8 Pro Tips to Make a Kitchen Look Beautifully Finished
Check out these clever design details, which have added that all-important icing on the cake
It’s the small details that can turn a standard space into something altogether more special. In these kitchens, professionals have used clever tricks to give the rooms a polished finish. Take a look to discover how designers can be worth their weight in gold and to find inspiration for your own home.
…to a utility room. The door swings open to allow access to the laundry equipment and sink in the adjacent room; once closed again, it blends beautifully with the cabinetry.
“This is one of my favourite parts of the project,” designer Adrian Graves says. “It just looks like a cupboard, and then you go through to this little ‘Narnia’ utility room.”
See more of this Shaker kitchen full of clever ideas.
“This is one of my favourite parts of the project,” designer Adrian Graves says. “It just looks like a cupboard, and then you go through to this little ‘Narnia’ utility room.”
See more of this Shaker kitchen full of clever ideas.
Master materials
The addition of a luxurious or interesting material can make a huge difference to a space.
Take the island in this room, designed by Laura Petruso at Alpex Architecture, for example. All the surfaces in the kitchen are white, so Laura fitted a wooden panel to the underside of the island. “Otherwise, there would have been too much white,” Laura says, “and it blends with the wooden floor.”
Find out how extending helped turn a bachelor pad into a family home.
The addition of a luxurious or interesting material can make a huge difference to a space.
Take the island in this room, designed by Laura Petruso at Alpex Architecture, for example. All the surfaces in the kitchen are white, so Laura fitted a wooden panel to the underside of the island. “Otherwise, there would have been too much white,” Laura says, “and it blends with the wooden floor.”
Find out how extending helped turn a bachelor pad into a family home.
Consider all parties
If you have a dog, it isn’t just humans who need to be factored in when you redesign your kitchen – your pooch will be using the space, too. Claudia Dorsch had the owners’ pet in mind when she added this stylish finishing touch to their kitchen layout.
The space below has enough room for the dog’s bed to be cosily tucked in. It keeps the rest of the floor space clear and looks attractive to boot.
See how this split-level flat gained a new room.
Inspired to give your space a revamp? Find kitchen designers in your area on Houzz.
If you have a dog, it isn’t just humans who need to be factored in when you redesign your kitchen – your pooch will be using the space, too. Claudia Dorsch had the owners’ pet in mind when she added this stylish finishing touch to their kitchen layout.
The space below has enough room for the dog’s bed to be cosily tucked in. It keeps the rest of the floor space clear and looks attractive to boot.
See how this split-level flat gained a new room.
Inspired to give your space a revamp? Find kitchen designers in your area on Houzz.
Blend in architecture
Structural supports are often an essential part of an open-plan space, but they can get in the way of the design. In his own home, Angus Eitel of fiftypointeight Architecture + Interiors was keen to hide the side of the steel support and keep everything streamlined.
To achieve this smart finish, he integrated the structural support into a bank of cupboards by using it as a white strip to divide two areas. On the left is a breakfast zone; on the right is the main cooking space.
Discover how this bitty ground floor became a flexible family space.
Structural supports are often an essential part of an open-plan space, but they can get in the way of the design. In his own home, Angus Eitel of fiftypointeight Architecture + Interiors was keen to hide the side of the steel support and keep everything streamlined.
To achieve this smart finish, he integrated the structural support into a bank of cupboards by using it as a white strip to divide two areas. On the left is a breakfast zone; on the right is the main cooking space.
Discover how this bitty ground floor became a flexible family space.
Maximise all areas
How to make use of an awkward corner? It’s a common challenge, but one with a smart solution in this kitchen. Rather than leave the space empty, Charlie Draper of Sustainable Kitchens designed a countertop cupboard to fill the gap above the worktop.
“We looked at having a double countertop cupboard, but then you have the problem of opening that right-hand door, and it would actually be quite hard to reach around it,” Charlie explains. “So we settled on a hybrid – a mix of open and closed storage, the closed section being a wide half-larder with space for foodstuffs and small appliances.”
Tour this small elegant kitchen with discreet storage.
How to make use of an awkward corner? It’s a common challenge, but one with a smart solution in this kitchen. Rather than leave the space empty, Charlie Draper of Sustainable Kitchens designed a countertop cupboard to fill the gap above the worktop.
“We looked at having a double countertop cupboard, but then you have the problem of opening that right-hand door, and it would actually be quite hard to reach around it,” Charlie explains. “So we settled on a hybrid – a mix of open and closed storage, the closed section being a wide half-larder with space for foodstuffs and small appliances.”
Tour this small elegant kitchen with discreet storage.
Measure up
Careful attention to measurements can make all the difference to the finished look and function of your kitchen. In this space, for instance, Sam Cooper of E2 Architecture + Interiors laid out the run of base units to accommodate the dimensions of a cooking zone and a sink zone.
“You want a bigger zone on either side of your hob than you need either side of your sink,” he explains. “Removing that line of symmetry also means it doesn’t look monotonous and clinical.”
Take a peek around this modest extension that transformed a Victorian maisonette.
Careful attention to measurements can make all the difference to the finished look and function of your kitchen. In this space, for instance, Sam Cooper of E2 Architecture + Interiors laid out the run of base units to accommodate the dimensions of a cooking zone and a sink zone.
“You want a bigger zone on either side of your hob than you need either side of your sink,” he explains. “Removing that line of symmetry also means it doesn’t look monotonous and clinical.”
Take a peek around this modest extension that transformed a Victorian maisonette.
Focus on details
An interesting detail can elevate an ordinary space. When adding a birchwood layer to this back wall, for instance, the team at Roundwood Design could have simply covered the long wall. Instead, they continued the surface into the window reveal, which helps to make the room look much more finished.
Visit this characterful and storage-packed modern kitchen.
Tell us…
Which of these extra design details would work in your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
An interesting detail can elevate an ordinary space. When adding a birchwood layer to this back wall, for instance, the team at Roundwood Design could have simply covered the long wall. Instead, they continued the surface into the window reveal, which helps to make the room look much more finished.
Visit this characterful and storage-packed modern kitchen.
Tell us…
Which of these extra design details would work in your home? Share your thoughts in the Comments section.
In an open-plan layout, a few clever design tricks can help to integrate the cooking and living spaces. Here, for example, Omar Bhatti of Space Shack wanted to make sure the kitchen fitted in with the look and feel of the living area (which is directly behind the camera in this photo).
He added stylish cabinet handles and chose waterfall worktops, which look more attractive from the sofa or dining table than standard cupboard sides.
Tour the rest of this small city flat with a cosy midcentury vibe.