Wooden floors, ceiling beams and cabinetry are great elements to create the ultimate rustic goal you want to achieve in your hub of the home. Wood brings the beautiful nature inside with it perfectly teaming up with a Quartz or Granite from us here at Berkshire Stone. We have many styles and colours that will show off the beautiful natural elements in the wood. Don’t be afraid to show off those wooden beams, in fact, you are very lucky if you have these as they are one of our favourite features to a property and a style trend that you should steal.

A classic rustic kitchen normally includes a range cooker, white ceramic sink with either a brass tap or stainless steel, wooden kitchen units that have been hand-painted to your liking, dressers and larders for the ultimate country feel and a big beast of a farmhouse table that has been created with carefully crafted wood and sturdy chairs to match. Adding pops of colour and traditional seat covers reveal a true English country kitchen with a full-on rustic style with vintage ideas.

A more modern rustic approach is taking the raw materials such as stone, brickwork and metal to create an industrial style but with a rustic vibe. The industrial trend made its way through to the top in 2017 bringing a fresh new feel to a rustic kitchen. Pendant lights suspended above a large country diner, or above the island with hints of copper will really create the kitchen of your dreams.

Maybe you just want to create a modern kitchen with small mixes of rustic elements. A contemporary style with white cabinetry and stainless steel appliances can be made into a rustic modern design with a natural wooden floor and wooden bar stools.

Kitchens that lack natural light aren’t really suitable for dark wood as this can seem too imposing. A painted or bleached white or grey wood will brighten up the room and make it appear bigger, still within a rustic countrified feel. The best paint to use is a time-worn, aged and chipping paint which you can pick up at your local flea market. They will work wonders in the rustic design. Another option is re-painting a feature in your kitchen, keeping the grooves prominent to keep within the rustic vibe.

Adding accessories can make or break the design. Shabby chic textiles and twig-style furnishing are great to provide a sophisticated, quirky decor.

Contact us today @ Berkshire Stone to find out more information on our stone products and how they can be used within your kitchen – we look forward to hearing from you.

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Lots of extensive research went into creating the U-shaped layout with it particularly working in any size kitchen, but most effective in a larger space. The shape is useful and versatile with it being down to the owner’s personal preference. Perfect for chefs being able to access various areas of the kitchen without having to walk across the room and of course working in any kitchen style.

The sink area is normally featured on the external-facing wall, this sits in the lower curve or bottom of the “U”, and underneath a window. The oven is typically housed down one side of the leg of the “U”, with lots of storage, with the other leg of the “U” finished with the fridge and more storage.

Why is a U-shaped layout perfect?

The ‘kitchen triangle’ can be designed into this layout easily with the three separate work zones at each point. It provides a safe design for you and your family and the design does not allow through traffic, meaning only one person at a time, no spillages and a less chaotic cooking area. However, they can be a more expensive layout, because the cabinetry and worktops are required for the additional kitchen runs.

A limited number of steps are required between the different appliances and units within a U-shaped kitchen, creating a safe area when guests are present. They are a clean and uncluttered look, with generous worktop space and everything within easy reach.

When planning a U-shaped kitchen you should start off with where your windows are located. If one of the walls features a window then this would be ideal for the kitchen sink. The window will give you lots of natural light when completing tasks and allows you to look out onto your beautiful view and thinking of paradise laying on a deck chair instead of doing the dishes.

Corner storage is a great advantage to a U-shaped layout. They make use of the space, perfectly blending in and creating a perfect multi-functional hub of the home.

You can create a peninsula on one of the legs that extend out into the open space, perfect for a seating area making it more sociable, or you could even house the sink or hob. They are great for adding extra worktop and storage space too. A quartz worktop from Berkshire Stone will create a personal and sophisticated finish, and we have many colours to choose from.

Every now and again we fit more traditional style quartz in traditional style kitchens. Like this Jet Black by Caesarstone below, a great combination to the oak cabinets and doors.⠀

Contact us today @ Berkshire Stone to find out more information on our stone products and how they can be used within your kitchen – we look forward to hearing from you.

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When planning the cabinets and shelves in this type of layout you don’t want to overcrowd the space. To design it perfectly you need to have plenty of room to move around and to store all of your essentials. Make each side similar to achieve a balanced outlook and a consistent finish. For extra storage place tall cabinets on one wall and leave the workspace on the other side open, this will allow extra natural light to beam through. Overhead storage is another option to give you more space but not breaking up the rest of the kitchen. You can always display that special china in an open-shelf placed in the middle of the room.

There are two types of galley styles, symmetrical and asymmetrical. Symmetrical is where both lengths are practically the same on either side. Asymmetrical uses various approaches breaking up the run. Taller cabinets or a bank of appliances on one side with the base to wall units on the other.

Adding lights into a galley layout can make the space appear bigger and create a comfortable and stylish atmosphere. Leave windows unblocked to allow as much natural light as you can. Layer the lighting to add additional strengths of lighting with illumination, and emphasise on the task lighting with an under-shelf spotlight or a pendant to light up those fabulous worktops from Berkshire Stone.

Glossy units in a galley kitchen create an optical illusion of more space and a streamlined effect. It is very sleek and modern keeping within today’s interior trends, and try not to clutter those stunning worktops as you want them to be shining through.

Style and colour play an important part in a galley style kitchen. Light coloured cabinets will instantly create a bright atmosphere and welcome all who enters. A quartz worktop from Berkshire Stone will create a personal and sophisticated finish, and we have many colours to choose from. How about layering colours across the room using different tones of one colour. Dark colours allow the light to bounce across, creating an impression of a larger room. Dark units with lighter worktops will work great not overpowering a smaller space.

Contact us today @ Berkshire Stone to find out more information on our stone products and how they can be used within your kitchen – we look forward to hearing from you.

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The layout is crucial to create a kitchen space that works for you and your family as well as the size you have. You need to think about your lifestyle, tastes and the everyday routines you carry out in the kitchen to help create your dream kitchen. The design should include generous worktop space and suitable space for storage and all of your appliances. If you have thought about a sitting or dining area then you need to include this into your plans for the layout to be absolutely correct for you to enjoy it.

Colour in the kitchen plays an important part too. It can make the space feel big or small, with white being the most common colour to use when making the area appear larger. Some kitchens will have limited light depending on where they are situated in the property and the lack of windows, so using a lighter colour will bring brightness to the area. If you aren’t sure on just having white there are other lighter colours to choose from such as off-white, taupe, cashmere, light blue and pale wood.

Choosing reflective surfaces enhance the effect of making a smaller space seem bigger. When light hits these surfaces it reflects back across the room and onto other surfaces. Think about a glass or mirrored splashback behind the hob to expand the space, and wall units with glass-fronted doors allow light to bounce. The eye will be drawn to these elements by travelling through the door to the back of the cabinet, and the extra depth will give the sense of a larger room, but bear in mind it won’t work if the cupboard is cluttered.

Integrated appliances and accessories are the perfect solutions to save space. It provides you with a clean, sleek uncluttered look that a lot of people are going for nowadays. Wicker baskets are great to store kitchen essentials in such as vegetables and pots and pans. Peg hooks are another useful storage solution that can be attached to the wall to hang utensils or pots and pans to free up the space on the worktops and in the cupboards.

Contact us today @ Berkshire Stone to find out more information on our stone products and how they can be used within your kitchen – we look forward to hearing from you.

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Choose the perfect worktops to complete your kitchen from Berkshire Stone. We will provide you with a material that’s long-lasting and that comes with anti-bacterial properties. We have many styles to choose from, with colours and designs to suit your personal preferences.

At Berkshire Stone, we strive to maintain a spirit of engagement and commitment that we hope also benefits the customers that we serve. This spirit is based on the active engagement of the people who work within our company, a belief in the products that we supply and a commitment to providing a high level of service.

Add lots of natural light to the kitchen where possible. Depending on where your kitchen is situated, it can often be hard to bring natural light into the room. Avoid blinds and nets if you lack natural light.

A cooking experience wouldn’t be complete without a good ventilation system, but not everyone can afford to add a stylish extractor fan to their cooking appliances.

Layer the lighting with task, accent and ambient to create different moods in the kitchen. Under-cabinet lights are a great ideal to provide extra illumination to the worktops. Spotlights on the ceiling and pendants suspended above an island are perfect ways to add layered lighting to the design.

Choose pretty accessories to fill your property. Nowadays the minimalistic look is proving to be very popular in homes, so a brightly coloured vase with fresh flowers on the window ledge, a piece of wall art and a few kitchen gadgets will add a great variety of accessories to the kitchen space.

One of the design trends for 2019 is open-shelving. Sometimes you want to break up the kitchen cabinetry with something a little different, but a cupboard behind a closed door is great to hide away items you don’t want on show, plus they look sleek and stylish.

Contact us today @ Berkshire Stone to find out more information on our stone products and how they can be used within your kitchen – we look forward to hearing from you.

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• They save on worktop space. Microwaves and ovens can be built-in to make a bank of appliances
• They can make your kitchen work better for you, creating a perfect multi-functional kitchen
• Some appliances may not go with your kitchen cabinetry or within your kitchen style
• Your kitchen will gain space and certainly feel much bigger without freestanding fridges and cookers
• They will add value to your property if done properly

Built-in appliances are a great addition to the kitchen especially an open-plan space. Open-plan living spaces are becoming more and more popular in today’s homes, so create a living space that is cosy with those cooking appliances hidden away.

Lots of appliances nowadays are fitted with energy-saving ratings that are a great choice for the future and for homeowners that are looking to sell. A slim built-in dishwasher that’s slotted neatly between two cupboards draws attention to potential buyers.

Appliances are a chef’s best friend. If you are lucky enough to be able to fit an island into your space, you may want to build a built-in oven underneath to provide you with a cooking area that’s all in one place. A tall unit is also a great idea to house built-in appliances, making it easier to access and check on your food.

• Single or double ovens can be neatly housed under a worktop or in a tall unit
• Dishwashers can be housed in a run of units or the kitchen island
• Electric, Gas and Induction hobs are perfect for the kitchen island making a focal point, but also look great along the main kitchen run
• Washing machines are ideal behind a closed door within an integrated unit. If you are lucky enough to have a utility room then that’s the perfect place for these bulky appliances.

Contact us today @ Berkshire Stone to find out more information on our stone products and how they can be used within your kitchen and around those special built-in appliances – we look forward to hearing from you.

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When designing your perfect kitchen there are three steps to get the best deals

• Take your time
• Look for discounts, many companies have some sort of discount
• If you don’t ask you don’t get. Managers normally give a discount of 5%-10%, so always make sure you speak with a manager

Spend your money on features that will be used the most and are visible all the time.

• Handles on the cupboards and drawers. They will make standard units look much more expensive.
• Premium and luxury worktops from Berkshire Stone. Here at Berkshire Stone, we have many styles and colours to choose from to make your kitchen luxurious. From Granite to Quartz, white to black, there is something to suit you and your home. We have promotions running all the time so please ask a member of the sales team what current promotions there are.
• High-quality flooring will improve a budget kitchen also adding value to your home.

Re-use your appliances if there’s nothing wrong with them. In the unfortunate event that you have to splash out on new appliances, make sure you scout the internet and high street to find the best bargain. Also, make sure that they are energy-efficient as they will save you money and running costs in the future.

Choose a sink that is stainless steel and low maintenance. Composite sinks can be a bit pricey but are a good investment in the future as they are hardwearing and upstand high temperatures.

LED lighting is the way forward. They are energy efficient and cheaper to run. They can brighten up the kitchen and allows the space to have adequate lighting.

• Re-paint solid-wood cabinets. This is an easy and cheaper way to achieve the look you are going for and will provide a striking look in the new hub of the home.
• Try not to accessorize too much as this will cost money. Mix and match with bargains.
• Open-shelving is a great way to introduce shelves to the kitchen without having to have lots of cupboards. They will make the kitchen appear spacious, and mix the style up.
• Refresh a tiled splashback with a special tile paint
• Use more of your architectural features. You may be lucky enough to have beautiful brick walls and wooden beams, don’t hide them away!

Contact us today @ Berkshire Stone to find out more information on our stone products and how they can be used within your kitchen – we look forward to hearing from you.

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Two adjoining walls meet in the corner to form an “L” that’s connected with worktops. They work very well in smaller kitchens getting the most out of the space. For larger kitchens, you can have one worksurface run along a wall and the other to protrude out into the open-plan space creating a divider between the different areas. If your space is big enough add an island for a focal point, an eating place, and extra storage and worktop space.

L-shaped kitchens offer more floor space allowing the end-user to move around easier. An illusion of a bigger room is also created with the perfect amount of space to socialise. If you paint your kitchen in light colours it will open up the space even more.

Storage is another important factor to consider when designing your kitchen. To get the most out of an L-shape, kitchen cabinets that are floor-to-ceiling are ideal for giving you extra room, with a storage carousel making the most out of every cupboard. You want to store away as much as possible so the worktops don’t look too cluttered, plus you don’t want to hide them away.

Finish off your L-shaped kitchen in the perfect way with a Granite or Quartz. This will add to the design aesthetics and provide a hard-wearing surface for almost anything.

Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive igneous rock, rich in quartz and feldspar, and found in many countries around the globe, from India to Brazil. It is one of the hardest wearings of all-natural materials and produces a beautiful look and feel above all when polished.

Quartz is a manmade composite product comprising typically by weight 93%-94% natural quartz and 6%-7% polymer resin and colouring pigments, where the resin bonding agents help to maintain a uniform and consistent colour and pattern. This makes it well suited to both modern, streamlined kitchens and also more traditional kitchens.

Contact us today @ Berkshire Stone to find out more information on our stone products and how they can be used within your L-shaped kitchen – we look forward to hearing from you.

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There are many splashbacks that are on-trend, with metallics such as copper and gold proving a major hit in today’s kitchens. A smoked mirror will make the room feel large and welcoming, and black and grey coloured quartz will work perfectly with pale grey or chalky white toned cabinetry.

By choosing a quartz worktop you can opt for it to become the splashback to all fitting into the design aesthetics and an easy-clean hub of the home. Brick-like tiles and geometric tiles have become the fashion again in recent years, and a bright-toned toughened glass splashback will inject colour into the kitchen space, providing a style that will be loved for many years with the perfect characteristics for a contemporary home.

Why a Quartz splashback?

Some people choose to leave their wall plain, but if you are considering choosing a quartz worktop you can extend it up the wall, and make it blend seamlessly within the style. Sometimes there are off-cuts of quartz which are big enough for your splashback and save you money in the long run, so contact Berkshire Stone today.

Quartz has many advantages…

• Quartz is a non-porous surface
• Quartz has an anti-bacterial surface making it safe for you and your family
• Quartz has a high stain and scratch resistance
• Quartz doesn’t change colour or fade in time
• Quartz has a uniform and consistent colour and pattern
• Quartz is a thick and tough material and is a great product to use for a splashback due to its thickness

Here at Berkshire Stone we consider ourselves with very competitive pricing, we have a fully stocked showroom and stone yard with a wide choice of stone products and comprehensive template, fabrication and fitting services. Contact us today @ Berkshire Stone to find out more – we look forward to hearing from you.

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Quartz worktops

Quartz worktops are very practical and are the easiest to maintain against the two other stones such as granite and marble. Quartz will save you cleaning time in the long run and still look pristine in that beautiful kitchen. Quartz just about goes with any design, including both light and dark colours fitting in with both traditional and modern homes.

Open-plan

An open-plan kitchen is very practical in terms of providing space and access to all of the appliances. The way we use a kitchen today has changed dramatically, from just a room for cooking to today’s kitchen which is all about having a space that’s inviting to cook, eat and gather with family and friends. Relaxed dining areas and entertainment spaces are created with an open-plan layout.

Induction hobs

Induction cooking is the way forward but there is still a market and a love for gas hobs. Induction hobs use electric currents to directly heat the pots and pans. They will heat your cookware almost instantly with faster meal prep for those mid-week meals and fit flush against your worktops.

Built-in appliances

Clever kitchen storage can integrate big chunky appliances. It makes the kitchen look sleek with a streamline effect, and gives you more opportunity to add colour to the kitchen space. Hide your laundry appliances such as the washing machine behind a door to make the most of your available space.

Metals

Industrial styles are becoming more and more popular within the hub of the home with metallic metals and a professional cooking look. Stainless steel appliances blend in with any kitchen style whether it be traditional or modern, and creates an effortless contemporary touch, with a polished and sophisticated look.

Sinks

The kitchen sink isn’t just the kitchen sink, it can become a feature in the hub of the home, as well as a functional bit of kit. The farmhouse sink has become a popular option over the years and is able to accommodate much more than a normal size sink.

Contact us today to find out more on the beautiful ranges of worktops we offer that are suitable for your kitchen design trends – we look forward to hearing from you.

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