Kitchens Archives - Page 2 of 4

Could Marble Make A Comeback In The World Of Kitchens?

Posted on June 8, 2021May 31, 2021 by katy@hawkkb.co.uk

Trying to plan the perfect kitchen is a task that is easier said than done, not least because there are numerous factors that you need to keep in mind. First-and-foremost, you will need to work out the budget that you have to work within. Once this has been completed, you can start to consider the materials that will fit smoothly-and-seamlessly into your home’s current interior decor. If you would like to develop a greater understanding as to why marble is by far-and-away the best choice, allow Hawk K&B to offer an in-depth explanation.

Top-Tier Visuals

As you will have likely already-deduced, the main selling point associated with marble is related to the way in which it looks. To all intents-and-purposes, this is a material that is often termed as being perfect for a kitchen worktop. The shiny finish that this stone exhibits will brighten up your room, and allow you to enjoy a perception of a larger room. When you are attempting to bring to life your idea of a dream kitchen, this could be a fantastic option to help you on your journey.

Cheap Material

In times gone by, you would only expect to find marble in first-class kitchen installations, within the homes of the social elite. The reason for this is that it was rather difficult to source, which drove up the price of the material. However, as the years have passed, it has become increasingly accessible. If you are determined to enjoy a fantastic finish within your newly-renovated kitchen, we highly recommend that you take advantage of the drop in price that is being experienced by marble in this day-and-age.

Long-Lasting Solution

For those of you that are willing to invest your hard-earned finances into a kitchen renovation, the chances are that you will want it to be able to stand the test of time. In order to make this a reality, you may wish to investigate the possibility of purchasing an island that features a marble worktop. In terms of durability, you will be hard-pressed to find a viable alternative that can match the strength that is possessed by marble. In case you weren’t already aware, natural stone is excellent at retaining its appearance for years to come; you won’t have to worry about scratches cropping up.

Need Our Help?

Though you may have decided that marble is your preferred choice of material, the jury might still be out on the contractor that you are willing to put your faith into. In all honesty, despite the many options available to you, your first point-of-call should be Hawk K&B. The attention-to-detail that we bring to our projects is second-to-none, and we guarantee that the installation service that we provide will be nothing short of exceptional. Should you still be harbouring a few doubts, you might like to skim over our Google Reviews; these will certainly make for pleasant reading.

How To Get In Touch

If the time has come to hire a kitchen fitter in Stevenage, and your primary concern is that you need a firm that can consistently produce high-quality results, the only name that should spring to mind is that of Hawk K&B. When you bring us on-board, you will be amazed at the number of areas within your property that we can have an impact on. No matter what your budget is, we will work to your particular requirements, and guarantee that we will exceed your expectations. Why not ring us on 01442 803303, and see what our kitchen design team can do for you?

Why So Many Homeowners Are Installing Kitchen Islands

Posted on November 16, 2020November 10, 2020 by katy@hawkkb.co.uk

Nowadays, when deciding to revamp their kitchen, the vast majority of homeowners will take to the internet or home magazines for design inspiration. Whilst you may have an idea of the colour scheme you’re interested in or the worktops you would like, many people struggle when it comes to planning the new kitchen layout. It can be difficult to see past what you currently have in your kitchen and inspirational images can really help in this regard.

It goes without saying that the layout of your kitchen is incredibly important and it will go on to affect both the aesthetics and the functionality of this space. One thing in particular that is worthwhile considering when it comes to layout is whether or not you would like to have a kitchen island. It is fair to say that these have been incredibly popular amongst homeowners for decades now and they can be a brilliant addition to any kitchen design. Below is a list of reasons why so many choose to incorporate a kitchen island into their layout.

Makes your kitchen a social space

The kitchen is commonly known as the heart of the home and having an island in this room will help to make it a much more sociable space. If you’re entertaining friends, or even just cooking for the family, people will be able to join you in the kitchen and it is likely that they will naturally gravitate to the kitchen island.

Gives the room a focal point

If you’re lucky enough to have a large kitchen, then having an island will provide the space with a focal point. Not only does it prevent the space from looking empty, but it will also pull focus from other less attractive areas of the kitchen. With so many design options available, you can create a kitchen island that is eye-catching for all of the right reasons.

Provides you with additional storage

Of course, a kitchen island can also provide you with lots of additional storage space, which is undeniably beneficial to have in this room. You can choose to have closed cabinets, open shelves or even racking under your island worktop and you can store pretty much anything you’d like here. This extra storage can help you to keep your kitchen clutter-free.

Increases your worktop space

More often than not, homeowners will have the same worktop on their island as they do elsewhere in the kitchen and this can provide you with lots of additional space for food preparation and cooking. You may find that your kitchen island reduces your need for extra worktops elsewhere too, so you have plenty of space for your other kitchen necessities.

Prevents the need for a table or breakfast bar

For anyone who likes to have some seating in their kitchen, opting for an island will mean that you don’t require a separate table or breakfast bar. This opens up lots of possibilities in terms of design and you will have so much extra space to play with. Depending on the size of your kitchen island, you should be able to get quite a few stools or chairs around it.

Adds to the style of the room

As mentioned above, the kitchen island will become a focal point, but it will also add to the overall style of the room. The items you choose to display on the island itself or the lighting you choose to hang above it will all help you to accentuate the specific style of your kitchen. You will be surprised just how much of a difference an island can make in this regard.

Getting a kitchen installed

All in all, it is easy to see why so many homeowners choose to incorporate a kitchen island into their designs and there are numerous benefits to having this central point in your kitchen. So, when thinking about your new kitchen layout, it is definitely worthwhile considering whether a kitchen island will work in your space and if so, the style of the island that you’re interested in. You shouldn’t struggle to find something that will perfectly complement the rest of the design.

If you’re looking for a company who can assist you with both your kitchen design and also your kitchen installation in Hemel Hempstead, be sure to visit the Hawk K&B website today. Our talented team specialise in helping homeowners create beautiful kitchen designs to suit all budgets and tastes without compromising on quality. You can guarantee that you will be in the best possible hands when you choose our team to assist you.

New Kitchen Cabinet Colours Join our Masterclass Range

Posted on May 14, 2019March 10, 2020 by katy@hawkkb.co.uk

Deep Inkwell

Inkwell offers bold, yet elegant sophistication. Transform your kitchen into the grandest of spaces with Inkwell’s sumptuous shade. This beautifully deep colour has previously been available in the Masterclass Classic Collection as a shaker kitchen. However, Inkwell is now available within the modern Sutton and H Line Sutton ranges as well. This allows those beautiful, blue modern kitchens to be obtainable for all budgets.

Hunter Green

Give your home a natural feel with our new opulent, nature-inspired Hunter Green colour. It’s an ideal choice for those seeking a sublime green kitchen. This charming shade is available in the Silk and Ash Painted ranges like Hampton, Roma, Marlborough, Ashbourne, Carnegie, Hardwick, Sherborne and Solva. It also comes as a beautiful colour option for H Line Hampton and as an elegant H Line handle rail colour.

Wisteria

Embrace adventure with this new heavenly lilac kitchen colour. Wisteria is a delicate and graceful colour that is the perfect balance between subtlety and statement. It comes as a colour option in the gorgeous Silk and Ash Painted ranges such as Hampton, Roma, Marlborough, Ashbourne, Carnegie, Hardwick, Sherborne and Solva. The H Line Hampton range also offers Wisteria as a colour option for doors and handle rails.

Natural Oak

Warming woods and diverse tones epitomise this new Natural Oak finish. Give your kitchen an organic and unrefined feel with this country classic. The Natural Oak shaker kitchen comes in the divine Solva range, which boasts the beautiful, varied characteristics that natural wood so elegantly displays.

2019 Kitchen Trends

Posted on January 28, 2019July 14, 2020 by katy@hawkkb.co.uk

DARK COLOURS

The all white kitchen is becoming a thing of the past with people wanting to put their own personal stamp on their kitchens. Not only are dark coloured kitchens increasing but also matte black fixtures and hardware are growing in popularity. This client opted for matte black handles to add a contrasting industrial edge to their traditional Shaker style kitchens.

2019-kitchen-trends-black-quooker — Image via Quooker

Following this trend, tap manufacturers are also having to re-think their offering. Quooker are the most recent brand to have also tapped into this trend and released a black version of its fusion tap earlier this month.

TWO TONE KITCHENS

2019-kitchen-trends-two-tone — Image via Hawk K&B

Continuing from last year we are still designing lots of kitchens with two different cabinet colours. Not only two different colours but also different textures and finishes too such as wood effect cabinets next to gloss painted cabinets as seen here.

CLEVER & CLEAN STORAGE

2019-kitchen-trends-storage — Images via Masterclass

As our kitchens become ever more the heart of the home, a place where we eat, cook, entertain and spend a lot of time, the storage needs also increase. It is for this reason that people are seeking kitchens with maximised clever storage solutions.

Masterclass have a variety of kitchen storage solutions for even the smallest of kitchens. From their signature corner pantry that makes the most of awkward corner spaces to pull out larders available in a range of widths and heights to suit many different spaces and lifestyles.

OPEN SHELVING

As well as more integrated storage, more open storage such as open shelving is also becoming more popular, giving the kitchen a more personalised, lived in feel in keeping with the rest of the home. It also opens up the kitchen, as lots of wall cabinets can often make a kitchen feel enclosed.

2019-kitchen-trends-masterclass — Image via Masterclass

Similarly we are also seeing an increase in open freestanding units such as the Neptune Potboard or the Masterclass open ended island ‘Chef’s table’ both shown above.

2019-kitchen-trends-extractor — Image via Siemens

SMART STREAMLINED APPLIANCES

We will continue to see integrated appliances become more streamlined and seamless but also more smart too. Induction hobs continue to be popular and now come alongside downdraft extractors that are set into the worktop behind the hob, hidden from view, emerging only when needed.

Appliances from Siemens (and later this year, Neff), can also now be voice controlled through Amazon Alexa with their Home Connect function, allowing you to send recipes to your oven and coffee requests to your coffee machine with the appliances alerting you when the task is complete.

The Kitchen at Christmas

Posted on November 29, 2018July 14, 2020 by katy@hawkkb.co.uk

For many, the most important part of the festive period is the entertaining. From a lavish family Christmas dinner to canapes and cocktails with friends, the kitchen becomes the focus. Creating the correct atmosphere in your home will make your guests feel immediately welcome and with the right space to do so, you can put on a party that everyone will enjoy, including you, the host.

An open-plan living and dining area works wonderfully for entertaining, creating a space that achieves the perfect balance of socialising and cooking. A spectacularly laid dining table is essential for a family Christmas dinner and in an open-plan setting, the guests and hosts can intermingle, creating the perfect social atmosphere. Coupling your dining area alongside a cosy seating area means guests will also have somewhere to relax and recline after dinner.

christmas-kitchen-design — Image via Hawk K&B

For evening entertaining, an informal seating area, on an island or breakfast bar is great. An island can act as a great focus in a room, particularly when laden with beautiful food and drink. People will congregate around it and any high stools will allow guests to take a seat without feeling left out.

Finally, the addition of good quality appliances is vital when it comes to the cooking itself. Integrated double ovens will give you plenty of cooking space and details such as Circotherm on NEFF ovens allows you to cook on up to 4 levels at the same time without any flavours intermingling, not to mention the Slide & Hide door meaning you won’t be getting in the way of guests when tending to things in the oven. Alternatively leave the cooking entirely up to the oven by opting for a Siemens oven with Home Connect. Just can send all your recipes and cooking instructions straight to your oven from your phone and receive notifications when the cooking is finished via your phone or Amazon Alexa, allowing you to sit back and enjoy entertaining.

How to Achieve a Great British Bake Off Kitchen

Posted on August 30, 2018December 5, 2019 by katy@hawkkb.co.uk

As the new season of The Great British Bake off gets underway, we find ourselves not only drooling over the baked goods emerging from the ovens, but also lusting after that great British kitchen look. We’ve put together our tips on achieving a showstopper kitchen in your own home.

neff-slide-and-hide-gbbo — Image via NEFF

NEFF SLIDE & HIDE OVEN

There would be no baking without it, the NEFF Slide and Hide oven is one of a kind, with its door that neatly slides back underneath for easy access. It is also packed full of features and functions such as bread baking, dough proving, bottom heat (no more soggy bottoms!) and surface grilling alongside NEFF’s famous CircoTherm fan technology.

Positioned within the island unit in the Bake Off tent and paired with a NEFF proving drawer it can also be built into a tall wall cabinet meaning you can get even closer to your bakes. As a NEFF master partner, we champion this oven as a star baker.

shaker-kitchen-great-british-bake-off — Image via Hawk K&B

SHAKER STYLE

Nothing says British kitchen like a shaker style with its elegant simplicity. Our array of suppliers from Neptune to Masterclass and even our own bespoke shaker kitchens will be perfect for achieving this look. Also, Neptune and our own range can be hand painted in any colour of your choosing, meaning you can even have the perfect bake off blue if you so wish.

gbbo-kitchen-island — Image via Hawk K&B

FEATURE KITCHEN ISLAND

The bake off islands are in fact the only workspace the contestants have to work off so they are well equipped with an oven, sink and hob, however in a larger kitchen your island won’t need quite as much. If the iconic Bake Off green, blue and purple palette isn’t to your taste either, pick an alternative colour, but ensure your island will stand out as the feature piece in your kitchen.

INDUCTION HOB

Featuring a small domino hob on each island, these are perfect for island cooking. Induction hobs are easy to clean and only require electric so no gas supply is needed. A larger hob can also be used on a larger island but whichever you opt for will maintain a sleek workspace.

open-shleving-gbbo-kitchen — Image via Hawk K&B

OPEN SHELVING

At the back of the Bake Off Tent you will spy lots of open shelving, filled with jugs and jars. Displaying your crockery collections and mason jars filled with flours and spices add to the homely, lived in feel of a kitchen and having your ingredients on display will inspire lots more baking!

A DRESSER

Often at the back of the judges tent you will see a beautifully filled dresser. Perfect for displaying pretty crockery but also practical for storing cutlery and your larger pieces of crockery, a dresser is a wonderful addition to a kitchen if you have the space. It also makes a perfect spot to display your recent bakes.

WOODEN WORKTOPS

Wooden worktops add the perfect natural warmth to a British kitchen however they are often hard to keep in good condition. Instead, opt for natural wood on areas that are less likely to sustain water or heat damage such as on an island and your wood will stay wonderful for longer.

In short, a Great British Bake Off kitchen is achieved through traditional British kitchen design and traditional materials with the added extra of contemporary, state-of-the-art appliances for the perfect cooking experience. With Amazon Alexa sponsoring the show this year, next year we may even see the bakers using Home Connect and Alexa to tell their ovens when and what temperature to heat up to!

Mixing Materials In The Kitchen

Posted on May 29, 2018November 7, 2019 by katy@hawkkb.co.uk

When choosing a new kitchen, people usually have one cabinet colour and one type of worktop in mind; however you don’t have to have a uniform or matching look throughout your kitchen. We have been mixing cabinet colours in our kitchens for a while, often with islands in a different colour, allowing it to become the focal point of the space, and now we are beginning to mix materials too.

mixed-materials-kitchen-island — Image via Hawk K&B

Using different worktops for different zones in the kitchen is not only practical but also adds interest to the space visually. Wood has always been a brilliantly warm and tactile material for kitchen worktops, however it’s just not practical with heat and moisture. Above we mixed worktop materials and used a Silestone quartz by the sink and cooker with wood for the breakfast bar. The juxtaposing result looks stunning and also adds texture to the space.

stainless-steel-worktop-franke — Image via Franke

Stainless steel is also another material that has entered the kitchen worktop market recently, with Franke launching theirs later this year. This is supremely practical in a kitchen as for one thing, it’s stainless, so no tea, coffee or red wine marks and it’s great with hot or cold temperatures as well as being antibacterial. Being the worktop choice of chefs, people’s immediate thoughts on stainless steel worktops are that they are the preserve of clinical kitchens however just looking above, the Franke stainless steel worktop adds a brilliant contrasting texture against the natural wood.

hawk-kitchen-mixed-materials — Image via Hawk K&B

Mixing materials on cabinets is another way to introduce contrast and texture to your kitchen as well as zoning the space. In contemporary kitchens, mix wood effect laminate doors with solid colour doors and in a traditional setting mix painted cabinets with natural wood such as this walnut island and mantle we did above.

Gone are the days when it was a standard fit throughout – now it’s about thinking what you are doing and when you are doing it so that we can then work out what you need in a particular zone and design a kitchen that works for you.

Neptune Suffolk Spring Update

Posted on March 20, 2018November 6, 2019 by katy@hawkkb.co.uk

This spring sees an update to Neptune’s Suffolk Kitchen. It has now been pared back even more so it’s minimal the whole way through – as Shaker designs should be.

Ticking boxes for both form and function, changes have been made on every level, right down to the finest details. Below are our three favourite elements of the updated Suffolk:

shaker-kitchen-larder — Images via Neptune

Larder Concepts

Suffolk is the only Neptune collection with a double-door larder and due to their growing appeal, it now has some more larder-style cabinets. Perfect if you’re looking for something slightly smaller, the countertop bi-fold unit can pair with a drawer base to create a deconstructed larder. The full-height piece can then be used either as a mini pantry or a broom cupboard.

shaker-kitchen-drawers — Images via Neptune

Drawer Details

In Suffolk, any cabinet with a drawer will come empty but with a new collection of drawer accessories and inserts, you can organise your drawers perfectly. Oak storage boxes can be configured to feature spice inserts or a wet store for sponges, while tan leather and black rods will protect drawer bases from pan scuffs.

freestanding-shaker-island — Image via Neptune

Freestanding Island

The latest kitchen island from Neptune is freestanding and combines both storage and seating space. It can be configured to be as small or as large as your space can take, topped with your choice of work surface, and painted to match or contrast with your core cabinetry.

If you like the look of the new Neptune Suffolk kitchen, pop into one of our showrooms for a discussion.

Pantone Colour of The Year 2018 – Ultra Violet

Posted on February 7, 2018November 6, 2019 by katy@hawkkb.co.uk

Pantone’s colour of the year for 2018 is vibrant and bold and through careful and considered design, ultra violet can be a colour that will bring energy and freshness to your interior scheme in 2018.

Purple works particularly well in kitchens, as we have seen on some of our own projects. Whether through tile or splashback colour, soft furniture and furnishings or appliances, it will always create a focal point for the room.

pantone-ultra-violet-trend-kitchen2 — Image via Hawk K&B

Purple is a colour that blends well with soft, neutral tones. Here we injected violet into this room through a glass splashback behind the hob and by pairing it with a taupe/grey cabinetry, toned down this bright shade. Blending it with elegant fabrics, such as this floral blind, also softened the space.

pantone-ultra-violet-trend-kitchen3 — Image via Hawk K&B

Mixing ultra violet with metallics will bring out the warmth of the shade, especially the brassy gold tones we are seeing across kitchen brassware recently. However even the silver sheen on the wallpaper above and the brushed chrome appliances create a dramatic and glamorous pairing.

pantone-ultra-violet-trend-kitchen4 — Image via Hawk K&B

For more of a subtle nod to the tone, think about adding in some dining chairs in a violet hue or alternatively, for a real feature, add in coloured appliances such as a Smeg fridge or an Aga in heather or aubergine as shown above.

Ultra Violet can initially seem bold but purple has always been present in interiors in varying shades and tones and serves as an elegant backdrop for any interior scheme. Its versatility means it can be tailored to your design style, whether it’s modern or traditional, enriching your kitchen colour palette. Once again Pantone has chosen a fantastic colour to take us through 2018.

BUYING A BESPOKE BRITISH MADE KITCHEN

Posted on January 4, 2018 by katy@hawkkb.co.uk

Bespoke is a word used frequently in the world of luxury design. Bespoke design is fundamentally about creating a product that is precise to a client’s brief or specification. When you have a vision of what you would like your kitchen to look like, your vision is what you expect; a design that is truly individual.

At Hawk K&B we not only deal with luxury kitchen brands but we also offer our own bespoke, British handmade kitchens, meaning we can design exactly to your specification. Choosing Hawk K&B to design a bespoke kitchen for your home allows you to have a kitchen that perfectly fits the space and works within the interior. It also enables us to create a truly unique kitchen that is absolutely seamless and stunning without compromising on the layout.

Offering various styles to suit every taste, for homes both large and small; our kitchens are built to last a lifetime. Whether you choose one of our contemporary handle-less kitchens or a timeless wooden shaker style, what we think is important is that each element within a space is looked at individually and considered carefully to meet your needs. This is part of our approach and we spend time understanding our client’s lifestyles and delivering the details that makes their kitchen unique.

All of our bespoke kitchens are handmade by skilled British carpenters from their workshops in the heart of the Peak District, something we are very proud of. The fact our kitchens are made in Britain signifies their quality and timelessness. Every frame, shelf and door is hand crafted right down to the traditional joints that connect everything together and stabilise the wood.

We value the work and craftsmanship that goes into our designs, from the workshops in the Peak District where craftsmen hand craft the individual pieces, to our fitters who still use traditional techniques to ensure everything fits like a glove.

Our bespoke service also extends beyond kitchens, meaning we can create furniture for anywhere in your home. From sideboards for the hallway and built-in shelving for the living room, to wardrobes for the bedroom and beyond; we can create something to fill any space to the millimetre. The perfect made-to-measure piece.

When it comes to designing beautiful bespoke kitchens for homes around Hertfordshire, going above and beyond comes as standard for us and is one of the many reasons that customers choose to come to Hawk K&B.