How to design your kitchen - the essential guide

What makes a kitchen wow? Put super storage, awesome appliances and a host of sexy surfaces in the mix and your kitchen’s credentials will be raised in an instant

We’ve all seen kitchens that have made us gasp with envy, whether in a smart showroom, in a glossy magazine or at a lucky host’s dinner party. And when it comes to moving on, estate agents regularly comment on how an impressive kitchen can increase the value of your home in seconds, and even add on 10 per cent to the value of a home. So it’s well worth investing some time and money into making sure you get this all-important room just right.


But just what is it that gives a kitchen that wow factor? ‘Whatever space you have, whether large or small, it’s important to make the most of it,’ says Laurence Pidgeon, co-owner and director at Alternative Plans. ‘Piles of stuff everywhere won’t give a wow factor, other than “wow we’ve got some tidying up to do”,’ he says. ‘A kitchen needs to be sharp, clean, uncluttered. It should look as if Heston Blumenthal could come in and rustle up dinner for 50 people.’


A generous space and funds to match will undoubtedly help, but even if both are modest, there are plenty of ways to give your kitchen that extra edge. We’ve asked the top names in the business for their tips and tricks, and we reveal the latest trends to help you transform your kitchen from average to amazing.

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