5 ways to fall back in love with your kitchen
November is traditionally the time we would start to think about entertaining, hosting family and friends and spending time whipping up gorgeous food in the kitchen. This year, so many of us are facing a different season and restrictions that it would be easy to fall out of love with your kitchen. Here at Kestrel, we believe the kitchen to be the heart of the home, so if these 5 steps do not solve your disillusion, give us a call and let our design team bring your kitchen dreams to life.
- From chaos to calm: Do you need 14 wooden spoons, 3 tin openers and enough pans to cook for an army? If not, sort through your best ones and re-home the others to the recycling bin or local charity. If you cannot open drawers without being confronted with muddle, if your cupboards harbour chaos and your shelves are groaning, then you need a good old fashioned declutter. Baskets and glass jars breathe new life into tired spaces, and raised shelf inserts mean no more scrabbling at the back to find those beans. Our Pinterest boards are full or glorious ideas to save space and bring calm to the chaos.
- Super surfaces: If your surfaces are full of appliances, the chances are you do not use them all regularly. In November you will need that slow cooker more than the ice cream maker and so now is the time to organise those cupboards and make space for the things you do not need on a daily basis. Clear surfaces allow the kitchen to feel more spacious and automatically raise the mood.
- Biophilia for the heart and sole: Fresh flowers or green plants are not only pleasing to look at, they are scientifically proven to have a positive effect upon your mental health. Fill a vase with seasonal blooms, or use evergreens to brighten up corners and window sills. Change the water each day and remember to trim the stems on a 45 degree angle to allow the plant maximum opportunity to absorb the water.
- Frosty the Fridge: How often do you defrost the fridge and freezer, deep clean them and sort through the contents? We all know we SHOULD do this at least once a year, but life is hectic and it is a chore that is easy to ignore. November is the perfect time to do this before the batch cooking and feasting of December come along. Sort through all the foods, deep clean the insides of the freezer and fridge and make sure bags are secured shut with clips; frozen peas are never pleasant underfoot! Baskets in the fridge work very well and mean food types can be grouped together.
- Music is the food of love: Modern kitchens often come with a television built in, but if your kitchen does not have this then do not fret. A radio, CD player or voice activated streaming device is the perfect companion. We may not be allowed visitors, but we can still have music and conversation, so make a little space in your kitchen for your device and have your own playlists and stations preset…after all, if you cannot dance in a venue, you still have your kitchen in which to throw some shapes as you cook up a feast.