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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Best kitchen renovation tips & ideas

Renovating your kitchen will add to the overall appeal, saleability and value of your home. And of course, it will add to your daily enjoyment of life. You’ll surely be more inspired to cook and prepare sumptuous meals for your family in an upgraded, more beautiful kitchen. You’ll feel much happier inviting guests and friends into the space. And, if you’re the type of person who loves spending time in the kitchen, what better undertaking than developing the perfect space to suit your needs?

Here are some helpful kitchen renovation tips & ideas:

Use high quality materials

A good foundation is essential, so it’s advisable to pick high quality materials for use in your renovation. There are lots of areas to consider – flooring, worktops, sinks, splash-backs and cabinets. Choose work surfaces that combine beauty with durability, floors that are practical and easy to clean and good quality drawers that slide smoothly.

Wall colour

The colour of the walls will dictate the overall atmosphere in the room. Choose a colour that will create the mood you’re seeking. Some people prefer white to make the room look clean and bright. But you may also want to use less stark neutrals such as creams or natural wood tones. Bold, bright colours can also work well – perhaps on a feature wall. Accessories such as kettles, pots & pans, textiles and storage jars can then pick up on these colours.

Counter-tops

As mentioned, quality is very important. So when it comes to a large expanse of counter-top, consider your materials carefully. There are many options – granite, marble, limestone and natural woods will all add to the feel of quality and permanence.

Kitchen cabinet design

Kitchen cabinets play a very important role in the overall appearance and functionality of the kitchen. It’s one of the first things that you will notice when you go to the kitchen, so make sure you’ve chosen a good design and appropriate style. Install as many cabinets into the kitchen as space allows without feeling claustrophobic. You can never have too much storage space in a kitchen.

If you already have plenty of cabinets, and they’re in good condition, you can have professionals like those at Kitchen Makeovers upgrade the doors and hardware and leave the carcasses in place – this will save you money and disruption.

Dress up the door

If you’re going to revamp your kitchen, then you might as well go all the way and include its entrance in the makeover. Doors are often overlooked – and stand out as an incongruous and rather ugly expanse of wood or PVC in the corner. Perhaps move away from the standard off-the-shelf door. Add character by painting it with fun highlight colours that compliment the rest of the décor. Glass panels will allow light to pour in if darkness is an issue. Be creative – don’t be afraid to come up with unique ideas or solutions.

Don’t overdo it

Decorating is fun but avoid overdoing it. When your kitchen starts looking too busy or crowded, then you’ve probably gone too far. The kitchen needs to be practical as well as beautiful. Furnish and decorate according to the space available. Stick to the essentials in terms of appliances on view and provide yourself with plenty of storage. Remember, simplicity is beauty.

Finishing touches

Complete the new look of your kitchen with fresh flowers, artwork and, of course, some elegant tableware. Shop for the most beautiful and unique dinner set from Harris Scarfe. They have a wide range of designs and styles to suit any kitchen or dining space. The perfect addition to your new and upgraded kitchen!

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Keep your kitchen stylish yet functional

Whether you’re building a new kitchen or looking to update and old one, settling on a design can be a challenge for many home-owners. As a potential space for entertaining, you want your kitchen to be stylish and comfortable, but you also want it to be functional when creating meals for your family. Don’t sacrifice style for functionality or vice versa. Create your dream kitchen by following these insider tips:

1) Cover your walls in cabinets

Your kitchen’s number one most important feature is its cabinets – no appliance or piece of kitchen equipment can compete with them. That’s because in order to keep your kitchen looking organised and stylish, you need a place to store all of the pots, pans, utensils, gadgets and dry goods you’ve accumulated to keep your kitchen running smoothly and your family fed. As well as being practical, cabinets are a good way to hide your refrigerator, freezer, tumbler dryer, and other appliances so that they blend more seamlessly with your kitchen’s overall design. What’s trending in 2013 is to mix cabinet colours – a cream or grey shade for the upper cabinetry and darker woods for the lower cabinetry.

2) Add an island

A kitchen island provides you with two very important features: more counter-top and cabinet space. Unlike other counter-top areas, an island provides you with uninterrupted space where you can do your mixing, chopping, beating, grating, etc. when preparing a meal. You can design the cabinetry portion of the island to suit your individual needs, adding a sink, overhead lighting or trash compost if it will be your main prep area, or bar stools and chairs if the island will function more as a table and informal space for socialising. Keep in mind that turned legs can give your island the look of furniture, and a bold colour choice can help punch up the kitchen’s overall design. If you’re short on funds or space, a wheel-based butcher’s trolley provides a similar function to an island for a lot less money, and can give your kitchen a nice contemporary feel.

3) Get creative with the storage

Not everything needs to be hidden away in cupboards and drawers in order for your kitchen to look stylish and uncluttered. If you’ve got an exposed wall above your stove or sink, consider adding some hung storage to give your kitchen a more homey and inviting ambience. Instead of buying a pot to store your kitchen utensils, add a rack above your stove where you can hang your spoons, mixers, and spatulas upside down to free up some counter space and provide you with easy access to them while you cook. Likewise, pots and pans can be hung above your kitchen island to help save space, and the family wine rack can be incorporated right into the design of your new kitchen island. Rather than keeping your kitchen items shut behind dark panels, you may choose instead to add a glass window to some of your cabinetry to give your kitchen a more open feel. These creative storage ideas look especially great on a contemporary or country kitchen.

4) Get a splashback

A kitchen splashback is designed to be practical and stylish. Most kitchens have a splashback behind the cooker. It’s easy to clean and protects the wall from splatter, steam and grease when you’re cooking. You can simply wipe it down and it’ll be sparkling clean again. This keeps your kitchen more hygienic and it looks far more attractive than a bare wall. You can get a splashback from Custom Splashbacks and choose a design that really speaks to you and your family. This will make your kitchen look like a part of your home, as it suits your style perfectly.

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Tag: kitchens