Family kitchen

GET THE FAMILY-FRIENDLY SPACE OF YOUR DREAMS WITH OUR EXPERT HELP

- JENNIFER MORGAN

MEET THE EXPERTS

LILY LUCAS, KITCHENS DESIGNER, MEREWAY KITCHENS ‘There isn’t a right or wrong way to plan a family kitchen; it’s about finding out what works for you.’

AMY JONES, INTERIOR DESIGNER AND FOUNDER, GRETA-MAE ‘The kitchen is a hardworking space and we’ve placed even more demands on it over the past decade. Before, it was hidden from view.’

KAMILA SWIATECKA, HEAD OF MARKETING AND BRAND, TILE GIANT ‘Let your walls and floors do the talking with pattern. It’s a great way to add personality to a kitchen and reflect your sense of style.’

From social space to quiet zone, cooking station to home office, a family kitchen has so many demands placed upon it today. So how can you create a space that works for you and your family that's future proof, too? We asked three experts...

'Kitchens have always been the heart of the home, but now many of us are adapting them to reflect new lifestyles,' says Kamila. 'When planning a family kitchen, the best starting point is to look at how you and your family use your current kitchen: how do you move around the space? Do you all eat together? Do you all help with the cooking? Is it used for homework or working from home?' says Lily. Then look at how, ideally, you would use the space and you'll soon have a list of must-haves, nice to haves and not needed. Amy adds, "Think about key events too like dinner parties and having the whole family over at Christmas. If they're important, add them to the list."

OPEN PLAN VS BROKEN PLAN