen that you really can hide your worktop clutter in.
Utility room
Where possible, house your white goods and boot room in a separate area to your kitchen. Shutting the door on endless washing machine cycles and a mountain of shoes is an everyday luxury and one every family deserves!
For every family kitchen regardless of size…
Surfaces
Choose matt rather than gloss surfaces to save yourself the endless job of rubbing out finger smudges. Anything with a pattern or texture will go a long way in hiding small marks. This is the same for your flooring too. Gloss finishes or a single-colour tile will show up crumbs, pet hair and general dirt, almost as soon as you have cleaned it. Choose matt and a pattern/texture where you can.
Corian or quartz worktops are our go-to for family kitchens:
Quartz
This is a natural material but comes out of the ground in a powder form. It is then mixed with colour and resin to create worktop slabs. Quartz is a great choice if you’re looking for something that looks like natural stone but is really practical. It is less porous than granite, and can cope with hot pots and pans sitting directly on it which is so handy in a busy kitchen.
Corian
Corian is a fantastic product. It is an acrylic resin which is; non porous, hygienic, non toxic, repairable and environmentally friendly. There’s a great range of colours and because it is man made entirely, you get inconspicuous joins if you require more than one slab. This creates a really seamless finish to your worktops.
Safety first appliances
Hobs
We think Induction hobs are the safest option in a family kitchen. If you’re unfamiliar with induction hobs, they don’t create heat by themselves. Heat is caused by way of a magnetic reaction between a copper coil beneath the glass and the base of your pan. Because of this they are cool to the touch, even straight after cooking!
Our favourites are by Neff and Miele. We have a Miele one on display in the showroom if you’d like a demo.
Ovens
Remove the temptation of doors, knobs and buttons from small curious fingers and have your ovens set up at waist height. This has two benefits; it keeps ovens and microwaves safely out of reach, and saves you bending down and stretching with heavy and hot pans. Check out this modern family home in Surrey to see this set up in a real home.
Hopefully we’ve given you a few ideas to inspire your new family-friendly kitchen. Don’t forget we have lots of products and materials on display in the showroom so pop in to take a closer look at anything or to ask us questions. You can also check out our latest Projects for some real home inspiration! Book your free design consultation in-home or in our showroom at info@kitchensbespoke.co.uk or call 01342 01342 313133.
No Comments