14th September 2010: Well Sorted

Storage solutions will make your kitchen look bigger…
and cleaner

On top of the wish list for any kitchen (next to click designer appliances) is storage. A good layout should allow for both hidden and display storage, leaving plenty of shelves for jars, vases, plates and lots of cupboards for pans.

Also, some people are now opting to place their good white dinner sets on open shelves for easy access when whipping up a meal. It's a functional trend which looks here to stay as meals become more casual in focus.

When designing a new kitchen, do away with fussy design, and keep the look clean. Group jars, plates and bowls together and only keep the smart sets out (the daggy numbers can be hidden away).

If you're buying new sets, go for white; it looks good in any setting. And if you want to, as some cooks are doing, bring out all of your good copper or designer saucepans to display on a rack. (Just make sure they're all polished and clean.)

Other issues to consider when laying out a kitchen are worktops. Will a four-hob hotplate do, or do you want the big electric/gas beauty? Also consider whether you want double sinks, extra electrical sockets, room for a fridge and freezer and how much space you want between all. By thinking about these issues right at the start of the design process, you will be avoiding the future heartache (not to mention expense) of making a major structural change once the kitchen has been built. Not a pretty situation.

Finally, all you've got left to do is decide which materials to use for all the work surfaces and appliances; stainless steel, timber, granite, terrazzo or perhaps reconstituted stone. Bear in mind that just about anything goes now – even concrete work surfaces and floors are chic.