Kitchen Confidential

Whether you are a top chef or a busy Mum, the kitchen of most homes gets a daily work out that can leave it in need of a regular upgrade. We caught up with Leandro Godoy, Kitchen’s Manager at IKEA Dublin and pumped him for his top tips for designing a dream kitchen… here’s what we found out.

The Trends To Look Out For

“White has been a popular choice in kitchen design for some time now but for the next year, we’ll see an increased focus on grey palettes. Light grey works particularly well with the Irish light. You’ll see lots more horizontal cabinets being used in kitchen design. Taking inspiration from the fashion industry, kitchen design will incorporate a monochrome palette. The combination of black and white is a classic look. Lighting is more important than ever in kitchen design. Contrast light and shadow creates drama and atmosphere so you can have your very own food theatre. Minimalism will be a key trend showcasing clean lines and importantly providing the solutions to avoid worktop clutter.

 How To Maximise space in a small kitchen

“Where the footprint is limited, change your mindset – think vertically. Why not use higher cabinets? Use a pull out basket instead of a shelf. This allows you access to the see what exactly is in the cabinet. No more out-of-date cans of beans at the back. When you can’t expand your space, clever storage is key. A rail to hang utensils, pots and pans is a great example and it frees up drawer space. Use light, bright kitchen fronts and worktops to help give an illusion of more space. Glass kitchen fronts are a good option as they reflect natural light. Cabinet lighting is essential in a small space.”

 Upgrading a medium-sized kitchen

“Hidden drawers help to turn hard to reach corners into things of efficiency. Use lighting to show off your best crockery or place it over the stovetop to help create your next culinary masterpiece. Energy saving appliances can help to cut down your energy bill. Induction hobs are extremely energy efficient, fast and precise as induction technology transfers energy directly into magnetic cookware. Using integrated appliances helps maintain the style of your kitchen. Neutral tones help keep the kitchen current. You can add a pop of colour with your kitchen accessories.”

 Make The Most Of Big Kitchens

“An island gives extra seating space and makes a great food prep area. Keep the air in your kitchen fresh with wall mounted extractor hoods. They come in lots of finishes, shapes and sizes. Open up your space by removing wall cabinets. Use IKEA’s new smart lighting giving you the opportunity to change the light through your phone. Incorporate tall cabinets where you can store your cleaning products and keep them out of view.”

This year IKEA launched a brand new home planning service. IKEA kitchen designers will now visit customers’ homes to help them to measure and design the perfect kitchen. 

To avail of the IKEA Kitchen Planning service, customers must book an appointment in advance. They will receive their customised plan within 72 hours. The fee for the planning service is 50 euro and the service is currently available in the following counties only: Co. Dublin, Co. Wicklow, Co. Meath, Co. Louth and Co. Kildare.