This year, the look for kitchens continues to be open, light, airy and as large as space and accommodation allows – or a bit more, if you knock a wall through! Although primarily for preparing and cooking, this year, the kitchen is all about entertaining, too…

A mix of traditional design and modern chic
After almost a decade of sleek, gloss units these do continue to be really popular, but more and more people are upgrading their kitchens with woodgrain or painted wood units and there’s undoubtedly a trend towards a mix of the two for a real artisan vibe. Sheraton Kitchens, a proud partner of Ramsbottom Kitchens, are genuine masters in their craft and their range of exquisite and luxurious kitchen designs reflect this, while remaining true to the more traditional and classic fitted kitchens.

Go Open-plan
Open plan designs are undoubtedly the way forward for anyone updating their kitchen now, as it’s all about space and practicality just as much as modern chic. With plenty of space to live and work as well as entertain, the open plan design offers it all. The popularity of island units continues unabated, bringing more workspace as well as a little hub for dinner guests to gather sociably around. With islands and breakfast bars, it’s vital to choose the right worktop to finish the effect and Silestone, the world’s leading producer of quartz work surfaces, have a range of three textures in a dazzling array of colours, so whether it’s a wooden, painted or high-gloss kitchen, the picture-perfect worktop is available – and with a 25 year guarantee, it’ll last, too.

Make your cooker a focal point
This year, cookers are no longer being hidden away – all the most stylish kitchens boast a bank of innovative and creative digital Neff appliances like the genius Slide and Hide oven range, indicating that your kitchen is just as much about form and function as style, as we all aspire to be master chefs.
With the more traditional, woodgrain and hand-painted kitchens being firmly back on the scene this year, Rangemaster appliances are simply textbook – a classic range cooker makes a show-stopping centrepiece. Thankfully, Rangemaster also make sleek professional range cookers so every kitchen is catered for.

It seems that more and more of us are virtually living in our kitchens these days, rather than simply cooking, and this trend is set to continue through 2015 and well beyond, with the kitchen truly being – cliché or not – the heart of the home.