Specialising in bespoke design, combining both style and practical kitchen solutions, Obsidian knows a thing or two about creating a beautiful new kitchen space.
With a string of awards and accolades under her belt, SoGlos spoke to Showroom Manager, Alison Evans, explaining everything you need to know about planning your new kitchen. From trends to must-have gadgets, Alison reveals it all.
For more information, visit obsidian-interiors.co.uk directly.
What’s the first thing to do when planning a new kitchen?
When clients come in to see us, we’ll sit and listen to them and go through a brief. The things we consider are what appliances you need, the brands you might like and whether they want a modern contemporary look, industrial feel or a classic look.
It’s about establishing what the clients wants and listening to them to create a space and design that works for them.
What’s the most important thing to consider within the kitchen?
It’s about little things that will make a big difference like making sure the oven is accessible to the sink, the hob and the fridge, regardless of the size of the kitchen.
Making sure that the kitchen is multi-functional, nowadays, the kitchen is a very sociable part of the house and we try and design it so that it’s creative and versatile.
It needs to be a space to entertain and relax as well as cooking. A lot of people focus only on the design and it’s equally important to focus on things like cupboard space. We also create bespoke designs so that the items you always use in your kitchen are close to each other.
Does a new kitchen always to cost a lot?
No, not necessarily. We can work to any figure and budget. We have departments which mean we can just change the doors or change the worktops.
What Obsidian is particularly good at doing is incorporating different textures and colours that work together. If someone is working to a certain budget, we can suggest new worktops that match with their existing doors and appliances. Painting the ceilings and the woodwork would make a huge difference too.
How can you make a tiny kitchen practical?
We will plan the kitchen so that it flows and so that it’s unique to the client. If it’s a small kitchen, it’s about very clever storage solutions.
What is the must-have gadget for kitchens?
What’s really popular at the moment is upholstered breakfast bar areas. Lighting solutions are massive, lots of mixtures of suspended lights, uplighters, LED strips underneath cupboards. The demand for more creative wine storage is massive too.
There are lots of kitchen extensions where we’re bringing the inside out. Industrial finishes are massive and are very popular. We are doing lots of concrete, brass and stone.
Painted finishes and natural wood are becoming popular. Lots of Range cookers are coming through in much braver colours.
