The kitchen is the heart of the home, where everything happens. It’s a bit like Mecca. We all gravitate towards it for our own reasons at various times of the day. The kids will be permanently hanging out of the fridge, the dinner at one sharp, the peaceful cuppa when you get a chance to read your favourite farming paper. So that’s why it’s so important to make it as comfortable as we possibly can.

Personally, I think it’s all about the table. If you’re lucky enough to have a lovely antique pine or oak table that has had years of stories told around it and the scratches to prove it, hang onto it for dear life. They’re a real find, so if you come across one, snap it up as fast as you can.

However, how we can bring an old table happily into this century? With good-quality seating. The mix of old and new when put together correctly can really work. A contemporary kitchen chair paired alongside a beautiful mahogany table can look stunning.

Similarly, a beautifully-restored antique chair paired with a modern table works equally as well. How you dress the table matters too. A linen runner, for example, with some garden flowers would suffice.

Adding one item that’s different from the rest, in terms of an overhead press or a dresser, will make your kitchen more interesting and homely too. If you’ve a lovely fitted kitchen, consider introducing a piece painted in a contrasting colour, positioned separate from the rest, such as a dresser, pantry unit or an island/butcher’s block unit.

How you dress the dresser (surely a joke in there somewhere) is important too. These tend to get filled with lots of bits and pieces and end up looking untidy, so stick to a few key pieces. Your favourite dishes and some napkins are probably enough to make it look beautiful and functional.

The pantry unit has changed a lot with time. Instead of a pull-out unit housing tins and jars, they’ve become more of a work station, baking area and somewhere to make and store snacks. If you are in a position to get one made to order, very often the carpenter will carve out the drawers to your own specification.

How you finish the kitchen and bring it all together is key to its success.

Accessorising is paramount. If you struggle with this, a good designer will point you in the right direction, whether it is selecting the right shade of paint, the gorgeous cushion on the chair beside the range, or that unusual lamp beside the chopping boards or kettle. CL

CONTACT DETAILS

Bernie Fitzpatrick

Fitzpatrick Interiors

Phone: 044-9391701

Mobile: 087-6336906

Web: berniefitzpatrickinteriors.ie

PHOTO CREDIT:

Kitchen photography courtesy of Yvonne Cole Dupuis Photography. www.coledupuisphotography.ie

A few years back, while on a family holiday to France, we took a detour to the amazing Marché aux Puces in north of Paris. While strolling around, I found this antique baker’s display cabinet that I knew would be perfect for this kitchen extension I was working on at the time. A bargain. The client loved the eclectic mix of styles I’d applied elsewhere in the home and when it came to their new kitchen extension, I applied that mix again. The baker’s cabinet acted as an island unit, housing the family’s fruit and vegetables and displaying their vintage shop finds and some crystal pieces. It was a terrific “old” addition to a new kitchen, instantly transforming it into a comfortable, lived in space.

Top Tips

  • • To keep the table in tip-top condition, cover it with an oil cloth when there’s any craft work or baking happening. I personally love to see the wood exposed, but make sure to use mats for hot serving platters or bowls. An expert will advise you on how to treat and care for the wood, but if you’re eager to get cleaning and maintaining, a gentle beeswax-based product applied will do it no harm and protect against those dreaded rings of damage. Remember, always follow the guidelines.
  • • Creating a picture wall is a great way to add colour and display family photos and children’s paintings in an informal, relaxed way. Use your wall light switch as a guide. Measure roughly 1.5ft above and below and with a light pencil draw a rectangle. Within that, decide where you’d like your pictures and mix it up with frames to add a bit of interest. You don’t have to end up with a rectangle form, but just use it as a rough guideline. Alternatively, you could cover most of the wall and mix photographs, kids’ drawings and paintings for an eclectic look. Less formal, but a great impact.
  • • I love to see one small overhead press, unusual cabinet or an old dresser in a kitchen. Paint it a different colour from the rest of the units or strip it back and wax and polish for a rich, dark finish. Fill it with vintage linen, a mix of silver, glassware or your favourite platters for a timeless, classic look. A quirky and functional addition that adds interest and personality.
  • • Keep the worktop simple with essentials. A functional kettle and toaster and plenty of chopping boards will suffice.
  • • On-trend paint colours this year include a lot of moody, dark shades, especially in moss greens. For the kitchen, a growing trend is to paint the cabinets in shades of dark navy or dark grey, and sometimes even shades of black. If this seems too dramatic for you, just try the island unit in a dark shade alongside pale tones for the rest of the units. Very chic.
  • EXPERT ADVICE: The Orchard in Celbridge has just unveiled a new section stocking the beautiful Flamant Furniture. At the opening, I had the pleasure of meeting Alex Flamant himself. It’s all about “homeliness” for Mr Flamant. He emphasized the beauty in imperfection and appreciating the little scratches and bumps that our homes receive throughout its life. These are the essential ingredients that turn a house into a “home”.

    Divine Dining: Get The Look

  • 1. Matthew Williamson tea towels (set of three), €21, the Butterfly range at Debenhams.
  • 2. Matthew Williamson measuring cups, €21, the Butterfly range at Debenhams.
  • 3. Matthew Williamson jar, €18, the Butterfly range at Debenhams.
  • 4. Flamant Emile table linen. Table runner €22.95, napkin €8.95, woven tablemats €10.95, from The Orchard Celbridge.
  • 4. Maida Vale extendable oak table €1,899 from Arnotts.
  • 5. Smeg kettle and toaster, €129 each from Harvey Norman.