Kitchen Creating A Contemporary Kitchen

Date Published:

03/06/2008

The Kitchen Sink

It's a basic part of kitchen kit, but that doesn't mean it can't be innovative and stylish.

Try Franke for a black ceramic sink, or for a black glass and steel model. Astracast has black composite sinks in angular cutting-edge shapes.

Franke's Kubus sink combines steel with glossy black glass. The KBV 611 costs £520.

You'll also find the squared-off shape in Caple's Carlo ceramic, while Blanco's stainless steel BlancoClaron incorporates chopping boards and a colander in a stunning geometric design.

For a streamlined all-in-one sink and drainer, go for Corian, a hardwearing composite material that can be seamlessly joined to create one smooth surface from sink to bowl. For taps, the restaurant style with pull-out hose is flexible and user-friendly. Try Abode or Kludi.

A tri-flow tap from Carron, Phoenix and Franke will supply filtered water as well as hot and cold while, for boiling water to make tea straight from the tap, you need a Quooker, from tapsamazing.com.

Modern Splashbacks

Stainless steel looks smart, but marks easily, though this is less of a problem with splashbacks, which get fewer fingermarks than worktops or unit doors.

Find an easy-clean panel system at Ikea. You can put wallpaper behind the clear surface of Imperativ, to create your own design. Corian and other composites can also be used for splashbacks, and can be moulded to create a smooth join between worktop and splashback.

Silestone worktops from Cosentino come in exciting shades and contain 93% quartz. Prices from £400 per sq m.

Glass worktops gleam out from every kitchen showroom. The back can be coated in any colour, and the glass is heat, acid and water-resistant. If your supplier doesn't sell glass worktops, try John Lewis.

Concrete brings its own industrial chic and shingle, pebbles or marble chips can be included, but it's a pricey option. Try Mass for designs.

Composites are flexible, as they can wrap around the edge of a unit, and down to the floor- very glam and highly priced. Try Silestone or Corian. Steel has a soft sheen and can be specified to include an integrated worktop. Granite is the number one for luxury. It's hardwearing and can withstand extremes of temperature.