4 design ideas for a practical yet stylish kitchen

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Design ideas for the heart of your home, including a butler’s pantry, a safety step, concealed appliances and more.

The kitchen is both the heart and the engine room of the home. A major selling point of any house, this is where the magic happens – not only is the kitchen a functional area for food preparation, it’s also the place where the family congregates and entertaining begins.

With the right design ideas, you can marry function and form to create a kitchen that serves to entertain while also allowing for a seamless cooking experience. The key is to balance quality materials with practical purpose-driven design features – and, of course, an elegant swathe of ‘just because’ design flourishes throughout.

1. Butler’s pantry

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Looking through the butler’s pantry to the kitchen with overhead cupboards finished in bespoke antique glass from Glass Artistry. Calacatta marble from Granite & Marble Works. Hansgrohe sink mixer from Candana. Vase from Ruth Levine. Flowers from Mandalay Flowers.

If your kitchen has room to move, consider creating a dedicated space for a butler’s pantry. Concealed from prying eyes, a butler’s pantry is an entertainer’s dream. Here, you can store your food, crockery and basic appliances; it’s the perfect way to keep your mess contained and hidden from view. A successful butler’s pantry will mimic the design of the kitchen, while still remaining fully functional.

2. An integrated step up

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The Blum SPACE STEP complements this decidedly bright and modern kitchen design in more ways than one.

Designed for both children and adults alike, the Blum SPACE STEP is a clever cabinet solution that can be integrated within a kitchen kickboard and acts as a step up, allowing users to reach high spaces with ease. Importantly, Blum SPACE STEP offers a solid and secure alternative to wobbly ladders, chairs and stools. As always, the devil is in the detail: underneath the platform, you’ll find additional pull-out creating extra storage space, ready to be used as you see fit.

3. Concealed appliances

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A marble benchtop and splashback, and Shaker-inspired cabinetry, highlight the kitchen. Missoni ‘Mister’ bar stool from Spence & Lyda. Papier-mâché bowl and orchids from Les Interieurs. Sculpture by Alison Coates.

Appliances are a necessity but are they visually appealing? Not necessarily. There’s no denying that integrated appliances (think: fridge, freezer, dishwasher) are much easier on the eye compared to their freestanding counterparts, which can be bulky and obtrusive. Integrating appliances and technology in the home is not a new concept but it is now becoming the norm, with most home owners wanting a sleek, streamlined look and the option to conceal appliances so they don’t compete with other design elements.

4. Custom cabinetry

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A bespoke iron pendant light by Phoebe Nicol hangs above the island bench in the kitchen. The cabinetry is in oak veneer topped with a benchtop in travertine from Gitani Stone. Decorative cornice designed by Phoebe Nicol.

When it comes to storage, you can never have enough. For a clutter-free and user-friendly kitchen, opt for custom cabinetry that will make use of every corner and make the space easier to navigate. In addition to the Space Step, Blum also offers cabinetry with smart, ‘why didn’t I think of that?’ features, including a pull out shelf, drawers built into often-tricky corners, and upwards-lifting cabinet doors.

Brought to you by Blum.