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Minimalist kitchen design

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A couple who love entertaining end up with a practical yet stylish kitchen.

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Darren and his wife just love to entertain. So when planning began on their new extension and their thoughts turned to the design of their kitchen, there were a few things they knew just had to be included.

They needed lots of bench space and plenty of cupboards. They wanted a central island bench which would provide a work area but also allow them to communicate with their guests in the living room.

They needed a big, robust stove and oven. They were keen on having two pantries and some larger drawers to hold big pots and pans. They wanted the space to be practical for them to use, and to have a design aesthetic that contrasted with the older style of their house.

So they called in Matthew from Carrera Kitchens to take care of things. Darren was impressed with Carrera's professional manner and friendly approach, and with the 3D computer model in which he could see the proposed design before work was even begun. "The good thing about that," says Darren, "was that it gave us the opportunity to change things after they had come back with the first set of designs. We were able to have some genuine input."

Matthew took Darren's ideas and came up with a minimalist but practical design that made the most of every inch of space.

"We went for a look that was quite streamlined and modern, while aiming to meet the client's demands in terms of entertaining and using the kitchen in general," says Matthew.

The design incorporates clean, bright lighting and many reflective surfaces, which "adds to a sense of space and openness", according to Matthew, as well as providing that practical, functional element of supplying light to work by.

The overall colour scheme is light, too, although the darker splashback - which, unusually, runs above the cupboards as well as beneath them - provides a subtle contrast.

"It adds a modern touch," says Matthew. "On top of that, it is easy to clean. There are no tiles, so no grout where grease and dirt tends to build up."

Darren and his wife are tickled pink with their new kitchen. They've ended up with a space that is practical but stylish, and suits their needs perfectly.