19 Sep 23

Dream Kitchen – the Reveal!

And now my dear readers, it’s time for the grand kitchen reveal! Who doesn’t love a big ta-da moment?! After several weeks of enjoying the splendours of our new kitchen, with some sneak peeks over on Instagram, I invite you to dive a little deeper here on the blog. We can delve into the design details, explore my favourite aspects of our dream kitchen, and if I could do it all again, what I would change.

The true litmus test for any room’s success lies in how it makes you feel and let me tell you this room just boosts my mood and slaps a grin on my face every time I step into it. The kitchen reigns as the heart of our home, it’s the most used space and so it’s absolutely paramount to get it right. It’s not just about mere practicality, but also the emotional resonance a space can bring to our daily lives.

The feeling of space, the abundance of natural light, the joyful décor, the sight of all my favourite things displayed, the way the light bounces off the gleaming worktops and the impeccable organisation is nothing short of exhilarating!  The colour palette, while it looked great on paper is just mouth-watering in real life.  We chose three shades from Magnet’s hand-painted range and in real life they are perfection. This harmonious blend of Harvest Yellow and Chalk Blush pink and deep warm Burlington Red performs magically in this space, crafting the convivial, uplifting and joyful atmosphere that I envisioned for this family room. The enchanting Woodland Floral wallpaper dances around the room infusing it with infectious optimism while the striking Paper Straw stripe curtains frame the glorious garden view. Dare I say it, we’ve absolutely aced it!

Ludlow units in Harvest Yellow, Chalk Blush and Burlington Red, Magnet; Dekton Worktop in decor ‘Awake’, Magnet; Quintili biege floor tiles, Fired Earth; Quooker  4 in 1 Fusion Tap, Quooker at Magnet; Douglas Handles in Satin Brass, Magnet; Integrated fridge, Smeg; Integrated freezer, Smeg.

Now, let’s roll up our sleeves and delve into the practical aspects of kitchen design because the kitchen serves as the engine room of your home. When you get it just right, you’ve effectively oiled the gears of your daily routines.

The Pantry Cupboard

One of the standout features of this layout is undoubtedly the stunning pantry cupboard, from Magnet’s Ludlow range. We’ve used a pop of colour-blocking using the lush Harvest Yellow, creating a statement piece that masquerades as a free-standing cupboard. It works like a charm, functions brilliantly, storing all the family’s food in one place: from pantry staples through to frozen and refrigerated foods thanks to the integrated appliances. It made organising everything a delightful experience!

Stainless steel classic Galileo Speedwave XL cooker, Smeg; Douglas Satin Brass Handles, Magnet. Ludlow deep drawers in  Burlington Red, Magnet

When it comes to the layout, zoning different areas with regards to the different activities is a fantastic approach to consider. The pantry cupboard is situated opposite the double oven and hob, integrated within the large island. This means preparing meals, is (almost) a joy, as everything is close to hand, from the fresh food in the fridge to the dry pantry ingredients. Pans and utensils are stored either side of the ovens. I chose twin Galileo cookers from Smeg, primarily because I loved the nod to vintage styling; notice the cute tap style knobs. But it’s the perfect blend of traditional meets modern, with the digital display enabling cooking to the highest precision.

The coffee station

I’m particularly fond of the coffee station that we created where we get to enjoy our favourite morning ritual of brewing coffee. It’s all about convenience as the station is next to the sink, the boiling tap, and the jars of coffee and tea are close to hand on the shelves above. And the mugs are in the drawer below. While I’ve discreetly stowed away all the other small appliances in the pantry cupboard, these Smeg gadgets get pride of place on the work top. Even though they come in a great choice of bright colours, opting for the more subtle cream colour was a positive choice as I didn’t want them stealing the show from the gorgeously delicate Chalk Blush cabinets.

Ludlow cabinets in Chalk Blush, Magnet; Shelves in Burlington Red, Magnet; Coffee Maker in Cream, Smeg; Wallpaper in Woodland Floral by Harlequin x Sophie Robinson, Harlequin

The kitchen sink

The final zone is the sink area which works so well. I opted for a large sink with Quooker boiling tap that offers up regular hot and cold water, boiling water, plus chilled drinking water AND carbonated water. I’d go so far to say this feature is a firm family favourite. Once you’ve had a boiling tap you will never go back I promise you. I particularly like the vintage styling of this boiling tap as it fits in with the overall classic design, and the aged brass finish ties in perfectly with the Douglas handles in satin brass.

Magnet advised me to go with a Shock sink (available from December ’23), as these are especially designed to partner the boiling tap as they can withstand the 100 degree boiling water that the Quooker produces. Another  super hardwearing yet beautiful element is the worktops and boy aren’t they fabulous. I love the luxurious high gloss shine of the Dekton in decor Awake  as it bounces the light, so gloriously. It really adds to the bright and uplifting feel of the overall room. I absolutely love it!

We cited the dishwasher next to the sink and the china drawer, which includes sections for plates, bowls, mugs, glasses and cutlery next to that, and a cutlery drawer at the top, making unpacking the dishwasher a doddle. I am all for making my life easy!

Fusion 4-in-1 Boiling water tap, Quooker at Magnet; Kiruna N-100XL Sink, Schock; Worktop by Dekton in decor ‘Awake’,  Douglas handles in satin brass, Magnet.

The kitchen island

My husband, Tom, only had one design request for this kitchen which was a set of bar stools, and I reluctantly conceded as I’m not a massive fan. But I must say I’m now on board. It’s nice to have Tom at the island with a refreshing drink while we catch up about our day. It’s precisely how he envisioned using the space, and it has become a favourite spot for us both.

The large island also adds to the  flow and maneuverability of the room. My previous kitchen was small and could easily feel cramped. It felt like someone was always standing in front of the drawer you wanted to open. This open plan space has three double doorways, so ensuring you can move around the island with ease or get access to the garden patio doors, even when people were sitting at the dining table, was really important.

Island in Burlington Red, Magnet; Worktop by Dekton in Awake, Magnet; Trio of vases, Graham and Green; Universal induction hob, Smeg; Abbey leather Bar Stools, Oka; Integrated fridge, Smeg; Integrated freezer, Smeg.

The cocktail corner

My favourite little design gem must be the cocktail corner. Talk about adding a touch of  elegance! Now here’s a clever hack; I opted for open plan shelves at the back of the kitchen. Not only did this allow us to show case the gorgeous wallpaper but also helped create an airy open vibe. However, it left me with a dilemma, with no wall units, where to store all our lovely glassware? I had a stroke of genius.

There was an underutilised narrow alcove near the dining table. I decided to use this space to house a fabulous cocktail cabinet. We fitted matching Magnet Ludlow wall units, which are slimmer than standard base units, and topped them with marble worktop cut to fit. It’s made a really stylish focal point in the corner of the room and accentuates the rather quirky round window too, the one I always found rather naff and pointless. Well now I’ve found the perfect sun burst ornament to fit it, I actually love it! Cheers to that!

Sun ornament in window, Jonathan Adler; Crescent table lamp, Pooky; Ribbed hanging pendant by Emma Gurner, House of.com; Curtains in Paper Straw Citrine by Harlequin x Sophie Robinson, Harlequin; Wallpaper in Woodland Floral by Harlequin x Sophie Robinson, Harlequin.

So what would I change if I could do it all again? Absolutely nothing! Let me know what you think of my new kitchen in the comments below.

Five ideas to steal from my kitchen design:

• Wallpaper in a bright, joyful and optimistic pattern creates a convivial atmosphere. You can use a matt decorators varnish over the top to protect it and make it wipeable if you want to.
• High gloss worktops help bounce the light around and make the room feel even brighter and lighter.
• Colour block your cabinetry to create a bespoke pantry cupboard look. This design element elevates the whole kitchen design making it appear even more bespoke.
• Zone the areas of your kitchen to suit different activities, making sure everything is close to hand. Spend time imaging how you will use your kitchen during the planning phase.
• Don’t have anything on display on worktops that isn’t beautiful to look at. Hide as much as you can in the cupboards, then opt for a few open shelves for your beautiful treasures.

This kitchen blog post is part of a wider paid collaboration with Magnet. All words and views expressed are my own.