A luxury kitchen is a space that can be used not only for cooking but for making memories. For this reason, it makes a lot of sense to have an aesthetically pleasing kitchen that allows for the creation of delicious meals, and socialising.
If you are a master of culinary delights and enjoy catering to your family’s every gastronomical need, you might want to consider joining other luxury homeowners who have started to explore upgrades to their existing kitchen units. These are not just aesthetic upgrades, but functional ones that can be fully customised based on your needs.
There are a host of different types and styles of units available, many already well-established in styles that people have grown to love over time. Here are some of the more popular designs:
This style sits on the floor and usually has a countertop only. In most instances, they are attached to a wall, but they can be freestanding too.
These types are attached to the wall and are either placed at the top or the bottom of kitchens, or both.
Also known as utility cabinets, tall cabinets are long vertical units with a primary focus on storage.
As the name suggests, these units are made specifically for corners.
These types of units are things such as pantry cabinets or appliance garages.
Simple storage is great, but maximising space, improving efficiency, and enabling organisation, with an aesthetically pleasing piece of furniture is what really creates a luxury kitchen. There are a few basic items our interior design team has explored, looking at functionality and style, and recommend the following as must-haves:
The basis for any kitchen, these are for standard storage. Use it to store anything from frequently used utensils and pots and pans to your weekend entertainment items. Because it has doors and handles, you can play around with the material using only the best for those fixtures.
This should be a staple no matter what. Every kitchen needs a couple of drawers; however, you should always make sure that your design factors in more than you think you’ll need.
Open shelves can be used for decorating and function, meaning you can put your favourite vase on display, or utilise it for particularly appealing saucepans or a copper pot that’s seldom used but adds to the homeliness of the kitchen.
While the entire unit can be custom-made, your countertop is where you will have the most questions. Our senior design team recommends a countertop material that is durable yet eye-catching, such as marble.
In a sophisticated home, a high-end kitchen will feature materials such as granite, marble, hardwood, glazed tiles, accent lighting, natural stone, and so much more. These materials contribute to an overall opulent look and feel. Before we define this even further, our senior design team shared three designer principles to explore first.
Looking at your kitchen you will more than likely consider the spacing and dimensions before commissioning your next kitchen unit. Split your kitchen into different zones, working around already established spaces such as your sink or pantry. The aim is to establish a kitchen that is not only functional but intuitive as well. Keep the following essentials in mind:
This zone must include all aspects of foods such as your fridge, freezer, and pantry. Have all these elements together as when you cook, you can easily grab an item from the fridge and pantry in one trip.
When we think about preparing food, we immediately think of the kitchen sink and countertop. This zone should ensure your unit and sink are next to each other or at least nearby. The aim is to ensure you prepare a delicious meal and place the used items in the sink or dishwasher quite quickly.
Your oven and microwave, also known as the cooking zone, should be placed close to the preparation zone for easy and quick access.
Think about your bins, sink, and dishwasher here, as these would need to be placed close to your food preparation zone for quick and easy use.
These are all the items used to enjoy your delicious meals so thin fine China, Crystal glasses and more. This zone should preferably be next to the cooking zone.
Kitchen design principles for luxury homes are quite interesting, they give you a new perspective and allow for creativity.
One of the more strategic design principles is the work triangle. Split your kitchen into three parts: sink, countertop, and fridge - it must form a triangle for this to work.
If positioned correctly, the triangle allows you to move around more freely.
For this to work well, there are recommended dimensions you can use as a guide:
The last and most pertinent principle is the visual element. Physical visuals are determined by our styles and preferences, and it is here where even our design teams spend the most time finding something suitable. In your kitchen, creating harmony between material, colour, and style is paramount, especially if you are incorporating a new unit. You do not want your unit to disappear, nor do you want it to overwhelm your kitchen either.
Look at your options for the focal point.
For example, your stovetop might have a plain white backsplash, so your kitchen unit can have a patterned backsplash to provide a clean contrast. You should also consider the symmetry of the kitchen as this provides a sense of calmness.
Do look at the proportion of all other furniture concerning the unit. It is a good idea to ensure the items are in sync.
Now let us explore some of the features of a luxury kitchen unit.
There is nothing we like more than walking into a luxury kitchen, knowing we get to create mouth-watering dishes for friends and family. If this kitchen was designed in our preferred style, using our favourite yet functional colours, and only the best finishes, then we are truly satisfied. We can almost guarantee the same can be said for luxury homeowners across the United Kingdom. On that note, we have explored the main features of luxury kitchen furniture units:
You will always have peace of mind using high-quality materials as they are durable. Think about quartz, glass, marble, and more.
Some units do feature appliances, so opt for stainless steel due to its long-lasting and stylish appeal.
Luxury kitchen furniture units often feature clean lines providing a more minimalist look.
As always sophistication has several elements of nature, much like your unit should have. Here you must splurge since your unit will largely be constructed from wood.
Opt for quality handles and fixtures such as copper or matt black.
We tasked our senior interior designer, Rey Amini to share their favourite kitchen unit designs and they delivered. Rey also indicated that playing around with different styles, textures, and patterns is ultimately what guides the selection process. On that note, here are some of the designs we will explore, based on Rey’s advice:
Kitchen storage unit furniture is usually concerned with practical space savings solutions; however, it does not have to be that way. You can mix and match or rather play around by having a cabinet for glasses, a pull-out bin in a drawer, long cabinets to display your fine China, and more.
Classic units are created in subtle hues such as light browns, soft pinks, and blue. This ties in well with the more minimalist approach, however, consider bolder colours such as yellow, green, red, etc. The bolder colours are more maximalist and ensure your unit is the focal point of your kitchen.
If your home already incorporates natural elements such as wood, it makes perfect sense to adopt this style in your kitchen. The natural aesthetic is usually known as the sophisticated and moody look and feel. Stick to the theme of your home and craft your unit using natural wood such as mahogany, oak, or cherry.
Sometimes luxury homes, especially those centuries-old homes lack ventilation. Sometimes said homes do not have laundry rooms, leaving you no option but to store the appliances in the kitchen. If this sounds like your home, you can utilise your kitchen unit in a way that hides your laundry appliances. This will mean the cabinets need to be well-ventilated.
For those who prefer the less is more approach, adopting a minimalist style will work well. Think about designing your unit so it isn’t bulky. Then look at colour and opt for something more subtle like pastel, brown, or cream. A minimalist unit may take a backseat in terms of being eye-catching, however, you can always add a signature ornament when the moment allows.
A smartly designed kitchen can change your life, ask any of our interior designers, and they echo the sentiment. For this reason, it makes perfect sense to meticulously explore the different elements of said kitchen, such as kitchen furniture units. Our team at FCI London can help by understanding your needs and what you hope to achieve, and then help you to achieve this goal. Reach out today or visit our showroom floor, and we will design your next kitchen unit.
From giving you advice on the latest appliances to designing your floor plans and exclusive custom cabinetry, our dynamic team will help you kit out your kitchen in style.
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