THE CONTEMPORARY KITCHEN
Similar to the bathroom, years ago the kitchen was an area of the home that was gen erally considered to be functional and not a lot else. However, over time this whole con cept has changed, and the importance of these areas has increased greatly in terms of style and “liveability”. The modern-day kitchen is highlighted by free-flowing space, meaning that you can walk around it easily – with clutter-free surfaces. Good storage systems are paramount and a well-thought-out layout will make the space not only practical but also easier on the eye. Kitchens can obviously be a huge investment but tweaking certain details will make all the difference. For example, swapping old taps for ones with spray hoses, sensors or just a contemporary design can modernise the look of your kitchen in one easy purchase. If you have space for an island, they are a fabulous way not only to add extra workspace but also to introduce a bar area – instantly transforming a functional space into a more social area. Lighting has also become a key component in giving the kitchen a more stylistic aes thetic. Overhead strip lighting is a thing of the past, as it offers flat, uninviting and, quite frankly, impractical illumination for kitchen tasks. Instead, go for direct lighting from your overhead cabinetry and pendant lighting over a bar area for a more effective solution in terms of practicality and from an aesthetic standpoint. Make your kitchen more inspiring and it will not only add value to your home but also effectively become an additional living space, where people can enjoy food and drinks in a stylish ambience – thanks to some well-considered design, layout and lighting.
This sustainably-resourced oak kitchen by Ballingslöv has been treated with an environmentally-friendly oil treatment, protecting it from damage caused by water and heat. The natural beauty of oak gives this kitchen a sense of serenity, sophistication and timeless design. Everything shown here is available from Ballingslöv in CC Plaza in Nueva Andalucía (www.ballingslov-marbella.se) .
Italian kitchen company Modulnova is known for its distinctive minimalist style using exceptional materials and crafts manship. They excel in offering a wide range of high-performance materials and finishes that are supremely ele gant and integrate into the home with precision workmanship and architec tural design. The clean lines and mini malism of Modulnova’s designs give the sense of openness, calm and warmth through the natural materials they em ploy. Modulnova is situated in Avenida Salamanca 12 in San Pedro de Alcán tara (www.modulnovamarbella.com) .
OMEO Design’s Raise the Bar chairs are fully-upholstered in Dedar fabric with beautifully finished black wooden legs. OMEO have their own artisans who create hand-crafted bespoke designs
that offer functionality, timeless sophistication and long-lasting durability. Omeo Design is situated in Avda. Gustavo Adolfo Béc quer in Nueva Andalucía (www.omeodesign.com) .
The Kronos kitchen by Arredo3 features the robust lightness of aluminium frame doors, practical handles integrated into the pan el, a choice of seven different cutting-edge materials, and all their finishes for custom ising doors. This sophisticated range is en hanced by an accessorised back panel with a Dekton Sirocco finish. The base units have matt smoked glass doors, creating a harmo nious feel within the space. Arredo3 is availa ble from Decodan Studio in Avda. Juan Carlos I in Estepona and in C/ Ramón de la Serna in Marbella (www.decodanstudio.com) .
INNOVATIVE IDEAS FOR THE KITCHEN
The Bora multi-drawer is an all-rounder as it re heats, keeps dishes warm, thaws and cooks at low tem perature. Falmec is available from Decodan Studio in Avda. Juan Carlos I in Estepona and in C/ Ramón de la Serna in Marbella (www.decodanstudio.com) .
Quantum by Falmec is an elegant worktop with residual heat indicators, nine cooking levels and an in tegrated extraction zone which has a suction speed automatically adjusted to the cooking power. It also features a keep-warm function and pot detector sensor with four cooking areas using Flex Surface technology. Falmec is available from Decodan Studio in Avda. Juan Carlos I in Estepona and in C/ Ramón de la Serna in Marbella (www.decodanstudio.com) .
BREAKFAST IN STYLE
The Emma cordless kettle by Stelton, shown here in their “sand” colour version, can hold 1.2 litres of water and is supplied with a removable limes cale filter and a dry boil safety switch. Its Nordic aesthetic fits into any style of kitchen, and it looks stunning paired with the Emma toaster, also fea tured here. Available from the Escandi Design showroom situated on the Mijas Road, or buy on line at www.escandidesign.com .
The iconic Smeg kitchen range includes this soft-opening kettle and an in-built stainless-steel removable filter to reduce limescale. It boils very fast and has a fully-rotating base so that the ket tle fits any position on the worktop with a useful cable holder. Like the toaster, it is enamelled in stainless-steel for excellent heat conduction and comes in a range of colours from neutral creams to pastel pink, green, blue and much more. Smeg is available from Decodan Studio in Avda. Juan Car los I in Estepona and in C/ Ramón de la Serna in Marbella (www.decodanstudio.com) .
