Kitchen

It’s often referred to as the heart of the home, and with good reason. Yes, the kitchen always seems to be the room we naturally migrate towards. Whether it’s cooking the Sunday morning fry up, catching up with the family after a long day at the office or preparing a mouth-watering feast for a dinner party, there is always an excuse to be in the kitchen. These days the kitchen has become so much more than simply the place where food is prepared; it’s the social hub of the home. Glaswegians are well known for their love of good food, good drink and good company so naturally many are keen to perfect their personal cooking space. Here are 5 ways to create your dream Glasgow kitchen.

1. Pick an Overall Style

To create your dream kitchen, you first have to decide on the style that best suits you. The style of your perfect kitchen should tie in with the overall style of your home, as this allows a seamless flow from one room to the next. Suburban family homes can benefit from a traditional, warm and welcoming kitchen and these days traditional doesn’t mean outdated. This style of kitchen makes use of warm colours, classic design and robust materials to create a family kitchen you will look forward to coming home to. The German built Pronorm Classicline kitchen range available from Ecko, could be the ideal solution. With a wide range of colours and materials, these kitchens aim to maximise style and space. You can personalise and create your own unique kitchen for your family to enjoy for many years to come.

2. Cupboards and Worktops to Define Your Style

One of the key elements of your kitchen will undoubtedly be the worktops and cupboards. It is here you can really showcase the style of kitchen you are looking to achieve. Your cupboards will provide much needed space and you can choose a design to fit in with your vision of your dream kitchen, whether this is something warm and cosy or contemporary and sophisticated. Apartments in Glasgow city centre may be smaller than the traditional suburban homes, but what they lack in space they certainly make up for in style. Sleek, modern kitchens can transform an apartment. Storage can often be an issue, however the Pronorm Proline range makes city living easier, with a grid system providing floor to ceiling storage for modern, smaller kitchens. If you want to go one step further in modern living, you might want to consider the Pronorm Handleless Y-Line. This handle (and hassle!) free range is the next step in modern living and will have your kitchen looking like something out of an upmarket home style magazine. The kitchen worktops are vital in creating your dream kitchen. When choosing the right one for you, consider the style of your kitchen and what your worktops are normally used for to ensure your worktops meet your needs.

3. Appliances to Make Your Life Easier

A kitchen wouldn’t be complete without appliances. From the fridge freezer to the cooker and dishwasher and everything else in between, kitchen appliances make life easier. When creating your dream kitchen, the style and aesthetics are undoubtedly important, however it’s important to ensure your kitchen appliances are up to standard, otherwise you’ll be left with a stylish kitchen that doesn’t function! Consider the main uses of your kitchen and do your research into which appliances meet your needs. Reputable brands such as Neff and Siemens provide high quality, long lasting kitchen appliances that you can count on. Sleek appliances can fit right in with a modern style kitchen, however if you want your appliances to blend in with your more traditional kitchen décor, consider integrated appliances, which will discreetly tie in with your style.

4. Don’t Forget the Kitchen Floor!

The kitchen floor needs to be prepared to take on a lot. Not only does it need to be strong enough to withstand people constantly walking on it, it must also be ready to take on those inevitable kitchen spills! Well, that explains why you don’t see carpet in kitchens! You could choose a gorgeous oak floor to tie in with your cosy traditional kitchen, or perhaps large slate tiles to enhance your sleek and modern kitchen. The kitchen floor is often an afterthought, but choosing the right one can really transform your kitchen. Whatever your kitchen style, the flooring brings it all together.

5. Finishing Touches

Okay you’ve chosen your style, picked your cupboards and worktops, got your appliances and your perfect kitchen floor in place.  All finished? Not quite! To complete your dream kitchen, you should consider some finishing touches to transform your kitchen from house to home. Making sure you’ve got the perfect lights for your kitchen will tie your whole style together. Perhaps some task lights over worktops will assist you with cooking or mood lighting to set the tone when friends are over for dinner. Kitchen radiators don’t need to be eyesores these days. A range of colours make them more funky than ever and means they can blend seamlessly with your décor, whilst making sure your Glasgow kitchen is still kept warm and welcoming. Some family photographs or some striking art work will allow you to put your own personality into your dream Glasgow kitchen, making it uniquely yours.

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Granite is an increasingly popular material for use in the kitchen. It is a hardwearing, versatile natural stone that is suitable for table tops, countertops, splashbacks, tiles, and many other areas in the kitchen. When you are looking at granite for your new kitchen or your kitchen refurbishment it is helpful to pay attention to colour, detail, and design features among other considerations. Here are a few pointers to help you choose the best granite surfaces for your kitchen.

1. Look at the Colour of the Granite 

You may be under the impression that granite comes in grey or black, but this is not true. Granite is available in a wide variety of colours and shades, which makes it a versatile option for the kitchen, no matter what style your room. The first consideration you need to make when choosing granite work surfaces is which shade you are going to choose. If you want to create a classic, striking kitchen then black or white granite worktops are perfect. But if you want more colour in the kitchen then look at the overall colour scheme and pick a granite that is slightly lighter or slightly darker than the most dominant colour in the set. Take a look at these kitchen design ideas for more inspiration on using coloured stone in a kitchen. Many designers recommend that the units are darker than the colour of the floor for the best visual effect.

2. Get a Budget in Place

Once you have decided on the colour and tones you want to decorate with, take a look at a few prices from granite suppliers so you can have an idea of how much you are going to spend on your kitchen work surfaces. Granite is available in many different thicknesses, styles, and finishes, which can affect the cost. With a budget in place you can discuss your needs with the supplier who will be able to recommend granite surfaces within your budget.

3. Look at Where to Use Granite

For granite kitchen ideas, look at design blogs and websites. You will see various places where granite can be used in the kitchen. One way to use granite is on splashbacks and window sills. This is actually an inexpensive place to start as the areas are smaller and you can get the granite effect without spending a fortune. Granite sinks are also highly popular. And granite work surfaces provide a great base for your kitchen. They are hardwearing as well as being attractive and you benefit from a practical place to prepare and serve food.

4. Order Pre-Cut Granite

It is easier if you order granite specially pre-cut to your specifications as granite is not the easiest stone to work with, and it can be difficult to manage. A professional installation helps get your kitchen looking stylish and smart, and ensures that granite surfaces are expertly fitted to minimise problems in the future.

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When it comes to style and elegance, nothing can come close to marble worktops and other worktops made from natural stone. But marble has a unique look and beauty all its own, and a marble worktop can be easily distinguished from other worktops available on the market today.

However, despite their beauty and appeal, some individuals are a bit hesitant in choosing marble worktops because of their belief that this material is high maintenance. Well, although marble needs proper cleaning and maintenance, this isn’t as difficult as you may think.

The importance of keeping your marble worktop clean and maintained

One of the first things you should know is that marble needs to be kept clean and spotless every day just so you can maintain its natural lustre and shine. Any spills should also be wiped off your marble worktop as quickly as possible, especially oil spills, because oil can soak into the marble and create a stain. Spills that are acidic in nature (such as citrus juices) can also damage the marble worktop’s seal and make the worktop susceptible to staining. Any grit or debris on the worktop can also wear away the seal and may even cause etching or scratching.

How to clean and maintain your marble worktop

Although soap and warm water can be a good choice for cleaning your marble worktop, you should make sure that the soap mixture is rinsed off carefully at all times so it does not leave any residue. Over time, any soap residue can become absorbed in the nooks and crannies of the worktop and this can actually affect the colour of the marble, resulting in discolouration. Water, whilst good for daily cleaning, can also contain small amounts of calcium and iron, which can mar or affect your marble worktop’s beauty and shine over time.

What you can do is clean your marble occasionally with a specially-designed marble or natural stone cleaner as well. Look for a cleaner that has a good pH balance which can enhance your marble worktop’s shine and remove the darkening caused by dirt and grime. Along with a cleaner, you can also make use of a marble polish which can also help retain your worktop’s sheen and lustre.

What to remember when cleaning and maintaining your marble worktop

Apart from using water and soap properly and using various cleaning products and polishers on your marble worktop, there are certain things you should remember as well. As mentioned above, citrus juices and other acidic liquid and food spills should be wiped off immediately so as not to affect your marble worktop’s surface. Additionally, any spills such as oil, mustard, wine, and tomato juice, sauce, or paste should be wiped up as quickly as possible. The area where the spill occurred should be wiped with a piece of cloth dampened with warm water or a specialist marble cleaner.

You should also avoid using abrasive (or harsh) cleaners and cleaning products on your marble worktop. In particular, avoid using steel wool, scrub brushes, and other strong chemicals on your worktop.

If you are looking for the highest quality marble worktops in London, you can always turn to reliable and reputable natural and engineered stone suppliers such as J.R. Stone, where you can find a wide assortment of marble designs and patterns as well as granite and quartz designs for your kitchen and bathroom.

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