How to Create Your Own Chef’s Kitchen

Having an area that is easy to cook in is not just about space. It’s a design that’s all about quality rather than quantity. It’s easy to clean, and easy to work in, yet pleasing on the eye with bags of style.

Those who love cooking need the right layout, and no matter what sized kitchen you have, you can achieve it.

Most chef’s kitchen designs have work zones throughout their space, so it makes tasks much easier and more hygienic.

The kitchen triangle layout is used with a strategically placed fridge, prep area and cooking zone. This creates a natural flow which allows you to bring food from the fridge directly to the prep area and then to the oven.

If you have space for a focal kitchen island aligned with the oven and hob, it’s ideal to directly serve up food.

Nailing the type of kitchen worktop you choose is essential in a chef’s kitchen design. Let’s face it, when you do a lot of cooking it’s got to be practical and hygienic to wipe down.

We’d 100% advise a quartz worktop for this type of kitchen – it oozes style and all the practical benefits. This natural stone is expertly engineered to be super strong and it’s the most advanced worktop on the market – they don’t scratch, stain or erode. Plus, they come with a 25-year guarantee at Wren! There’s also a stunning array of colours from icy whites, to midnight blacks and marbled styles.

Also, make sure you have enough empty worktop space for cooking, chopping, and mixing. It’s so nothing will slow you down whilst you’re trying to cook. It may be tempting to leave herbs, spices and oils out on the worktop for ease, however these can still be on display for easy reach, but just lifted off the worktop with a bar and storage containers clipped onto it.

Organisation is key when creating a coordinated kitchen. Use a mix of open and closed storage in your design so it looks sleek yet practical. Think about what you use a lot of during cooking such as pans, utensils and plates.

For integrated storage, you could consider walk-in larders, magic corner units, cutlery drawer organisers, and integrated bins on the back of your cabinet door.

For easy to reach storage, consider trendy open midway shelving, a dresser for plates and glasses, spice and herb wall racks and an overhead storage rack for pans.

A blend of both storage options will ensure you’re not digging around through cabinets for essential tools, ingredients and crockery.

Cooking appliances are your helping hand so it’s important you pick your lifelong partner correctly!

Most chefs will rave about induction hobs. They make cooking twice as fast, plus they’re easy to clean with one quick wipe with soapy water rather than trying to scrub between awkward gas rings. Plus, for extra time-saving tips, opt for a hot water tap so you don’t have to wait for the kettle to boil!

If you cook for large parties, think about installing a range cooker in your chef’s kitchen, where you can have extra hob and oven space for those more extravagant dishes.

Looking for less cleaning? A self-cleaning pyrolytic oven has the technology to turn grime into ash so all that you do is wipe it away. This technology is becoming more and more popular and it’s super affordable for all budgets.

A pro-chef will always want a warming drawer in their life! If you’re cooking several courses, it’s a great way to gently keep your food warm, as well as your plates before serving up. Some keen bakers even use it as a proving space for dough bakes such as bread and pizza.

If you’re looking to reduce waste and minimise smells from the bin, consider a waste disposal unit – with the touch of a button, food waste is grinded into tiny particles that are simply flushed away in your drainage system.

Kitchen task lighting is key for any busy chef, as it’s designed to create a shadow-free work environment when you're doing things around the kitchen, like cooking at the hob or chopping at a work surface.

Designed specifically for food prep, under-cabinet lighting is one of the most popular kinds of task lighting for ensuring the workspace is properly illuminated and doesn't have obstructive shadows cast over it. Lighting above the hob, sink and over the worktops is essential.

LED strips are often the go-to in these areas, as they offer unbroken, bright white light across an area that makes for clear visibility.

If the room allows, placing the sink beneath a window can allow the area to be flooded with natural light during the day.

For evenings and dark days, small pendant lights are a popular choice as they add a soft spotlight that can be tied into the rest of the room, while recessed LED lights in the ceiling are a subtler addition.

A great alternative is choosing a cooker hood with built-in lighting. All sorts of hoods come with this feature, including canopy hoods that blend seamlessly into the kitchen.

Investing in excellent splashbacks is a great way to add style and functionality to your chef’s kitchen. And they’re worth the investment if you’re a messy chef!

A splashback is there to protect your kitchen walls and work area, as well as complete the look so it needs to be durable, waterproof, non-flammable and easy to clean.

We’d advise Tek Wall as it’s super durable and easy to clean as it doesn’t have any cracks or joints like tiles. It comes in a huge selection of colours and styles to complement your work surfaces and give your kitchen that seamless, streamlined finish.

Stainless steel is also a popular option as it’s corrosive and heat resistant, so it protects your walls from it. And it’s a really affordable option.

If you're still struggling to visualise the space, why not try our kitchen design tool? Use it to experiment with different styles, colour and materials, to help decide which splashbacks will work best in your kitchen.

A chef’s kitchen will truly transform the look and feel of your home, plus it can help you improve your skills with the correct design, appliances and aesthetic! Visit a showroom near you to discover what will suit your space or speak to one of Wren’s expert kitchen designers.

Copy inspiration:

• https://blog.kitchenandbathclassics.com/chefs-kitchen
• https://digthisdesign.net/diy-design/achieve-chefs-kitchen-home/
• https://www.decoraid.com/blog/chef-kitchen-design/