The little secrets of a successful kitchen

The kitchen is the reflection of the soul of the house. It is even the favorite room of the French! We like to be there to cook with our family, to try a new recipe with friends or simply because we feel good there. Let's reveal the secrets to have a successful kitchen, that is to say a kitchen that looks like you.

A pinch of reflection for its design

Designing a kitchen requires some thought. As the heart of the home, this room must above all meet the principle of functionality. Its layout should not be based on your imagination, but rather should be adapted to the shape and surface area available. Fortunately, professionals are at your disposal and will guide you throughout, not the recipe, but the development of your kitchen. Specific software, 3D plans... will be a precious help to plan your project.
In U, L, I... there are several types of layout, to be chosen according to the shape and volume of the room. Thus, the kitchen plan can be in :
- I. Adapted to narrow and long kitchens (also called corridor), the I-shaped kitchen aligns the different workstations and is quite simple to arrange.
- Parallel. In fact, it is the same configuration as the I-shaped kitchen but with furniture on 2 walls facing each other, with a door and a window at the end. For your comfort, a minimum of 1.20 m must exist between the 2 rows of furniture. This face-to-face arrangement offers a large work surface and also allows you to maximize storage space.
- U-shaped. It is more suitable for square rooms or open kitchens. In terms of functionality, it's the ideal way to have everything within reach and limit your movements.
- L-shaped. This is the most common configuration, perfectly adapted to medium-sized kitchens. It occupies only two sides of your space, allowing free and easy circulation. You can create, for example, a dining area with a table or an island in the center of the kitchen.

Essential ingredient: the activity triangle

Reduce the distances between the 3 key areas to optimize movement:
- the refrigerator,
- the cooking area,
- the water point.

Well-chosen materials for aesthetics

For a dish to be fully successful, it must delight both the eyes and the taste buds. For the realization of a kitchen: it's a bit the same. It must be not only functional but also beautiful (or rather to your taste)! In terms of materials, waxed concrete remains a safe bet in the kitchen, but wood is now a must. The natural wood trend has been in vogue for a few years. Some brands now dare to use it in a vintage spirit, inspired by the design of the 50s. The natural wood, country trend, is also in the spotlight and we find it in different colors. Dark wood species such as walnut are in the spotlight. For the ecological side, we will bet on sustainable materials like bamboo. Moreover, since solid wood is not affordable for everyone, melamine remains the leading material for kitchen fronts. For worktops, laminate is very popular! It has many advantages: easy cleaning and shock resistance. For your budget, no comparison, it is much more economical than wood and offers more colors.Functionality is also an important expectation, with a lot of room for clever features that make everyday life easier, such as waste separation bins instead of the classic trash can or a bread rack with an integrated cutting board. If you don't succeed with all this, it's because you really don't want to! To be ahead of 2023, follow one of three trends:
- a light wood or white 90's kitchen,
- a wabi-sabi style that relies on imperfections and simplicity,
- a kitchen with warm colors (yellow, red...).

A touch of home automation to make life easier

The home automation now invites itself in your kitchen. Once you've tried it, you'll find it hard to live without it! Let's take a look at the equipment that makes daily life easier. The intelligent food processor is a must for making recipes...and succeeding every time. The refrigerator shows its contents and alerts on the expiration date. No more food waste! The oven adapts its cooking time according to the weight of the food. Your coffee is ready when you get up in the morning, thanks to your super coffee maker. But then, who's the chef?
Rest assured, it will always be you! Rather than a 100% robotized environment, the field of home automation places the human being at the heart of its priorities. It favors a sensory and intuitive approach. We can't wait to see it!

On the practical side

Coordinate your craftsmen and your various participants: tiler, electrician, plumber, kitchen designer, carpenter...

For an impeccable implementation, the schedule must be respected!

Stéphanie Swiklinski