Make your kitchen the heart of your home

As open-plan living’s become the norm, the kitchen is now more than just a cooking space – it’s somewhere to spend quality time with your family, as well as to relax and entertain. Here are 10 ways to make your kitchen the heart of your home

USE FREE-STANDING FURNITURE

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Kitchens needn’t be built-in. By using a collection of free-standing furniture as Tinks Robinson of Peppergreen Interiors has done here, you’ll give your kitchen the feel of being a furnished room rather than a clinical cooking space. Another bonus is that you can change the layout at a later stage.

DECORATE IT

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Use rugs, paintings, attractive light fittings and wallpaper to decorate your kitchen as you would any other living space. Tinks Robinson of Peppergreen Interiors chose a wallpaper that resembles rustic planks and added an assortment of chopping boards, enamel jugs and art to give her Durban kitchen a comfortable and welcoming feel.

The pendants are on a different switch to the downlights, allowing her to adjust the lighting and change the ambience depending on the occasion.

OPEN IT UP TO YOUR OUTDOOR AREA

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Glass doors opening up to an outdoor living or dining area will make your kitchen appear lighter and more spacious. The resulting indoor-outdoor flow will also make entertaining a breeze. Coffee table from The Gatehouse.

INCLUDE A SITTING AREA WITH A TV

Living Room

This is a great idea for families as you’ll be able to keep an eye on your kids while cooking. It’s also ideal for sports fans who enjoy inviting friends over to watch a big match; you can top up your guests’ drinks and not miss out on the action.

In this Cape Town kitchen, an L-shaped sofa with cushions from Mavromac provides plenty of comfy seating yet doesn’t take up too much space or impede movement around the central island. The wall-mounted TV has been cleverly placed in a niche so that it’s out of the way and doesn’t take up precious counter space.

PAINT A CABINET

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Painting some of your cabinets in a striking colour, such as the cornflower blue used in this Durban kitchen designed by Wendy-Lee Douglas of SketchBok/dbn, adds loads of personality and will make your space one-of-a-kind.

MAKE IT PERSONAL

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Ensure your kitchen reflects your personality by including art, accessories and other quirky details. In this Durban kitchen, Wendy-Lee Douglas of SketchBok/dbn added a framed blackboard for messages and menus, and also carved labels into some of the wooden drawers.

ADD A DINING AREA

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A dining area is a must if you’d like your kitchen to be a more sociable space; it provides a spot to enjoy casual meals, to play board games and for kids to do their homework. A simple table and chairs works well, but if you don’t have the space for them, copy Wendy-Lee Douglas of SketchBok/dbn who incorporated a cosy dining nook into the corner of this compact kitchen.

MIX OLD AND NEW

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Traditional and retro furniture contrast beautifully with modern pieces and the combination creates a warm, lived-in feel as seen in this stylish, contemporary kitchen designed by Nick Raaff of Stockhome. Note how the open shelves have been carefully curated with the owners’ collectables.

INCORPORATE AN ISLAND

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An island not only provides extra storage and counter space, it also creates a sociable hub where your friends and family can gather to chat over a cup of tea. In this Cape Town kitchen, designed by Kim Johnson of The Love Factor, a wooden country-style island was chosen to add warmth and character to the predominately white scheme.

USE OPEN SHELVES FOR DISPLAYS

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Open shelves look much more friendly and inviting than closed cabinets; they provide practical storage ensuring that everyday cookware is within easy reach and can also be used to display pretty collectables. To prevent them from looking messy, stick to a single colour scheme such as whites and naturals or whites and pastels as the homeowners have done here.