The hype around vaulted ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and industrial style kitchens

Why are people talking so much about vaulted ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and industrial style kitchens at the moment? Are these features just fads that will soon go out of fashion, or do they offer lasting value to a property? In this post, we’ll examine why so much attention has been directed toward these three interior design features; uncover their long-term potential to both beautify and add practical functionality to homes.

Vaulted ceilings

Vaulted ceilings create an airy and open environment in any room. Their natural lighting helps make any space seem larger and more welcoming, often featuring exposed beams or wooden accents to give any room rustic charm. In addition to looking fantastic, vaulted ceilings can act as natural air conditioners on hot summer days.

Popular light fixtures to elevate vaulted ceilings

Chandeliers, pendant lights and recessed lighting are popular fixtures for vaulted ceilings. Chandeliers add luxurious flare while providing ample illumination for a room, pendant lights add ambience while recessed lights offer bright illumination in an area. No matter which fixtures you opt for – proper illumination will highlight a vaulted ceiling’s beauty!

Floor-to-ceiling windows

Floor-to-ceiling windows invite natural light into your home, creating a bright and welcoming atmosphere. Furthermore, they’re great for taking full advantage of outdoor views by bringing nature indoors. And when combined with appropriate treatments, they can even be used to regulate temperatures as well as provide privacy when needed.

Made to measure curtains for floor-to-ceiling windows

Make the most of your floor-to-ceiling windows with custom-made curtains designed specifically for your window sizes – adding colour, textures and softness to the room! Made to measure curtains are an ideal way to dress windows with unusual shapes or dimensions, creating a perfect match with options that include sheer cotton cloth, rustic raw linen and luxurious velvet fabric. Made to measure curtains can also be designed to fit neatly around corners and curves such as bays without the need for gaps between window frames.

Industrial style kitchens

Industrial style kitchens often combine materials such as stainless steel, wood, brick and stone / ceramic into a unique arrangement to create a modern, edgy yet sophisticated space. Not only can this combination be attractive, but it can also be decidedly practical. The open-plan layout often used in industrial style kitchens gives you the space to move freely around the room. In addition, this design offers the opportunity to explore a range of storage options; kitchen islands, strips of open shelving, tall freestanding cabinets, overhead hanging pan racks etc. Industrial style kitchens are great spaces for entertaining guests, as it provides enough room for people to mingle freely while food is being prepared – all without anyone feeling confined or restricted.

Overall, vaulted ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows and industrial style kitchens provide multiple opportunities to add attractiveness and functionality to a home. From design statement to practical features, these three additions can help make anyone feel more satisfied with their home décor. With the right design elements and chosen materials, these features can become the focus of any property!

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5 great qualities of a professional kitchen

A lot goes on in a professional kitchen. It needs to be functional, have a modern appearance, get great ventilation, be well-organised and look great for everyone that comes into and out of it. Additionally, professional kitchens should be easy to maintain.

Good ventilation

Ventilation is essential for several reasons, from the overall impression your kitchen gives visitors, including customers, to the overall safety and quality of the food. Aroma is everything when it comes to the palette, and kitchens have a mix of many flavours and tastes. Some smells don’t mix well and can easily ruin an appetite.

In addition, ventilation helps reduce the scent of the harsh cleaners the kitchen staff must use to keep areas sanitary. Cleaning takes place throughout the day, especially after spills, and proper ventilation can keep these odours away from people in other areas of the building. Kitchens can get exceedingly hot; ventilation helps reduce heat throughout the year, especially in the summer. In addition, keeping the air circulating helps keep the working environment comfortable for staff and improves food hygiene conditions, preventing mould and bacteria growth.

Safety features

Safety is an important feature in every kitchen, however in commercial areas with heavy foot traffic, it’s essential. Although chefs and other professionals working in kitchens wear special kitchen shoes to prevent accidents, designs should incorporate slip-resistant floors. The extensive list of ingredients and other substances in use can make it easy to slip and fall despite safety plans and equipment. Spillages of water, oils, sauces and other liquids are not only messy, they also require cleaning products to clear away.

As well as the need for the floor to be slip-resistant, it needs to be easy to clean – able to deal with regular sweeping, mopping and scrubbing. Commercial-grade flooring should also be cost-effective for businesses, like UltraSyntec tile alternatives. These include stone tiles, vinyl, brick pavers and poured concrete. With professional installation, these can look great while also holding up to the heavy foot traffic floors in commercial kitchens handle.

Organisation/space

Commercial kitchens require enough space for all employees to complete their daily tasks without causing safety issues. If you don’t have masses of space, the best way to do this is through careful organisation and managing the limited area available. Chefs working the grill and stove-top area need to have all the tools and ingredients near them. A separate preparation area for slicing, dicing, mixing and other tasks important to their job shouldn’t be more than a few feet away.

When ensuring workers have enough room to move, take into account that they can be different sizes. What may be enough room for you could be too confined for another individual. During the design phase, remember that some areas will be visible to customers and need to demonstrate first rate maintenance and attention to cleanliness. However, other ideal designs need to pay close attention to health inspection rules and regulations. For example, there are multiple waste disposal systems for wet, dry non-recyclable and dry recyclable items and strict rules about where and what they can be placed near.

Easy to maintain

Commercial kitchens need to be exceptionally hygienic, which means regular cleaning. If your kitchen layout is confined, accessing every corner and cranny to remove grease, crumbs and other food items that splatter, splash, spray, squirt and spill – sometimes in multiple directions – can be virtually impossible. By eliminating excess hiding areas and keeping everything open, you’ll make your kitchen easy to maintain.

Another aspect of the design is choosing construction materials that are not only easy to clean, but also can put up with the process of regular cleansing. Besides floors, this should include counter-tops, sinks, work surfaces, stove-tops, grills, lighting, storage areas and the ventilation system.

Sleek, modern appearance

Presentation is important. A professional kitchen will have a variety of people seeing it regularly, from customers to health inspectors, different levels of management, vendors and other people important to the success of your business. Upgrading your floors and equipment can improve the look and impression of a professional kitchen. You want to give everyone who enters the kitchen confidence in your business.

Sleek, modern designs with clean, well-maintained floors, proper organisation, clear walkways, ample space for employees to work, all appropriate safety measures and impeccable air quality will provide a good impression.

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Get their look: Perfectly practical kitchen

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Of all the kitchens we’ve featured so far on Get their look, this perfectly practical kitchen is probably the one I’d most like to be in our home!

As an ex-chef and avid baker, I love the fact that the Gaggenau appliances wouldn’t look out of place in an industrial kitchen. I’ve always had a soft spot for minimalist stainless steel cabinets and work surfaces.

The background palette is neutral and calm – creams, whites and natural wood shades much in evidence. It’s livened nicely with small flashes of colour from flowers, fruit, herbs etc.

A vintage, wall-mounted Bakelite telephone and framed Tretchikoff ‘Chinese Girl’ print add a contrasting homeliness to an otherwise utilitarian-like space.

Real thought has gone into the design – the marble fire surround being picked up in the top of the Saarinen tulip table for example.

H is for Home Harbinger

Tag: industrial kitchen