We are big fans of the Beautiful Kitchens magazine and their ‘10 of the Best’ ideas sections, and this blog post here, compiled from their Ideas for Kitchen Diners is a great example of some of the beautiful kitchens available in the UK at the moment.
Launched in 1999 (originally as 25 Beautiful Kitchens), this glossy magazine is dedicated to providing inspiration, ideas, planning and design information and appliance choices to anyone looking to create a fabulous new kitchen. Packed with real-life case studies, the magazine looks at every aspect of the kitchen planning process – from how to choose the style for you, whether it’s chic contemporary or cosy country – to finding the designer to make your dreams a reality.
Here are Ten of the Best Ideas for a Kitchen Diner
Kitchen ideas from Urban Interior
Torn between an L-shaped kitchen and a U-shaped layout? This neat design (pictured above) solution uses an L-shape for the cabinetry runs, alongside a dining table forming a 'U', thus creating a clever balance between storage space and a flexible seating zone. A SC10 kitchen by SieMatic costs from £15,000 at Urban Interior.
Urban Interior (London) Ltd 27 - 33 Bethnal Green Road London E1 6LA
Kitchen ideas from Plain English Kitchens
If you have space, a large dining area can make a big impact. This refectory-style table reflects the proportions of the rooms double-height space, while the dining furniture's distressed finish echoes the look of the pale-painted cabinets. Plain English kitchens start from £35,000.
Plain English is a traditional joinery company that use the techniques of 18th and 19th century cabinetmakers from their Suffolk workshop in Stowupland Hall, Stowmarket Suffolk
Kitchen ideas from Stoneham kitchens
Are you reluctant to have a table at the end of your kitchen island? Then why not site one snugly in the middle? This pale-wood Knole kitchen includes an American black walnut tabletop and support, sandwiched between a pair of compact islands. Dark-leather seating completes the suite. Stoneham Kitchens start at £20,000.
Stoneham kitchens is borne of more than 145 years of commitment to quality craftsmanship and exemplary service and this family business, some four generations on, has earned itself a Royal Warrant and ISO 9001/2008 Quality Assurance accreditation. Based in a modern factory setting in Sidcup, Kent.
If bar stools don't appeal, an integral table added to your island may be the answer. This simple extension forms a large seating area, while the Aura walnut tobacco-effect panels create a sense of contrast to the Neo magnolia hi-gloss In-toto units. A lower tier of the island even provides a neat nook for extra dishes or condiments. In-toto kitchens are priced from £10,000.
I n-toto has over 45 showrooms nationwide, owned by one of Europe's largest kitchen manufacturers, Alno/Wellmann, itself part owned by Whirlpool
Kitchen ideas from Mark Wilkinson Furniture
This wood-topped table has been wrapped around the end of an Eider painted island, yet its clever construction gives the impression of an entirely separate piece of furniture. It is located close to the larder, but away from the working area of this English Classic kitchen, so it's ideally placed for breakfast. Mark Wilkinson kitchens start at around £35,000.
Mark Wilkinson kitchens can be found in their ten showrooms nationwide, covering London, Manchester, Perth Scotland, Royal Tunbridge Wells, Jersey, Weybridge and Brentwood Essex
Kitchen ideas from Lewis & Hill Kitchens
This informal, banquette seating area was purpose-built to fit the space in a period property. The table and bench are sited away from the hustle and bustle of the rest of the kitchen, but close enough so that a family can interact with each other. Kitchens from Lewis & Hill start at £15,000.
Lewis & Hill Kitchens are Simon Lewis and Gordon Hill who create interiors of style and beauty which are both timeless and contemporary from their base at Rearsby Business Park, Gaddesby Lane, Rearsby, Leicestershire
Kitchen ideas from Harvey Jones Kitchens
Wrapping a breakfast bar round a supporting column is a smart way to make it part of your design. Raising the breakfast bar above the main island ensures it is a separate space, ideal for guests to gather around. This Linear design is by Harvey Jones, kitchens start from £17,000.
Harvey Jones Kitchens workshop is located in Cambridgeshire and a head office in London.
Kitchen ideas from Crown Imperial Kitchens
Galley schemes rarely have enough room for an island, so a slim dining table and chairs are often the best seating solution. Here, the furniture's Scandi style matches the rest of the Oyster-painted cabinetry, while the table and chairs are painted in a slightly darker hue than the cream-coloured Heathfield furniture. A 600mm base unit by Crown Imperial starts from £152.
Crown Imperial Kitchens are Crown Products (Kent) Limited Eddington Business Park Herne Bay Kent.
Kitchen ideas from Davonport Kitchens
Raising a breakfast bar on an island means that not only is the zone clearly defined, but it also helps to conceal a preparation area from view. Here, a worktop overhang provides room to sit, while the absence of an island extractor (a downdraft model sits by the hob) allows these stylish pendant lights to act as a focal point. Open shelving breaks up large banks of cabinetry. This walnut kitchen from Davonport costs around £35,000, cabinetry only.
Davonport Kitchens Davonport 11 St John Street Colchester Essex CO2 7AN
Kitchen ideas from Schmidt Kitchens
Proving that contrasting colours can be used to great effect, the Esprit range from Schmidt is shown here in natural oak, with a contrasting island unit, and bespoke handleless cupboards in the right hand wall. A matching table runs on from the island with bench-style seating.
Schmidt kitchens start at £6,500 including standard appliances and are available from ten showrooms nationwide
