Home Kitchen Minimalis: April 2017

Archive for April 2017

Kitchen Planning: Design Ideas for Open-plan Living

Kitchen Planning: Design Ideas for Open-plan Living- For many people, the dream is to knock down dividing walls so their kitchen becomes part of a carefully considered living/dining space. As the following projects expertly demonstrate, there are no hard and fast rules to achieving a successful open-plan scheme. The trick, however, is to ensure the different areas work together seamlessly.

Roundhouse

Keep clutter out of sight
One of the disadvantages of an open-plan scheme is that your kitchen is on show all the time. The solution is storage, and lots of it.

Tactically display things that add to the look of the space – here, a block of open shelving for colourful cookery books adds a flash of colour to the monochrome scheme – and create closed cupboards for the rest, keeping clutter out of sight.

Remember that with an open-plan design, it’s not just about your kitchen looking clean and tidy, but your living and dining areas, too.

Check out more beautiful kitchens in deliciously dark shades

Cue & Co of London

Go all the way up
The advantage of floor-to-ceiling cabinetry that runs the length of this room is twofold: firstly, it provides a fantastic amount of storage to help you achieve that clutter-free look; secondly, it lends a clean, cohesive look to the narrow space – a subtle change in the depth and height of the units differentiates the kitchen from the living area.

Rendall & Wright

Build a palette that creates ‘flow’
To achieve an open-plan space that flows, start by selecting core materials and colours and then introduce accent hues. Let your palette connect the different zones for visual coherence.

Here, a white and grey colour theme is pepped up by fresh spring greens, seen on the cushions in the sitting area and the mugs and glassware displayed on the open shelves in the kitchen.

Alex Maguire Photography

Plan for dinner parties
In this stunning kitchen, the marble island separates the kitchen from the dining area, allowing dinner parties to take place without guests crowding the chef. Always position your island so that whoever is in the kitchen can work efficiently, but also keep up with the conversation at the dining table.

Northwick Design

Connect your zones
Laying wooden flooring throughout the ground storey of this family home is an excellent way of unifying different zones within a shared space. A large rug helps define the living area, injecting texture, colour and warmth.

Roundhouse

Display your treasures
Take your cue from the living room and make a feature of favourite objects by putting them on display. Shelves are perfect for storing everyday items and keeping them within easy reach, while seldom-used or precious pieces can be stashed away on the top shelf. Plenty of storage is found in the base units, where less aesthetically attractive pieces are hidden away.

Paul Craig Photography

Create a secondary dining space
By extending the island with a table, these homeowners have created a versatile, table-height surface that can be used for everything from informal dining to chatting to the chef, peeling potatoes or doing homework. It also makes kitchen seating multifunctional and saves on buying separate, high kitchen stools.

PAD studio

Consider a platform
There are a number of practical ways to separate a kitchen from the dining area without banishing them to different rooms. By locating the kitchen on a slightly higher level, this space is conducive to cooking and entertaining without one impeding the other. Wooden flooring runs throughout to create a cohesive look.

Architect Your Home

Include the outdoors
Gardens and patios are now an extension of our kitchens and living spaces, and should be treated as such. Use similar flooring both inside and out so that when the doors are open, one space appears to flow into the other. You will need to think about the thickness of your indoor and outdoor tiles – they should be laid flush to avoid tripping hazards.

Johnny Grey Studios.

Use flooring to create zones
If your kitchen and living areas are on one level, a change in flooring will delineate one area of activity from the other. Here, the warm tones in the wood and stone complement each other, but do a good job of defining the different areas, too.

Check out this practical guide to getting your measurements right

bulthaup by Kitchen Architecture

Don’t forget your extractor
Invest in the best extractor fan or cooker hood you can afford. Firstly, if you’re planning to dine or relax in the same space as your kitchen, you don’t want your extractor hood drowning out conversation, so you’ll need a quiet model. Also, cooking smells from the kitchen are more likely to drift into the living areas in an open-plan setting. Excellent extraction is crucial for keeping them at bay.

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Do you have an open-plan kitchen you’re proud of? Share your tips and photos in the Comments below.

http://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/kitchen

Pick a Pastel and Uplift Your Cook Space for Spring

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Pick a Pastel and Uplift Your Cook Space for Spring- I can’t help but love a pastel. Whether it’s a sweet candyfloss pink, an elegant ice blue or a spirited sherbet lemon, pastel shades are cute, colourful and spot-on for adding a springtime buzz to your home. Don’t just keep them for the bedroom or bathroom, either, as these ice-cream colours can bring so much to the kitchen – be it an all-over wash of subtle sage green, a mix-and-match blend of sweet-shop hues or a touch of rose pink for the prettiest pit stop in the house.

Torie Jayne

Accessorise with retro pastels
Peppermint green, baby blue and sugared-almond pink are feel-good colours that will instil a sense of joy and cheer into a plain white kitchen.

This is also a good way to work in pastels swiftly and easily – and it’s perfect if you’re renting, too. Simply choose small appliances, bar stools, storage tins and other kitchen kit in an array of ice-cream shades and let the 1950s retro love flood in.

Sweet William

Fall for rose pink
For me, this is definitely how to channel pink in the kitchen with effortless style and grace – and it would instantly put you in the mood for spring.

Stick to an all-over backdrop of starched white and furnish with a vintage dining table and set of chairs in the prettiest Turkish Delight pink. If you can only find solid wood versions, they’re easy to paint.

Remember, if you want to paint a piece of furniture and have a specific colour in mind, many paint shops now offer a colour matching service so you can get the exact shade you desire. So it’s worth taking time to find the perfect period hue.

Accessorise the lot with a profusion of real and fake flowers in a palette of whispery rose, blush and champagne.

marco joe fazio photography

Bask in baby blue
There’s no getting away from the elegance of ice blue. Some people might find it too chilly, but, in a kitchen, this pale hue offers a certain vintage class. Team with bleached wood boards, white metro tiles and a crisp white worktop for a timeless look that will run and run.

Chris Snook

Sit on it
Classic dining chairs in a festival of pastel shades is precisely the hit this neutral kitchen needs. The mix of pale biscuit and grey glass is sophisticated and timeless, yes, but the mix-and-match sherbet lemon, sky blue and pistachio seats adds a light-hearted rhythm packed with character.

If you have plain wooden chairs, why not paint each one in a different ice-cream colour and let the pastels sweeten up your home?

Figura Kitchens & Interiors

Lighten up
Pastel shades don’t just look pretty – they are also clever decorating tools to enhance your kitchen, giving you colour without sucking up any natural light.

This classic kitchen, with its lofty, vaulted ceiling, is infused with natural light as it is, but by painting the cupboards in a soft sage, the space suddenly becomes serene and sophisticated, rather than clinical and bare as it might have been in more obvious white.

This is a good pastel to plump for if you’re reluctant to go all out on blues and pinks – offset with black and stainless steel and it becomes a credible and liveable neutral.

A1 Lofts and Extensions

Dabble with pink
Pale pink and grey is a classic colour combo that provides a perky, refreshing palette for any part of the house – including the kitchen.

In fact, just a little dash of Neapolitan pink – on the glass splashback and matching fridge – offers a cute highlight against the plain white cupboards and wraparound white walls. Anchor the look with earthy grey bar stools and pick out the pink with some cheery wall art.

Jackson Design & Remodeling

Highlight with sunny yellow
Fresh sunshine yellow is the perfect kitchen pick-me-up. These pretty buttercup walls and yellow and white chequered floor tiles are welcoming and vibrant, while the curved worktop, bar stools and flashes of chrome brim with cute, 1950s diner chic. What a very friendly space.

Finish off with a peppering of retro-style appliances, which are readily available now in modern-day, high-tech versions.

See more reasons to add yellow to your kitchen

Demetriades + Walker

Re-create a retro vibe
As far as retro styling goes, this studio kitchen does the job in every sense. The barely there pistachio is the perfect antidote to the flat, fuss-free units.

Throw in a classic leather chaise, a circular coffee table and a pair of easy armchairs in a mix of straw, toffee and burnt orange and this is a kitchen that oozes midcentury charm, but with masses of 21st century design clout.

Raw Design

Accent with a pastel
You certainly don’t need to be bamboozled into an all-over pastel to appreciate the appeal of these softer shades in kitchen and dining zones. If you’re still a big fan of natural materials and neutral colours, then try hanging huge, oversized metal pendants in a pretty baby blue or sunny lemon over a statement wooden table.

Because just even a tiny hint of these chalky colours won’t fail to pep up your kitchen and bring a smile to your face.

Browse more ways with pendant lights

Boutique Homes

Layer colour and texture
Sheer pastel shades can also be layered with bolder hues – just as you might do with a neutral backdrop – but with masses more character.

These pale blue glossy kitchen units are chic and modern, but recede into the architecture of the room, allowing a blast of primary colour from the quirky light fitting to do its stuff. Likewise, the rough-hewn wooden table offers a pleasing contrast to the high-shine cupboards.

TELL US…
Have you prettified your kitchen with a pastel palette? Please share ideas and photos in the Comments below.

http://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/kitchen

Kitchen of the Week: A Cosy Cottage Kitchen With Crimson Accents

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Kitchen of the Week: A Cosy Cottage Kitchen With Crimson Accents- The owners of this early 19th century house in Kent relocated from London, and as such were extra keen to make the most of the connection with nature. They realised the former dining room, with French windows and views onto the garden, would make the perfect kitchen-diner, so they called on James Mundy, director and lead designer of JM Interiors, to help them create a cosy country space. ‘It was quite a big project,’ says James, since all of the plumbing, electrics and heating had to be altered to accommodate the needs of a kitchen. However, the final design works brilliantly, staying true to the home’s traditional country style, but with a modern, colourful twist.

J M Interiors

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here A professional couple
Location Weald of Kent
Size 35 sq m
Designer James Mundy of JM Interiors

This elegant kitchen manages to merge country-style comfort with chic modern touches. The stately exposed beams and Shaker-style cabinets all invoke the heritage of the property, which was built in the early 1800s, but small details bring the kitchen into the 21st century.

Pendant lights, John Lewis. Spotlights, Regent Electrical.

See 10 ideas for adding an island to your kitchen

J M Interiors

James selected a calming creamy white hue in most of the spacious room, but interspersed it with crimson accents, ‘just to give it a bit of a wow’. The colourful island unit provides the kitchen with a focal point, while additional details in the same shade, such as the KitchenAid, tie the space together.

The current layout of the kitchen reveals hints of its past as the property’s original dining room. ‘The range cooker is where the old fireplace was,’ James says, with the recess in the wall still visible behind the cooker.

Kitchen cabinets painted in Joa’s White, Farrow & Ball. Island unit painted in Incarnadine, Farrow & Ball.

J M Interiors

The treatment of the old fireplace exemplifies James’s aim to ‘keep the kitchen set within the character of the house’, while also giving it a subtle modern twist. The range cooker and exposed beam are traditional, but the glossy red glass splashback makes, James says, ‘a bold and contemporary statement’, as well as linking visually with the island unit.

He explains that the idea of cladding the area with glass was a joint decision with the owners, with him choosing the glass and them deciding on the colour.

Range cooker, Falcon.

J M Interiors

The French doors were already in place, and lead out into the large garden. Keeping a constant connection to the outside was another reason James’s clients wanted to move the kitchen into the former dining room.
‘They have fully embraced the countryside lifestyle,’ says James, and put an emphasis on cooking, entertaining friends and family, and spending as much time as possible in the garden.

J M Interiors

The kitchen floor is laid with porcelain tiles. ‘Porcelain is something we advise quite a lot of clients to use,’ James says. ‘They give the look of a stone floor, but are far more practical for day-to-day living.’

J M Interiors

A row of fresh herbs on the windowsill hints at the couple’s love of cooking, and nicely brings a touch of nature indoors. The blinds, as well as the matching curtains at the French windows, incorporate splashes of crimson, and were sourced by the client.

Enamel cast iron sink, Kohler.

J M Interiors

The round table and matching chairs are the clients’ original set, and actually formed part of the conditions in the brief. They were eager to place their table in the bay window, overlooking the garden, and the rest of the kitchen was built with this idea in mind. ‘It was always going to be a little seating area,’ James says.

J M Interiors

Another main component of the brief was this bespoke larder, which was custom-made by JM Interiors. It was designed in close collaboration with the clients. ‘They wanted decent pull-out storage at the bottom,’ James says, which is why they included four spacious basket drawers. Solid oak door racks provide additional space for spices and condiments. The larder is also equipped with LED lighting, which comes on automatically when the doors are opened.

James explains that these sorts of larders are becoming more popular, with many clients gravitating towards individual, bespoke pieces of furniture as opposed to relying solely on open shelving. The whole cabinet, which also houses the refrigerator and some shelves and cupboards, is designed as the main storage area. ‘That leaves the rest of the kitchen quite open,’ James says.

Explore stylish pantries for the 21st century

J M Interiors

James decided to add two rows of open oak shelving in order to bridge the gap between the window and French doors, and to keep small, everyday items easily accessible.

Although at first glance the kitchen worktops seem to be made out of marble, they’re actually granite. ‘Granite for kitchen surfaces is a far more suitable product,’ James says. ‘Marble tends to be quite soft and scratches easily, whereas granite is so much more tough, durable and hardwearing.’ The circle in the centre is a pop-up EVOline Port containing USB and plug sockets – thoroughly 21st century, but without making an impact on this cosy country scheme.

Granite worktops, Apex Masonry.

Read expert advice on the 10 most popular kitchen worktop materials

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What do you think of this country kitchen? Do you like the red accents? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.

http://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/kitchen

Kitchen of the Week: Soft Hues Create a Calm Mood in a Georgian Kitchen

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Kitchen of the Week: Soft Hues Create a Calm Mood in a Georgian Kitchen- ‘When I first came to look at this kitchen, it was all over the place,’ says James Horsfall of Bath Kitchen Company. ‘You had to keep walking from one side to the other, it was a messy space and it didn’t feel enjoyable to be in.’ James suggested dividing the room into a third and two thirds, with the dining table occupying one third and the kitchen cabinets and appliances taking up the larger portion. ‘I wanted to give the owners a very calm, functional space with the feel of another reception room, rather than a kitchen,’ says James.

Completed in late 2013, the kitchen is now a functional family area with a relaxed feel. Storage fits cleverly around original features and most appliances are hidden. James’s redesign has squeezed value from every nook, so there’s room for plenty of worktop space, a generous island and a dining table. Now the owners can relax, entertain and, of course, cook in here effortlessly.

Bath Kitchen Company

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here A family of four
Location Central Bath, Somerset
Size 6m x 4.5m. The house has 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, with a self-contained flat in the basement
Year built 1793
Designer James Horsfall of Bath Kitchen Company

The previous kitchen had a dining table in the centre and the whole design sprawled across the room. ‘We wanted to clearly separate the space to create an open, modern, lifestyle kitchen, with an adjacent dining area that didn’t interfere with the chef,’ James explains. ‘I had to find creative ways to build the kitchen into the available space so it was sensitive to the original features and didn’t look at all clunky.’

Bath Kitchen Company

James wanted the kitchen cabinets to look like furniture in a reception room, rather than obviously functional or industrial. Soft colours, concealed appliances (there is a dishwasher and two under-counter freezers in the island) and some gentle contrast from the dark fireplace all contribute to this feel. ‘The colour palette is quite classical, chosen to suit this Georgian home,’ says James.

The bespoke units are made from maple and the knobs are brushed chrome.

Units painted in Lamp Room Gray, Farrow & Ball.

Bath Kitchen Company

The focal point of the kitchen is the large island with integrated sink. ‘It works both as somewhere to prep food and as a social hub, with seating space and a handy wine rack close by!’ says James.

The island benefits from lots of natural light from the big windows. ‘It was designed to be multi-tasking, but not so big that it cramps out the room,’ says James. ‘We used curved edges on it, and on the other worktops, so there are no sharp corners to bump into as you move around the room.’

Discover 10 reasons to work an island into your scheme

Bath Kitchen Company

The kitchen space contained lots of lovely original Georgian features, such as the coving and fireplace. ‘We had to respect these beautiful details and work around them,’ says James. ‘I couldn’t design anything to stand in front of the fireplace or windows.’

Appliances are hidden in cabinets to steer the room towards feeling like a living space, rather than just a kitchen. The tall storage in this alcove contains a fridge and larder. ‘One of those massive stainless-steel fridges would have just killed this space,’ says James. ‘I like those big fridges – they can look great in the right space – but this wasn’t the place for one.’

Bath Kitchen Company

To keep the space feeling calm and relaxed, James sourced a soft-toned granite for the worktops and splashback. ‘It has lovely warm colours and patterns in it, like swirls of sand,’ he says.

Beneath the hob there’s a single oven (on the left), a combination oven and microwave, and a warming drawer beneath. ‘It’s a brilliant use of space,’ says James.

Ovens, Bosch.

Get expert advice on choosing the perfect worktop

Bath Kitchen Company

By rationalising the room and designating two-thirds of it as kitchen, a whole third was liberated to become a relaxed dining space. Copper pendant lights, sourced by the owners, add more warm tones to the room, while an upright radiator makes good use of wall space and sits neatly beneath the small window.

Bath Kitchen Company

A double sink is recessed into the island worktop so it looks discreet. The tap delivers drinking water, hot and cold water and boiling water.

Tap, Quooker.

Check out how to choose the perfect tap

Bath Kitchen Company

With wall space taken up by a fireplace and big windows, James had to be clever about where he fitted in storage. In the dining area, he designed a neat cabinet that contains a stereo and items needed for the dining table, such as napkins and candlesticks. ‘It tucks in really nicely behind the door,’ he says.

Bath Kitchen Company

The city of Bath is a World Heritage Site and is full of beautiful townhouses designed with elegant proportions during the Georgian period. Almost all the buildings here were constructed with Bath stone, a locally quarried limestone. Its warm, honey tones give the city its distinctive appearance.

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http://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/kitchen

Kitchen of the Week: An Edwardian Home With a Bright, Modern Extension

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Kitchen of the Week: An Edwardian Home With a Bright, Modern Extension- When it comes to redesigning your home, nosing around Houzz and putting together a mood board are great ways to work out what floats your boat. So it was when the owner of this terraced house in Battersea began thinking about modernising its livable but slightly bodged downstairs. She consulted architect Brian O’Tuama, who kicked off the design process by showing her some of his other projects. ‘They were all quite different, but she picked out the elements she liked,’ says Brian. ‘Generally, she was veering towards being slightly traditional in the reception rooms, but wanted the kitchen extension to be an unashamedly contemporary addition to the house.’

With this in mind, Brian and his team set to work creating a sleek, white kitchen, warmed by wood and bathed in natural light, flowing onto a library/dining room and living space that sport an updated take on traditional style. The result is an harmonious and original space, full of clever touches, from ingenious pocket doors that create intimate rooms to a small but super-charming glass box extension off the back.

Brian O'Tuama Architects

Room at a Glance
Who lives here A professional American woman
Location Battersea, south London
Size Approx 80 sq m; part of a four-bedroom Edwardian terrace
Architect Brian O’Tuama of Brian O’Tuama Architects

Brian moved the kitchen to the opposite side of the room, under the glass roof and in line with the glass box. ‘Before, the kitchen had no visual connection with the outside,’ he says. ‘Now, there’s a lovely flow between inside and out, thanks to folding doors and all the glass. Rejigging the space also made room for a spacious dining area and an island.’

Brian designed the kitchen cabinets and the contractor had them made in Hungary. They are MDF, factory-sprayed in a bespoke off-white shade.

Table, Unto This Last. Beat Fat White pendant lights (over table), Tom Dixon. Calabash pendant lights (in reading annex), Lightyears.

Brian O'Tuama Architects

The house already had an extension at the back containing the kitchen, but it had been poorly built and was unappealing and draughty. Brian designed a new space on its footprint, but added a small glass box addition on one side, which is now a little library.

‘The garden is not that big, but the living space inside the house is generous, so we didn’t feel there was a need to extend out any further,’ he says. ‘Nevertheless, we wanted to do something a little bit more interesting at the back.’

Brian O'Tuama Architects

‘We pushed out by about 1.5m to create the little glass box library with a glass ceiling,’ says Brian. ‘It breaks up the rear elevation and its roof extends across as a canopy for the terrace.’

The canopy lines up perfectly with the oriel window above that Brian installed in the rear bedroom. ‘It doesn’t increase the footprint of that room, but it boosts the feeling of space and has a lovely window seat, too,’ he says.

Brian O'Tuama Architects

The owner wanted a contemporary kitchen-diner, but Brian was careful to ground this with some warm elements. ‘We wanted lots of clean white, but with a little bit of contrast, too,’ he says. The parquet flooring brings in rich colour, while the cedar on the island also reappears on the shelving in the library annex and the canopy and built-in bench outside, to link the interior and the exterior.

‘We used a limited number of materials, for a considered and calm feel,’ says Brian. ‘It looks contemporary but warm, too. It’s not like opening the door of a fridge and being blinded by the whiteness!’

Explore how to make a classic white kitchen scheme work in your home

Brian O'Tuama Architects

Wall units built under the glass roof would have obscured the view up and out and blocked light. Instead, Brian designed a bank of tall units with integrated ovens and a fridge-freezer on the adjacent wall. ‘This allowed a nice clean worktop space beneath the glass roof, with just a simple shelf above for stuff you want to have on display,’ he says.

Island worktop, Caesarstone. Units worktop and integrated sink, Corian. Metropolitan wall tiles, Fired Earth.

Browse 10 ways to use classic metro tiles

Brian O'Tuama Architects

Originally, there was just a single door connecting the dining/library space at the back of the kitchen to the hall. ‘We wanted to open the reception rooms up more,’ says Brian. ‘This started out as an idea for visually connecting the spaces, but the amount of light that now flows through is another benefit.’

There are two pocket doors fitted at either side of the opening, to meet fire safety regulations and allow the space to be closed off if necessary. There is also a recessed door panel to the kitchen, which can be folded over to shut it off. ‘I’m not sure whether the owner has ever used it,’ says Brian, ‘but if you were having a major doughnut frying session and didn’t want the smell to come through, you could shut the kitchen off!’

Brian O'Tuama Architects

‘There were floorboards in the hallway originally,’ says Brian, ‘but as we’d opened up the hall to the reception rooms, we thought it would benefit from having its own identity.’ Brian sourced porcelain tiles in soft colours. ‘We adapted the standard pattern and chose tiles in three muted tones,’ he says. ‘It’s an updated version of a classic Victorian tiled hallway and those muted tones appear on walls around the house.’

Porcelain floor tiles, Olde English.

Brian O'Tuama Architects

A cloakroom has been slotted into a space between the dining/library area and the kitchen. Brian chose a beautiful wallpaper for the smallest room. ‘You might as well go for broke in the downstairs loo!’ he laughs. ‘You won’t be in there for very long, so you won’t get tired of it. It gives the space more impact and makes the experience of using this room a bit more enjoyable!’

Derwent wallpaper, Osborne & Little.

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What do you think of this open-plan space? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.

http://www.houzz.co.uk/photos/kitchen

Kitchen Planning: How to Choose the Perfect Fridge-freezer

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Kitchen Planning: How to Choose the Perfect Fridge-freezer- The latest fridge-freezers are cool customers, designed to look good and keep your food fresher for longer. Choose your new fridge-freezer according to the size of your family and the way you shop and cook, as well as the space you have available (and don’t forget: you’ll need extra space for ventilation if you opt for an integrated unit). Read on for tips from the experts.

Professional advice from:
Joan Fraser of Smeg
Richard Treffler of Miele
Craig Davies of Sub-Zero & Wolf UK

Alex Maguire Photography

Freestanding or integrated?
The choice between a freestanding or integrated fridge-freezer comes down to the look you want in your kitchen. As its name suggests, a freestanding unit (like this one) stands free of the kitchen cabinetry and can be positioned anywhere practical, providing there’s a plug socket nearby.

‘Freestanding fridge-freezers are now available in a host of different colours, allowing you to create a style statement in the kitchen,’ says Richard Treffler of Miele. ‘Plus they are generally easy to fit and can be taken with you if you move house.’

An integrated fridge-freezer, on the other hand, is designed to sit behind a front panel that coordinates with the rest of your units. ‘Integrated fridge-freezers become part of the kitchen design, which is great if you are looking for a clean and seamless finish,’ adds Treffler.

Nicholas Anthony

Top- or bottom-mounted?
There are pros and cons to both options for the position of your freezer. ‘Top-mounted models generally have a bigger fridge capacity with a smaller freezer section above. They are ideal if you like to buy a larger amount of fresh produce but still require some form of freezing space,’ explains Treffler.

Bottom-mounted freezers (as seen here) generally provide easier access to frozen food.‘Look for models that offer a pull-out freezer drawer, ideally with an automatic ice maker, for ease of use and a clear view of the contents of the freezer section,’ suggests Craig Davies of Sub-Zero & Wolf UK.

APD Interiors

What’s the best fridge-freezer ratio?
There is now a wide variety of fridge-to-freezer ratios available, so shop around. ‘You’ll find the standard 60:40 fridge-to-freezer ratio, with other sizes, such as 70:30 and 50:50 also available,’ says Treffler.

Think about your lifestyle and what you would normally store in the freezer versus what capacity you need for your fridge. If you bulk buy and spend a lot of time cooking batches of meals, for example, then you’ll want to invest in a fridge-freezer with a decent amount of freezing capacity.

‘Most people underestimate their fridge space requirements, forgetting that most jars and bottles need refrigerating once opened,’ adds Joan Fraser of Smeg. ‘People also need to consider seasonality factors, such as having lots of fresh fruits in summer, and special time periods, such as Christmas.’

Drury Design

What about side-by-side fridge-freezers?
If a regular fridge-freezer doesn’t offer the storage capacity you need, consider a side-by-side model featuring a full-height freezer (generally located on the left) and a wider, full-height refrigeration cavity on the right.

‘These are very popular with families, especially the wider models at 1067mm and 1219mm wide. They offer large-capacity storage and a good view of the contents of both fridge and freezer, and often include ice and water dispensers,’ explains Davies. ‘The only possible drawback for this type of configuration is if you select a narrow model, say less than 914mm wide, as it can make the compartments a little narrow. If you only have space for a 914mm width or less, I would recommend a model with the fridge above and freezer below for wider, easier and more usable storage.’

Compass and Rose

What’s the best location for a side-by-side fridge-freezer in your kitchen?
If your side-by-side fridge-freezer features an ice and water dispenser, ideally it should be located as close as possible to the water source. ‘This will ensure the water pressure is not affected. Also, you’ll reduce the amount of plumbing required and avoid any potential damage to the pipework,’ advises Davies.

‘A new option is an internal ice and water dispenser, which offers all the convenience of an external dispenser without disturbing the clean lines of the appliance and overall look of your kitchen design,’ he adds.

Read expert advice on choosing the perfect kitchen tap

Roots Kitchens Bedrooms Bathrooms

How can you customise your perfect solution?
If you can’t find your ideal fridge-freezer split, why not choose a stand-alone refrigerator and install it next to a stand-alone freezer? ‘By choosing one left-hand- and one right-hand-hinged model, you create your ideal combination and capacity, depending on how much freezer and fridge space you prefer,’ says Davies.

‘Another option is to place two fridge-freezers side by side, with the fridge above and the freezer below, with one left-hand hinged and one right, to create a double-size fridge-freezer.’

Nicholas Anthony

How do you calculate your space correctly?
It sounds obvious, but always make sure there’s enough room for your chosen fridge-freezer. Measure the height, depth and width of the space more than once and think about door opening and easy access.

All refrigeration appliances need sufficient ventilation to work effectively, especially built-in models. ‘You need to allow for airflow below the plinth line or by adding a vent,’ explains Fraser. ‘If there’s insufficient airflow, the compressor and condenser will have nowhere to expel excess heat. This will shorten the life of the appliance.’

Installation and operating instructions will be specific to each model, so always check the user manual for exact details.

Clermont Carpentry

What’s an energy label?
Energy labels show the energy rating of your chosen fridge-freezer as well as the amount of electricity the unit will consume in kilowatt-hours (kWh). ‘Also displayed is the capacity of the fridge-freezer and the relevant decibel noise rating,’ explains Fraser. ‘This gives you a very easy way to compare any refrigerator you may look at beyond the aesthetic element.’

Fridge-freezers guzzle a lot of energy, so choosing a model with a higher energy rating will save more money on energy bills. Since July 2012, all new fridge-freezers must have a rating of A+, A++ or A+++. If you want the most efficient, choose an A+++ model.

Get more inspiration for mix and match kitchens

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Should you go frost-free?
Auto defrost or frost-free is a great and convenient feature to have. ‘It means that manual defrosting is no longer required, as cool air circulates throughout the fridge cabinet, preventing ice forming on food,’ explains Treffler.

Also look out for models that benefit from dynamic cooling. ‘This provides a consistent temperature throughout the fridge, thanks to a fan that ensures excellent circulation and distribution of cold air,’ adds Treffler.

However, if you are working to a strict budget, a manual defrost fridge-freezer is generally cheaper.

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What other features should you consider?
Adjustable shelving, bottle and egg racks, salad drawers or crispers and temperature-controlled compartments that keep meat, fish and dairy at their optimum storage temperatures are standard fare on modern fridge-freezers.

A holiday mode, which allows you to switch off the fridge compartment without affecting the freezer, is also an increasingly popular function. There are also quick-chill and quick-freeze functions, and even models designed to run independently for 18 hours in case of power cuts.

TELL US…
Which of your fridge-freezer’s features would you recommend? Please share your thoughts in the Comments below.

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