From Tizzy Penthouse, our Homes Editor

As summer wears on and maybe there’s just a hint of Autumn in the early morning air, as in the mist the squirrels might start considering where to hoard their nuts, so do we at Hake Life turn our attention to your kitchen cupboards. Are they looking just a little tired, isn’t it time you renewed them and transformed your kitchen? What do they say about you, for remember they are far more than just a means of storage; they are an integral part of your kitchen, the heart of your home, and your opportunity to make a statement on style with practicality.

First you must ask yourself, free standing or integrated? The size of your kitchen will of course dictate configuration and number, and if you have an Aga, particular attention to suitability of style should be paid: clinical white and chrome will look horribly out of place.

Then of course you need to consider material to be used for your work surfaces. It is my opinion that granite, although hard wearing and easy to clean, has become a little too ubiquitous these days. You can still choose from slate, tiles or wood , or in these environmentally aware days, there are some very innovative recycled surfaces becoming available on the market which you could consider.

Ease of cleaning should of course also be taken into account. If you have a cleaner, you should discuss this with her (or indeed him in these enlightened times) before considering anything too ornate or requiring special treatment.

Having established basics, the next decision of course is a colour scheme. Free standing kitchen furniture does look particularly impressive when hand painted (not something we suggest you undertake yourself, of course), although there are ‘off the shelf’ units available from various well known furnishing stores, but here of course you run the risk of having something less than unique in the heart of your home. Steer away from bold colours as they do tend to date rapidly, rather like the fashion for having coloured ‘white goods’ some years back: risible now, but considered cutting edge style at the time. It is of course always best to have any ‘white’ kitchen appliances suitably housed.

On the following pages you will see the interiors of homes with particularly striking yet practical kitchens, which we hope will fire your imagination. Our particular favourite is the hand crafted gothic style cabinetry made especially for Mr & Mrs Throck-Wallaby: note the exquisite detailing on the wine rack and battery de cuisine, together with the faux dovecote which cunningly conceals an extract fan. Delightful!

In our next issue, we’ll be giving you some pointers on flooring and the minimum legal requirements for employing an au pair.