The appreciation for period properties has soared in recent years. These refined architectural styles focus on human-centred design, creating a space to enjoy family time and evoke a connection to the surroundings. Typically, these beautiful period properties feature grand spaces, clean lines and warm lighting, complete with bespoke joinery.
While a period home boasts many timeless features, maintaining mid-century authenticity while adding modern appliances and utility can be challenging. Architectural joinery is a great solution to accommodate such equipment, building spaces out with panelling and plastering ceilings to disguise unsightly wiring. Read on to discover how bespoke kitchen design can conceal modern conveniences while retaining the beguiling charm of a period home.
Install a walk-in pantry
If space allows, add a large walk-in pantry to your bespoke kitchen design to conceal unsightly household items and appliances. Historically used to store perishable foods, the pantry has recently had a resurgence, evolving into a multi-functional space to store appliances, table linens and crockery. The advantage of this extra room is that everything you do not wish to have on display can be neatly stored and easily accessed from the kitchen.
A great way to organise the pantry with a bespoke kitchen design is to include easy-access shelving for items you may use more often, while less used items should be hidden at the bottom. The pantry should also have ample countertop space for smaller appliances that you may not want to display in the kitchen. Better yet, the pantry is the perfect place to house integrated appliances such as wine fridges, dishwashers and washing machines so that the central kitchen remains in keeping with the period of the home.
Modernise the kitchen island
Installing a kitchen island with a combination of deep shelving behind closed kitchen cabinetry and pull-out units is the best way to conceal everyday conveniences. To make the most out of your kitchen island and remove any clutter from the display, opt for handcrafted drawer dividers to store cutlery and utensils, plates, bowls, and pans. Today, bespoke kitchen design experts can include magnetic knife drawers, silk-lined drawers for silverware, sloping shelves for spice jars, and elegant coffee pod racks. If you are into kitchen and design fitting You can check such vacancies as kitchen fitter self-employed expert on Jooble.
Technology is also increasingly being used at the kitchen island. As such, kitchen joiners can build a drawer for charging phones, which also doubles as a handy place to store unsightly wires.
More modern appliances can also be installed on the kitchen island, including dishwashers and fridges beautifully concealed behind wooden doors. For those who like to entertain and host, consider incorporating a wine cooler into the island mix.
Take advantage of ceiling height
A period home has the exceptional advantage of ceiling height. With this, floor-to-ceiling cabinetry provides plenty of space to store your unsightly essentials while adding furniture-style elegance. Bespoke kitchen design experts can handcraft open shelving or opaque doors to best suit your period home and preferred style.
To break up a large wall of kitchen cupboards, utilise a combination of closed and open solutions. Personal items such as ceramics or decorative kitchenware can be placed on open recessed shelving, while unattractive appliances are best placed in 14-inch recessed-panel kitchen closed cabinets.
While deep drawers make great use of lower spaces, take advantage of the room’s height with a range of tall cabinets to house and hide an integrated fridge, freezer, an eye-level oven and a coffee machine. A unique way to maximise ceiling space is to add a traditional sliding ladder, making it a great bespoke kitchen design feature.
Technical considerations
Maintaining the aspect of a period home can be a challenge when many technical considerations are involved. A smart house involves thoughtful planning. Bespoke kitchen design specialists can create clever and customisable storage throughout the property to discreetly hide unattractive utilities and the wiring necessary for a smart house.
Built-in ventilation systems can be hidden in bookcases, which silently circulate air to create a comfortable environment. Ceilings can also be lowered to hide steels and service routes for cabling, which add atmosphere and intimacy.
Voice control is an effective design element to conceal unsightly wirings, including heating, ventilation, A/C, TV and video, lighting, and shading. Computers, amplifiers, LED drivers, and controls can also be set within a discreet AV cupboard. Typically, these systems generate a lot of noise and heat, so installing fresh air ventilation, as well as an acoustic kit to minimise noise is an effective and discreet bespoke joinery solution.
Utilise pantry alternatives
Consider installing a double pantry to conceal your modern kitchen appliances if space does not allow it. Beyond acting as storage for your dry goods, a double pantry can also conceal toasters, blenders and coffee machines, making them the perfect breakfast cabinet. Bi-folding doors offer sleeker, more practical access to the contents of the cupboards.
Whether using statement wallpaper as a backdrop to a complementary-coloured double pantry or painting the bespoke pantry itself, they also allow ultimate freedom of expression.
Alternatively, opt for a free-standing bespoke pantry if you do not have the space for a butler’s pantry. Free-standing pantry cabinets are a superb way of concealing unsightly appliances while maintaining the charm of a period home. Custom-fit shelves made by a bespoke kitchen design specialist provide accessible storage for spices and china, while deep drawers and open cubbies provide plentiful storage for various pantry items.
For more design advice on how to beautifully conceal modern conveniences in a period home, contact a highly skilled bespoke kitchen design expert and start planning your dream space.
