5 Essential Decisions for Planning a Modern Kitchen Island

The heart of the home, the epicentre of gatherings, and a culinary haven, the kitchen holds a special place in our lives. In today’s luxury kitchens, islands have become more than just a functional addition; they are a design statement. In 2023, kitchen islands remained at the forefront of interior design trends, offering style and functionality. However, before you embark on your kitchen island journey, it’s crucial to make informed decisions. Here are five key considerations to ensure your kitchen island becomes a harmonious and practical addition to your space.

1. Assess the Space: Is There Room for an Island?

The first step is to evaluate your kitchen’s layout and size. Is there sufficient space for an island, and if so, how large should it be? While the allure of extra cooking and prep space is enticing, it’s essential to strike a balance. An oversized island can overpower the room, making it feel cramped. Consider the room’s shape to optimise space both around and within the island.

2. Determine the Island’s Purpose: Cooking or Socialising?

Modern kitchens often serve as social hubs where families and guests gather. Decide if your island will primarily serve as a cooking station or if it should be integrated into the socialising space. If you envision it as a social feature, consider incorporating seating into the island’s design. This decision significantly impacts the island’s layout and functionality.

3. Select the Perfect Worktop Material: Form and Function

Your choice of worktop material should align with the island’s multifunctional role. Since it will be used for food preparation, durability and resistance to staining are essential. Materials like stainless steel or granite offer practicality and aesthetics. Consider the balance between aesthetics and functionality when making this decision.

4. Integrate Appliances: Efficiency and Aesthetics

Modern kitchen islands can house various appliances, enhancing both efficiency and aesthetics. Decide which appliances, such as ovens or sinks, you want to incorporate. Ensure they integrate seamlessly into the island’s design. Hidden appliances can streamline the island’s appearance, contributing to a sleek and cohesive look.

5. Explore Overhead Extractors: A Culinary Companion

To elevate your island’s functionality, consider installing an overhead extractor. This addition allows for the inclusion of hobs or other culinary appliances. However, keep in mind that it can alter the kitchen’s ambiance. Collaborate with an interior designer to find the right balance between practicality and aesthetics.

These five considerations provide a solid foundation for planning your kitchen island. However, the world of kitchen design offers endless possibilities, and expert guidance can be invaluable. For a seamless kitchen island transformation that aligns with the latest 2023 trends, consult the UK’s leading luxury interior designers, Callender Howorth. With over 25 years of experience and a passion for design excellence, we’ll help you create a kitchen that seamlessly blends style, functionality, and innovation.

Contact us today to embark on your kitchen transformation journey and explore the endless possibilities of modern kitchen islands.

Exploring the Latest Kitchen Gadgets and Design Trends for 2023

“It’s not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognise, accept and celebrate those differences.”
– Audre Lorde

At Callender Howorth, our approach to interior design has always been synonymous with innovation. We believe that design should continually evolve, integrating the latest technology and trends to enhance every project. Whether it’s incorporating cutting-edge tech in projects like the Regents Park House or redefining traditional spaces as seen in the Commercial HQ project, our commitment to excellence is unwavering. Collaborating with our trusted partners, Extreme Design, a premium bespoke service provider based in Barnes, Gerrards Cross, and Sunningdale, we share a common philosophy: no two designs should be the same.

In today’s world, personalisation is a prevailing trend, with brands offering tailored products to customers. Extreme Design takes this concept further by delving into their clients’ cherished memories and experiences, infusing them into the very essence of their living spaces. From colours and materials to furniture forms, their design celebrates individuality in all its facets.

As a creative means of personalising projects, the latest advancements in kitchen gadgets can seamlessly integrate into furniture, surfaces, and living spaces. Here, Extreme Design provides insights into three of the most cutting-edge kitchen gadgets that are poised to revolutionise both design and lifestyle in 2023: (more…)

5 Minutes Well Spent: Discover Dream Kitchen Designs

Kitchens are a fundamental part of home interior design. Not only are they a place to prepare meals, but they are also places to gather family and friends together. Kitchens are utilitarian spaces used for everything from cooking sumptuous dinners to providing venues to catch up on gossip while having a cup of tea with friends. Their design reflects the homeowner’s taste and lifestyle and creates an ambience that fits that of the whole property. The construction and style of the kitchen plays an important part in determining a home’s resale value and should not be overlooked.

As experienced Central London and Hyde Park interior designers, Callender Howorth has a lot of experience designing kitchens. We’ve selected some of our favourite styles and designs.

Modular Kitchens

Modular kitchens are an off-the-shelf solution for many homes. Sometimes known as semi-custom kitchens, a modular design enables an architect or homeowner to piece together their own plan. Modular kitchen designs are perfect for optimising storage space by using diversified materials to create an easily adjustable package.

Although the units are prefabricated, they can be of a very high standard and incorporate durable materials such as stainless steel, cherry wood, oak and marble. Every aspect of the kitchen, from the height of the countertops to the inclusion of islands is customisable. Individual components can be replaced if necessary while leaving the rest of your kitchen intact. Our Hyde Park designers filled a client’s Knightsbridge Penthouse kitchen with space-saving storage to maximise the limited space in this chic city apartment.

Rustic Kitchens

Farmhouse style kitchens offer a bucolic atmosphere and warm ambience. Using heavy woods such as oak give the kitchens an old-world appeal, and can be combined with trendy appliances to keep the kitchen in the modern age. Alternatively, you can install an Aga stove and place a pile of logs in a corner for a cottage effect.

Rustic touches such as beams or old-fashioned tiles really add to the rural vibe, while furniture or chandeliers with wrought iron components, woven baskets and a gingham tablecloth can make all the difference. Our Nice Apartment project has a modern white kitchen but its open layout, original stone wall and ceiling beams give it a semi-rustic feel.

Sleek and Modern

Modern kitchens give a glossy feel with symmetrical lines and minimal clutter. From ergonomic islands to hidden storage, modern kitchen designs are cutting edge, yet inviting. Our Essex Mansion project involved the design of a stunning contemporary kitchen that fitted the client’s brief of having a modern space, perfect for entertaining. The result was a beautiful kitchen with floor-to-ceiling closed storage, multiple wall ovens and an island with futuristic breakfast bar stools. We used a neutral palette of white and charcoal with a splash of green and marble, stone and solid wood materials.

All White

White doesn’t mean boring! White kitchens are pure and clean and their appearance can easily be adapted with bright kitchen towels, colourful appliances, a patterned fruit bowl, or any other accessory you choose. White kitchens are best when they are kept simple, otherwise they can start to look a bit too “busy” or cheap. Integrated appliances create a seamless look, and natural lighting completes the picture.

Callender Howorth created an all-white kitchen for our City Penthouse project in Shoreditch. The owner was interested in New York loft style apartment and we contrasted the exposed brickwork of the main living space with a dazzling white kitchen. We added full-length light beige coloured cupboards and stools to create contrast with the white countertop and cupboards taking up the kitchen’s main wall and the small, low island.

If you are interested in Callender Howorth designing the kitchen of your dreams, please contact us.

Biggest Kitchen Colour Trends of 2023

In the realm of interior design, few spaces hold as much significance as the kitchen. Beyond its utilitarian function, the kitchen serves as a hub of connection and a focal point within any home. For those who embrace the essence of refined living, the kitchen must exude opulence and modernity, boasting avant-garde design and an impeccable colour palette.

At Callender Howorth, our design philosophy is rooted in the creation of spaces that are not just innovative but also elegantly distinctive. Our expertise extends to crafting kitchens that serve as the architectural heart of a home. Whether you possess a vision of your own or seek the insights of seasoned experts, our team of luxury interior designers possesses the acumen to fulfil your kitchen aspirations. Presented below are a handful of the most current colour trends in kitchen design.

The Beauty of Muted Colours

A prevailing trend in home design that captures attention is the application of muted colours across flooring surfaces. Our Luxury Penthouse project in the charming city of Nice perfectly illustrates this approach. Within the realm of this culinary haven, we made a deliberate choice to embrace rich, dark wooden tones for the floor, a decision that amplifies the room’s innate sophistication. In the kitchen, we opted for rich, dark wooden tones on the floor, a choice that enhances the room’s sophisticated appeal. By incorporating textures like dark oak, granite, and various shades of grey, our designs infuse a natural, authentic touch into the space.

The comforting embrace of these natural elements holds particular significance in today’s complex times. As homes become sanctuaries, offering respite from the outside world, the appeal of materials like wood becomes all the more evident. Wood’s timeless presence in design brings a sense of tranquillity that resonates deeply within us. Its simple elegance envelops spaces in a reassuring calmness.

Embracing Minimalism

The zenith of luxury kitchens resides in the harmonious marriage of functionality and aesthetics. The Mayfair Mews House Project serves as a testament to this ideology, where we meticulously intertwined design and functionality to craft a truly remarkable culinary space. Within its confines, a minimalist canvas unfolded, exuding an air of openness and sophistication. In our pursuit of minimalism, we embraced a palette of soft hues and pristine whites—a design approach that resonates within this culinary haven. Here, the absence of clutter and excessive ornamentation allows the kitchen’s inherent elegance to shine through.

The surge of streamlined kitchens is ushering in a new era of popularity, guided by the “less is more” mantra. This minimalist philosophy crafts a serene haven adorned with clean lines and uncluttered spaces. Achieving this contemporary allure is refreshingly uncomplicated—prioritising practicality is the key. The magic lies in handpicking high-quality materials and elements that champion functionality and bold aesthetics, embodying the very spirit of minimalism.

Black & White Contrast

The timeless allure of juxtaposing black and white unfurls an aura of enduring sophistication within the kitchen. Masterfully harmonising these two tones not only imparts a contemporary edge but also sets the stage for vibrant bursts of colour. As the walls, cabinets, surfaces, and flooring are enveloped in this classic embrace, the finer nuances of the kitchen’s design are accentuated. The Belsize Park Penthouse Project serves as a testament to our adeptness in orchestrating this harmonious interplay.

Image copyright Nicholas Yarsley (Wizzwam ltd).

A Gentle Touch of Colour

Sometimes, a delicate infusion of colour is all that’s needed to invigorate your kitchen space. Introducing muted shades to expansive worktops and islands can imbue the area with personality and character. This artful approach draws attention to focal points of colour, creating a captivating visual dynamic. For an added touch of individuality, consider infusing small hints of colour into fixtures like lighting and decorations. In the elegant design of the Essex Mansion Project‘s kitchen, muted greys coexist in gentle harmony with vibrant accents of green, a juxtaposition that exudes sophistication.

Timeless Cabinet Colours for Lasting Elegance

When deliberating over the hues for enduring kitchen components—such as cabinets, countertops, and wall paint—opting for neutral shades is a decision that echoes through time. The allure of natural colour palettes stems from their intrinsic versatility and timelessness. These shades transcend the fleeting fads of fashion, ensuring your choices remain eternally relevant. This also presents a prudent choice if you ever decide to place your residence on the market, as neutral tones resonate universally, appealing to potential buyers with diverse tastes.
If the prospect of injecting a splash of colour entices you, yet you shy away from the permanence of vibrant accent walls or audacious pink cabinetry, consider the potential of neutral walls, cupboards, and work surfaces. This blank canvas beckons for experimentation with vibrant accessories and art pieces, serving as a backdrop that evolves with the ever-changing winds of fashion and your personal inclinations. Alternatively, you may find the subtle allure of an unembellished neutral palette, left as it is, to be a tranquil and elegant statement in itself.

The Kitchen Trends Shaping 2023

As we tread into the landscape of 2023, a plethora of kitchen trends emerges, each carrying its unique charm. Among these, wood flooring stands out as a trend to wholeheartedly embrace. Picture wood-effect porcelain tiles, meticulously arranged in a herringbone pattern—these hold immense appeal, particularly for open-plan kitchen extensions that bask in an abundance of natural light.
The infusion of these tiles brings forth a tangible sense of warmth and texture, creating an intimate connection with the space. The beauty lies in their resilience to the sun’s embrace, ensuring they retain their lustre even as they gracefully weather the elements. In addition, their ease of maintenance further solidifies their standing as an exquisite choice for a kitchen that is both inviting and practical—a balance sought after by discerning homeowners in the contemporary era.

Elevate Your Kitchen with Our Expertise

For a kitchen that embodies style, modernity, and creativity, turn to our team of luxury interior designers. With their artistic prowess, they can orchestrate a transformation that resonates with your vision, crafting a culinary haven that’s both functional and aesthetically inspiring. Through a blend of innovative design and impeccable execution, we elevate the kitchen to a realm of exquisite elegance, where every element is meticulously curated to speak the language of understated luxury. Let us accompany you on the journey toward crafting a space that is the embodiment of refined living.

Three of the Latest Kitchen Gadgets

In any home the kitchen is key. Whether you have family, or are simply an entertainer by nature, the kitchen is often the hub of the house and brings people together, combining a place to eat with a place to socialise. When creating interior designs for our clients, we focus on delivering outstanding finishes and introducing useful, ingenious tools to utilise the space and deliver optimum results.

(more…)