Classic kitchen plans for the home

So you're on the lookout for new designs for your kitchen plans, but you're not sure if you should match neutral with bold, or stone with laminate. Find out what expert Heidi Barreau has to say about the situation in your kitchen.

What colours are currently 'in' for kitchen plans?

I see two directions – one is slick and bold, combining dark-grain timbers, silvers, greys, whites and a feature colour such as red or caramel. The other is much more natural and pared back, with warm, ‘greyed-out’ timber against soft tones such as stone and green.

What's your favourite finish for kitchen cabinetry?

I like timber or a painted finish. Timber, whether it's solid, a veneer or laminate, adds warmth to a kitchen, while a painted finish allows freedom of colour and a sense of space. Two-pack polyurethane in a satin finish is beautiful and smooth, without the fingerprint hassles of a high gloss.

What's your favourite style of kitchen?

Personally, I love a country style, in a clean, white, minimal sense. Some people don't think it's practical, but I love marble benchtops, white brick tile splashbacks and big lever taps. I feel that look has much more character than a modern kitchen.

What is worth splashing out on in a kitchen?

Appliances that match the splendour of the kitchen. A beautiful kitchen is spoilt by a fridge or oven that looks dated and haggard.

In a kitchen, what can you never have enough of?

Storage is the obvious answer, but it's true. It's utterly unappealing to open cupboards that are piled high with food and cooking gear that's impossible to sort through.

What's a good solution for kitchen lighting?

I like downlights with dimmers for an overall flood of light when you're cooking and a softer light when you're grabbing a drink or entertaining. Overbench lighting doubles as task lighting and adds a warm, attractive glow, and pendants over an island add another level of interest.

Interior designers are experts with kitchen plans, so contact one in your area today and find out prices and ranges available to you: