Kitchen Guides
Modern Kitchen Designs: 7 Must-Have Accessories
Time to remodel your kitchen? Browse through this list of essential upgrades to incorporate in your new cook space
Renovating a kitchen is a costly and time-consuming affair. What with the myriad of choices available and the tussle to maintain a balance between functionality and design, it can tax your sanity, too. However, there are a few things that every modern kitchen design must have that might have been overlooked in the previous avtaar of the kitchen. Here is a list of essential must-haves that are ageless, super practical and which look good.
What often gets overlooked are recessed lights under shelves. Under-cabinet lights are generally installed under the upper cabinets to provide proper task lighting on every countertop; this way you get to keep all your fingers intact. They also add depth and ambience to your kitchen space.
Pro tip: Replace old lights with efficient LEDs or CFLs. While both are energy saving, LED lamps are longer serving and are more durable and energy-efficient. Also, they are small, and can be grouped together to give concentrated light.
Here are 10 reasons to say yes to LED lights
Pro tip: Replace old lights with efficient LEDs or CFLs. While both are energy saving, LED lamps are longer serving and are more durable and energy-efficient. Also, they are small, and can be grouped together to give concentrated light.
Here are 10 reasons to say yes to LED lights
2. Wall Oven
Relocate your oven from below the counter to waist height. Utilising it will not involve various contortions of the body, such as bending, kneeling or craning your neck, for which you will especially be thankful when transporting hot dishes to the table or cleaning out the oven. Plus, your pint-sized chef-in-the-making could easily use it, too. Under supervision, of course.
Relocate your oven from below the counter to waist height. Utilising it will not involve various contortions of the body, such as bending, kneeling or craning your neck, for which you will especially be thankful when transporting hot dishes to the table or cleaning out the oven. Plus, your pint-sized chef-in-the-making could easily use it, too. Under supervision, of course.
Tip: And while you are relocating your oven to the wall, build in your various appliances, such as the refrigerator and microwave. The advantage of built-in appliances is that they create a seamless aesthetic by keeping the look smooth and integrated, while not disrupting their functionality – a key element in a modern kitchen design.
3. High-arc faucet
If you’ve ever struggled with filling a large, tall pot with water using a standard 45-degree-angle faucet, you will wholeheartedly approve of getting a high-arc faucet. It not only allows you extra work space to fill up or wash large utensils, but also adds an updated, decorative feature to your modern kitchen.
Tip: Make sure your faucet is the pull-down type that offers a variety of spray patterns. It allows for an extended reach for everything, from giving your veggies a rinse to cleaning up the corners of your sink.
If you’ve ever struggled with filling a large, tall pot with water using a standard 45-degree-angle faucet, you will wholeheartedly approve of getting a high-arc faucet. It not only allows you extra work space to fill up or wash large utensils, but also adds an updated, decorative feature to your modern kitchen.
Tip: Make sure your faucet is the pull-down type that offers a variety of spray patterns. It allows for an extended reach for everything, from giving your veggies a rinse to cleaning up the corners of your sink.
4. Pull-out pantry
When you have a deep but not too wide space, using pull-out cupboards is a great way of being able to see everything easily. You can view from both sides, and store different-sized items in them. They also look slick and can blend into your existing kitchen. You can customise them with fitted spice racks, baskets for vegetables and wine holders.
Take a look at these dreamy pantry designs
When you have a deep but not too wide space, using pull-out cupboards is a great way of being able to see everything easily. You can view from both sides, and store different-sized items in them. They also look slick and can blend into your existing kitchen. You can customise them with fitted spice racks, baskets for vegetables and wine holders.
Take a look at these dreamy pantry designs
5. Hardworking island
Get your kitchen island to play jack of all trades and be multi-functional, by adding bespoke elements to the basic unit. Here, a table section at chair height forms an L at the end of the island, while a shelving unit on the other side provides a useful storage area for crockery, thus offering increased storage and additional workspace.
Get your kitchen island to play jack of all trades and be multi-functional, by adding bespoke elements to the basic unit. Here, a table section at chair height forms an L at the end of the island, while a shelving unit on the other side provides a useful storage area for crockery, thus offering increased storage and additional workspace.
6. Focal backsplash
Your new backsplash should not only be able to take a lot of hits and heat, but should double as the centre of attraction, considering it covers a good amount of space. If it is of the tiled variety, make sure the grouts don’t run deep, for easy cleaning. Personally, I would love a plain metal sheet as the backsplash, as in restaurant kitchens – it is hardy, easy to wipe down and looks sleek.
Your new backsplash should not only be able to take a lot of hits and heat, but should double as the centre of attraction, considering it covers a good amount of space. If it is of the tiled variety, make sure the grouts don’t run deep, for easy cleaning. Personally, I would love a plain metal sheet as the backsplash, as in restaurant kitchens – it is hardy, easy to wipe down and looks sleek.
7. Double-bowl sink
This one is up for debate because there are as many advocates for single-bowl sinks as for double. But I am firmly in the latter camp. If you have the budget and space, opt for two separate sinks. If not, a double-bowl sink will do well enough.
This one is up for debate because there are as many advocates for single-bowl sinks as for double. But I am firmly in the latter camp. If you have the budget and space, opt for two separate sinks. If not, a double-bowl sink will do well enough.
Double sinks are great for multi-tasking. Anyone who has struggled with prepping veggies in a sink full of dirty dishes, will know what I mean. Also, dishwashing can be done in one bowl and rinsing in the other, freeing up precious counter space.
Read more:
Dream Kitchen Must-haves
Data Watch: Top Layouts and Styles in Kitchen Renovations
Tell us:
Which elements would be your pick? Would you add any others to this list? Do tell us in the Comments section below.
Read more:
Dream Kitchen Must-haves
Data Watch: Top Layouts and Styles in Kitchen Renovations
Tell us:
Which elements would be your pick? Would you add any others to this list? Do tell us in the Comments section below.
A well-designed modern kitchen requires layers of light to cover its different parts – the emphasis here being on layers. Recessed ceiling fixtures take care of general illumination, while pendant lights act as an accent and cover the island.
Tip: Also look at introducing lighting in the toe kicks. It expands the visual space and is well worth the minor effort and cost for an additional design feature.
Find out more about the 5 layers of a well-lit kitchen