Set in stone
Floors and work surfaces are major areas within a kitchen and need to suit their purpose while also looking aesthetically pleasing. Orlando Boyne, director of Britannicus Stone, says there is something very rewarding about working with those willing to design their luxury residences using high spec finishes and unique one-off products.
“The time and creativity required to create bespoke items should not be underestimated; but the outcome can be a pure delight, a true reflection of the owner’s personality, or an architect’s or interior designer’s penchant for imagination and individualism.”
Kitchens are often the most difficult room in the house to design. They need to be functional, clean and safe, but they are often the hub of the house so beautiful design is also essential.
“Statement pieces are the lynchpin to a successful kitchen design,”
advises Orlando.
“The four areas to consider are the work surfaces, the cabinets, the flooring and lighting. All four need to complement each other. As far as flooring is concerned there is no finer product than British stone which has been used for hundreds of years but is now, rightly, gaining increased popularity with those seeking to create a unique floor.
“Often termed ‘shining stones’ because of their ability to take a polish, British stones vary greatly in colour according to the region from which they originate. But all are beautiful, many extremely rare, most expensive and all British. The Eskett Black, for instance, offers a perfect stone floor; its dark colours tinged with light coloured veins bring out a luminosity when it is either honed or polished; (honing gives a more toned down appearance, whilst polished is more high gloss – either serves well and is simply a personal preference). Contemporary designers are also mixing stones cleverly, either as intricate patterns cut by waterjet, or simply bordering one stone with another. The contrasting colours off-set each stone’s unique qualities and create a statement floor.”
Last but far from least, Orlando advises that work surfaces are best served using marble or a conglomerate stone like Dumfries Red from Scotland.
“This is not only a high prized and very unusual stone – red, green and blue hues – but it also takes a sealant particularly well so it does not mark. Likewise Ledmore with its veiny green characteristics works well as a top or table; the honed surface reflecting an ambient light back around the room.”
www.britannicus-stone.co.uk
+44 (0)20 7751 5962
orlando@britannicus-stone.co.uk
Creating cooking
With a history dating back over 330 years, Gaggenau has taken a pioneering role in innovation for domestic appliances aiming to bring the latest professional culinary technology to the domestic kitchen.
As Sven Schnee, global head of Brand Gaggenau, explains,
“We see ourselves as a brand that combines exclusive culinary culture with timeless design, authentic materials and innovative technology.”
Gaggenau products are protagonists in the making of authentic culinary art, which unites artisan tradition with innovative appliances.
This autumn, Gaggenau introduces two fantastic innovations to its 400 series combi-steam oven. Top chefs have long appreciated the healthy sous-vide or vacuum cooking method, which is slow and gentle. Food is cooked at a low controlled temperature in a sealed vacuum bag, thus retaining natural flavour, nutrients, vitamins and texture.
It is this professional tool that Gaggenau now brings to the consumers, a new sous-vide cooking function, allowing the user low temperature cooking with precision temperature setting from 50 to 95 degrees in one-degree increment. In spring next year, Gaggenau will also introduce a special vacuum drawer, enabling the consumer to prepare and reserve as well as cook, their sous-vide creations. Last but not least, an exclusive world first, there will be the introduction of a new fully automatic cleaning system which cleans the combi-steam oven interior perfectly.
Gaggenau Showroom 40 Wigmore Street, London,W1U 2RX
+44 (0)344 892 8988
Sub Zero & Wolf UK
Craig Davies, MD Sub-Zero & Wolf UK, advises that a good place to start when designing a new kitchen is to decide which appliances you would like to include and then allow the design to flow around them.
“Take your time and find a brand that offers ‘Try Before You Buy’ days, so that you can see and feel the appliances in action,”
he says.
“Fully experience and taste the results, so that you are sure to make the right purchasing decision for your cooking and lifestyle choices.”
Storing both fresh and frozen foods in the best possible conditions is also hugely important.
“Opt for the best quality refrigeration available,”
continues Craig,
“the fresher and more well preserved your ingredients, the better the final dish will taste. Look for refrigeration that offers a Dual Compressor System to keep the air in the refrigerator separate from the air in the freezer. This will vastly extend the life of fresh and frozen food and also keeps ice pure, fresh and untainted. Look out for brands which include an Air Purification System, to remove odours, bacteria and ethylene gases, extending the life of fresh food even further.
“If you want access to chilled, filtered water and fresh ice but prefer to keep a clean look to the refrigerator door, choose a model which offers an Internal Ice and Water Dispenser. This gives you all the convenience of an external dispenser but without breaking the clean lines of the appliance exterior.”
Craig also suggests that refrigerated drawers placed within an island are a great way to conveniently access fresh ingredients while prepping.
“Locate by the sink to make life even easier,”
he says.
“This way you’re more likely to return unused ingredients to their ideal storage place, maintaining freshness and reducing wastage.”
As for the overall look and feel of the space, Craig advises that a stainless steel, contemporary version of a traditional range is a great focal point to design your kitchen around.
“By selecting for example, red, black or stainless control knobs, you can subtly change the overall look of the appliance to suit your decor and tastes.”
www.subzero-wolf.co.uk +44 (0)845 250 0010
knightsbridge@subzero-wolf.co.uk
