10 Kitchens Where a Statement Appliance Takes Centre Stage
It’s not all about the worktops and units you know – as these standout appliances show
Appliances are the backbone of every kitchen – you can’t actually cook or chill food without them, after all – but when designing a new cookspace, the practical pieces often come pretty low down on the list. However, it’s worth giving them just as much thought as your dream worktops and units, as they can radically alter the look of the room, and can even provide the starting point for the whole scheme. From brightly coloured stoves to sculptural cooker hoods, be inspired by this rundown of bold choices.
Cook with copper…
A guaranteed dinner-party talking point, this super luxe range is such a statement, the food that comes out of it needs to be pretty impressive to stand a chance of outshining it!
Choosing a range like this dictates the rest of the kitchen scheme. The traditional-style open shelving displays a collection of coordinating copper pots and pans, and a copper trim along the bottom of the cooker hood links it with the range below. Everything else is in simple white, to really let the warm metal tones shine.
A guaranteed dinner-party talking point, this super luxe range is such a statement, the food that comes out of it needs to be pretty impressive to stand a chance of outshining it!
Choosing a range like this dictates the rest of the kitchen scheme. The traditional-style open shelving displays a collection of coordinating copper pots and pans, and a copper trim along the bottom of the cooker hood links it with the range below. Everything else is in simple white, to really let the warm metal tones shine.
…Or stick with steel
If you’re not quite ready for the full-on copper commitment, this classic stainless-steel range shows why the silver stuff never goes out of fashion. Sturdy and simple, it makes a strong statement at the centre of this symmetrical kitchen set-up. Extending the look with a stainless-steel splashback, hood and accessories further enhances the impact of the oven, especially when teamed with the classic combo of black worktop and white units.
If you’re not quite ready for the full-on copper commitment, this classic stainless-steel range shows why the silver stuff never goes out of fashion. Sturdy and simple, it makes a strong statement at the centre of this symmetrical kitchen set-up. Extending the look with a stainless-steel splashback, hood and accessories further enhances the impact of the oven, especially when teamed with the classic combo of black worktop and white units.
Let it shine
A small kitchen is no hindrance to the big effect an appliance can have. The mirror-shine of this compact oven contrasts beautifully with the dark grey units, and really lights up the space. This is a great example of using contrast to make an impression – many people would have tried to blend the oven into such a small space, but this shows how taking the opposite approach can really work.
See another striking Shaker-style kitchen
A small kitchen is no hindrance to the big effect an appliance can have. The mirror-shine of this compact oven contrasts beautifully with the dark grey units, and really lights up the space. This is a great example of using contrast to make an impression – many people would have tried to blend the oven into such a small space, but this shows how taking the opposite approach can really work.
See another striking Shaker-style kitchen
Pick a pastel
Turn convention on its head and choose a colour that is not normally associated with a kitchen. Here, a lilac range adds a surprising element to the traditional oak and grey scheme. This is a great idea if you don’t want your space to look too ‘kitcheny’, for example if it flows into an open-plan living area.
If you have an existing range cooker and want to try this look, lots of companies can powder coat the doors for you in a colour of your choice.
Turn convention on its head and choose a colour that is not normally associated with a kitchen. Here, a lilac range adds a surprising element to the traditional oak and grey scheme. This is a great idea if you don’t want your space to look too ‘kitcheny’, for example if it flows into an open-plan living area.
If you have an existing range cooker and want to try this look, lots of companies can powder coat the doors for you in a colour of your choice.
Hang a decorative hood
Suspended over a central island, this cooker hood is the focus of the room. Its unusual design and pattern mimics that of a pendant lampshade and draws the eye upwards, towards the impressive skylight. The simple shape of the island, coupled with an unobtrusive glass hob, perfectly complement the hood and show how adding one striking decorative element to a kitchen can give a unique twist to the whole room.
Find out more about buying an extractor fan
Suspended over a central island, this cooker hood is the focus of the room. Its unusual design and pattern mimics that of a pendant lampshade and draws the eye upwards, towards the impressive skylight. The simple shape of the island, coupled with an unobtrusive glass hob, perfectly complement the hood and show how adding one striking decorative element to a kitchen can give a unique twist to the whole room.
Find out more about buying an extractor fan
Box it in
Here, the extractor fan above the hob has been encased in a dark wooden hood, turning it into the main feature above this simple run of units. The deep tone contrasts with the pale wooden cladding on the wall, giving a considered, sculptural look, and tying the hood in with the dark wooden wall cabinet.
Here, the extractor fan above the hob has been encased in a dark wooden hood, turning it into the main feature above this simple run of units. The deep tone contrasts with the pale wooden cladding on the wall, giving a considered, sculptural look, and tying the hood in with the dark wooden wall cabinet.
Throw in a shape
Choosing a sculptural form for an extractor fan delivers instant interest. The rest of this kitchen is very low key, with pared-back units and simple, organic accessories – in terms of impact, it’s all about the fan. Cleverly, that impact has been doubled by the shelves that mirror the ‘floating’ shape of the hood.
If you have a very plain kitchen that needs livening up, installing a more dramatic cooker hood is an easy way to add character without having to redo the whole space.
Choosing a sculptural form for an extractor fan delivers instant interest. The rest of this kitchen is very low key, with pared-back units and simple, organic accessories – in terms of impact, it’s all about the fan. Cleverly, that impact has been doubled by the shelves that mirror the ‘floating’ shape of the hood.
If you have a very plain kitchen that needs livening up, installing a more dramatic cooker hood is an easy way to add character without having to redo the whole space.
Take it as red
If it’s a showstopper you’re after, you can’t get much more look-at-me than a huge bright-red fridge. This kitchen means business, with its sturdy grey cabinets, chunky range and glistening knife rack. The framed poster picks out the red of the fridge, as does the coffee machine on the counter. It’s a bold choice and a clever way to bring a sense of fun into a small space.
Of course, if red is not your thing, there are plenty of less shouty shades to choose from – just go for what you like, as long as it’s not white…
If it’s a showstopper you’re after, you can’t get much more look-at-me than a huge bright-red fridge. This kitchen means business, with its sturdy grey cabinets, chunky range and glistening knife rack. The framed poster picks out the red of the fridge, as does the coffee machine on the counter. It’s a bold choice and a clever way to bring a sense of fun into a small space.
Of course, if red is not your thing, there are plenty of less shouty shades to choose from – just go for what you like, as long as it’s not white…
Go large
Size matters, right? For super-keen cooks, and those with lots of mouths to feed, an enormous fridge-freezer is a real luxury. With an appliance of this size, it’s worth making the rest of the kitchen work around it, as seen here, rather than trying to hide it. The pale green units are a good foil, and soften the hard lines of the fridge, while the stainless-steel cupboard handles and stool bases help to give the room a cohesive feel.
Have you been tempted by a standout appliance for your kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Size matters, right? For super-keen cooks, and those with lots of mouths to feed, an enormous fridge-freezer is a real luxury. With an appliance of this size, it’s worth making the rest of the kitchen work around it, as seen here, rather than trying to hide it. The pale green units are a good foil, and soften the hard lines of the fridge, while the stainless-steel cupboard handles and stool bases help to give the room a cohesive feel.
Have you been tempted by a standout appliance for your kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
This turquoise oven provides a big helping of character, instantly elevating a sleek but plain white kitchen into an original and eye-catching space. The colour is also picked out in the dining chairs and, in a very subtle way, on the inside of one of the pendant lamps.
The key with this look is to keep the rest of the fittings very minimal, and not to go overboard with coloured accessories, which could become a bit twee. Instead, the appliance is the star of the show.
Check out these 10 small design details that can transform your kitchen