Style and Substance: The Kitchen Essentials to Match Your Stylish Design
Whether you’re designing a new kitchen from scratch or just updating your kitchen essentials, there are plenty of things to consider. For example, the style and colour of your kitchen sink and tap to the colour of your kitchen walls and the type of flooring you intend to use are amongst a few areas that you could update.
What's Trending in Kitchen Design?
Kitchen trends are always changing but they’re a great place to start looking when redesigning a kitchen. For example, brass, textured tile and statement cooker hoods are just a few of our 2024 kitchen trends.
For more information on our top kitchen trends for 2024 take a look at the following post - 2024 Kitchen Trends.
How the Essentials Can Match or Enhance Your Style
It’s the little things that make a massive difference… You might not think it, but kitchen essentials and accessories can make or break a kitchen design. Just because you have the beautiful kitchen cabinets of your dreams doesn’t mean you can compromise on the style of your kitchen tap or cooker hood. These elements, while not as large can make a huge difference to the design of your kitchen.
Imagine… a stylish new kitchen with beautiful blue cabinets, brass handles, a shiny chrome tap and a basic matt chrome cooker hood. It just wouldn’t work. However, the same cabinets and handles paired with a brushed brass kitchen tap and integrated cooker hood could look stunning. It’s getting the right mix of styles, colours and textures that matters.
Kitchen Sinks and Tap Styles
Kitchen sinks and taps come in a wide range of designs with plenty of traditional and contemporary options. Deciding whether to choose a classic or modern design will most likely be based on the rest of your kitchen décor.
For example, if you have gorgeous wood kitchen cabinets, you might choose a beautiful Belfast sink and a traditional chrome bridge mixer tap. However, if you’ve gone for sleek black kitchen units in a handleless design, you might choose a matching matt black sink and stylish black boiling water tap.
If you’re not yet sure about the style of kitchen tap or sink, you’d like to choose, keep reading to find out about the variety of different styles on the market.
Kitchen Tap Styles
Kitchen taps are perhaps one of the easiest ways of adding a touch of style to your kitchen, but as they’re also going to be one of the most used items in the kitchen it’s essential to get everything you need out of it. That’s why kitchen taps come in a range of designs and varying features, from standard mixer taps to boiling water options. Keep reading to find out more.
Boiling Water Taps
Boiling water taps are perhaps one of the most sought-after kitchen taps. With the ability to provide boiling water in seconds, they’re a wonderful replacement for the classic kettle. Not only can you make a cup of tea or coffee in a fraction of the time, but it also makes it much easier to fill pans when cooking.
Boiling water taps, however, provide more than just boiling water; they also deliver cold and hot water in the same way as a standard tap. Some models can even provide instant filtered water too.
Pull Out Spray Taps
Another handy addition to any kitchen is a pull-out spray tap. This style of tap is ideal if you find it difficult to carry out tasks such as filling pans and washing up with a standard kitchen mixer tap.
Most pull-out taps can work as a standard mixer tap with an additional pull-out spray attached to the main spout. However, some feature a separate pull-out feature to your standard spout, allowing you to use both options simultaneously, if necessary. This could be particularly useful for carrying out tasks such as washing up and cleaning vegetables in tandem.
Bridge Mixer Taps
Kitchen bridge mixer taps tend to feature a beautifully traditional design, making them perfect for any classic farmhouse kitchen design. The main feature of this gorgeous kitchen tap is the bridge design, including two levers and two tap holes, really making it stand out from the crowd. Pairing well with a Belfast sink, you can create a stunning traditional kitchen with ease.
Coloured Kitchen Taps
If you’re looking for a way to make your kitchen stand out, a coloured kitchen tap in gorgeous finishes such as brass, gold and even white, can make a massive difference. Sure to catch the eye of everyone who enters the kitchen.
When choosing a coloured kitchen tap you don’t have to compromise on functionality either. Available in a wide range of designs, from standard kitchen mixer taps to boiling water and even pull-out options, there’s something to suit every need.
Single or Double Lever Kitchen Tap?
One of the first things you'll want to consider when looking for a new kitchen tap is the number of levers it has and whether a single or twin lever is best suited to your needs.
While a single lever tap allows you to control the flow and temperature in one motion, this single-lever design can sometimes make it difficult to get the desired flow and temperature.
However, a double (or twin lever) tap allows you to control your hot and cold water supply separately, while still allowing you to mix the two to create your desired water temperature and flow.
Kitchen Sink Styles
Choosing a new kitchen sink can be a daunting task, with so many different styles available. If you’re looking for some much-needed advice on the best kitchen sink for your kitchen, keep reading for more details.
Belfast Sinks
Perhaps the most classic sink design, the Belfast sink would be a beautiful addition to any traditional kitchen. Not only do they look gorgeous, but they also provide a large surface area for everyday tasks such as washing up and washing vegetables. Boasting high durability and heat resistance, Belfast sinks are a great all-round option.
Undermount Sinks
Undermount sinks are a great aesthetically pleasing kitchen sink design. Fitted underneath the worktop, they provide a more seamless finish than a standard inset sink due to the lack of lip around the edges of the sink.
As well as their seamless appearance, undermount sinks are available in a wide range of shapes, styles, and finishes. From classic ceramic single or double bowl options to contemporary black and brushed brass designs, there’s an undermount sink to fit every kitchen décor.
Granite Sinks
Let’s face it, kitchen sinks need to be robust to withstand daily use, but some materials are better than others. Granite kitchen sinks are perhaps one of the best hard-wearing sinks on the market. Most can withstand high temperatures and UV levels and endure large bashes from items like pots and pans without impacting the look or condition of the sink.
However, this doesn’t mean granite sinks are invincible. Excessive heat, scratches and stains can all have an effect and if left to build up over time, could impact the quality of your sink, making it less robust. Like with any sink, if you take care of it, it could last for many years to come.
Ceramic Sinks
Available in a range of designs, there’s a ceramic sink to fit all kitchen decors. From traditional Belfast designs to contemporary undermount options and much more, you’re guaranteed to find a ceramic sink to fit your needs.
What’s more, ceramic sinks can be highly robust, boasting high heat, stain and scratch resistance making them a wonderful choice for a busy family kitchen.
Coloured Kitchen Sinks
If you’re looking for a kitchen sink to jazz up your space, why not go for a coloured option such as black, brushed brass or even gold? You’ll also have plenty of options to choose from regarding the material your coloured sink is made from. Available in stainless steel, ceramic, granite and even glass, you can choose the best material for your requirements.
Kitchen Walls and Tiles Styles
Another way to give your kitchen a new lease of life, without a full replacement, is choosing new wall tiles. Not only can tiles be a fantastic addition to the appearance of your kitchen, but they are also highly practical, helping to prevent splashes and stains on otherwise plain, painted kitchen walls.
Kitchen wall tiles come in a variety of beautiful styles, from beautiful gloss metro tiles in colours such as pink, green and grey to larger mosaic patterned tiles and even more subtle cream options, making it easy to choose the perfect tile design to fit your current kitchen décor.
Kitchen Floor Styles
The kitchen floor is a great way to add your own style and design to the kitchen and this can be done using wooden floor panels or more elegant floor tiles. Whilst style is a big factor, you also need to be aware of the suitability of the flooring you choose for the space it’s fitted.
Kitchens can be one of the messiest rooms in the home with crumbs, vegetable peelings, liquid and much more ending up on the floor each day. Therefore, you should ensure you choose robust flooring made for use in kitchens.
As much as a gorgeous white marble floor might look, it might not be the most practical option for a kitchen. Instead, there are plenty of alternatives that look very similar but are perfect for use in a busy and messy kitchen.
Cooker Splashback Styles
Your cooker splashback is where you can let your style loose. With plenty of vibrant and colourful options it won’t be difficult to make a statement. On the other hand, if other areas of your kitchen have plenty of colour and pattern, you can choose a simple, plain option such as black or stainless steel.
Explore our Product Range at Plumbworld
At Plumbworld, we stock a wide range of kitchen essentials, from kitchen sinks and taps to wall and floor tiles and splashbacks we’ve got you covered. We even stock a selection of cooker hoods and splashbacks. Take a look at our website to view our full range of stylish kitchen essentials today.
If you found this post useful, you might also like - Easy Kitchen Renovation Tips - Easy Upgrade: The Best Kitchen Taps - A Guide to Replacing Kitchen Taps.
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