Interior Design

Your Dream Kitchen Starts Here

From creating more countertop space to the latest design features, we’ve got chic designer decor tips to refresh the heart of your home.

Portrait of Tammy Strobel
byElizabeth Liew

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From creating more countertop space to the latest design features, we’ve got chic designer decor tips to refresh the heart of your home.

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1 PENINSULA COUNTERS

“More homes are seeing kitchens integrated into the dining space,” says Amilia Gani, principal designer of Facelift Design. “I am getting more requests to design a table area with stools or a bench for quick morning and evening meals, and even family gatherings in the kitchen.”

Design director of akiHAUS Design Studio, Lawrence Puah, says practicality should always be the key consideration in design, particularly in small kitchens. “This means giving priority to creating as much counter space as possible. Avoid going for an island but having it look like a stump in the middle of the kitchen and losing counter space for food preparation,” he says. “An alternative is to create a ‘peninsula’ counter which forms a G, C or L-shape profile, with the freestanding portion designed deeper such that you get storage on one side and leg room at the other, thus creating sitting space for a bar counter. It is practical in creating more counter space while partly fulfilling the kitchen island dream.” 
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2 FLAT-FRONT CABINETS WITH LUXE DETAILS

“While Shaker-style kitchens (recessed panel doors) have been all the rage, thanks to the popularity of TV shows like Fixer Upper and Property Brothers, modern flat-front cabinetry is always relevant and timeless for practical homeowners who want easy-to-maintain, cost-efficient designs,” says Facelift Design’s Amilia. “To give your kitchen a unique personality, opt for classy solid brass handles or marble knobs to give your space a more refined or elevated look.”
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“To make the kitchen look more spacious, keep the island or peninsula counter the same height as the rest of the kitchen counters.”

– Amilia Gani, principal designer, Facelift Design.
 
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3 THE RISE OF TACTILE DESIGN

“While the minimalist look has been a dominant design trend for the past decade or so, there is definitely a return to an appreciation for details and materiality,” Lawrence notes. “Designers and homeowners alike are very much more open to the use of materials that have strong patterns or prints. There is greater consideration for wood finishings, where the beauty of their grains is appreciated and integrated into the overall design scheme, as opposed to using clean solid colours.”

Amilia adds, “Textures and patterns add ambiance and personality to the space. Plus, compared to flat coloured laminates, textured wood is also favoured for practical reasons, such as leaving less visible finger marks, stains and being easy to clean and maintain.”
 
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4 KEEP IT STREAMLINED

“Another vital consideration of kitchen design is the appliances. The one main equipment that affects both a kitchen’s space and design is the refrigerator, due to its usually large size,” Lawrence points out. “This is often overlooked and the fridge is simply left to stick out in a corner. Where possible, try to integrate the fridge into the cabinetry so that it appears to be built-in within the cabinets, or flushed within a wall.”

This streamlined look leaves your kitchen looking much more polished and neat, and is an excellent way to save space. You can also have tall appliances like ovens and fridges on one side of the kitchen and your sink, hob and food prep countertop on the other. “A long countertop will always make the kitchen look spacious,” Amilia says. And then, ensure that kitchen accessories, tools and smaller appliances are neatly stowed away and organised. Andy Tan, director of The 80s Studio, suggests installing drawer systems, basket organisers and compartmentalising cabinet space to help neaten and declutter your kitchen.
 
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“A glass backsplash is classy, easy to clean and can cover a stretch of wall without jointing.”

– Lawrence Puah, design director, akiHAUS Design Studio.
 

5 STRONG MARBLE COMEBACK

“Marble is definitely making a comeback,” says Lawrence, “though often in the form of man-made materials such as quartz, which is much easier to maintain.” Amilia agrees, saying, “The white marble look is a very popular choice for flooring and wall finishes, be it in natural stone or simulated marble in porcelain tiles and surface tops, and the trend doesn’t seem to be losing steam any time soon. In fact, more marble textures are in strong demand for kitchen countertops and backsplashes. Last year, I designed a Japanese-inspired kitchen with dark umber-toned cabinets and bold marble-like textured porcelain tiles for its backsplash. The lines look like calligraphy strokes on the wall.” 
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6 STRONG MARBLE COMEBACK

“Marble is definitely making a comeback,” says Lawrence, “though often in the form of man-made materials such as quartz, which is much easier to maintain.” Amilia agrees, saying, “The white marble look is a very popular choice for flooring and wall finishes, be it in natural stone or simulated marble in porcelain tiles and surface tops, and the trend doesn’t seem to be losing steam any time soon. In fact, more marble textures are in strong demand for kitchen countertops and backsplashes. Last year, I designed a Japanese-inspired kitchen with dark umber-toned cabinets and bold marble-like textured porcelain tiles for its backsplash. The lines look like calligraphy strokes on the wall.” 

PHOTOS COURTESY OF AKIHAUS DESIGN STUDIO, FACELIFT DESIGN AND THE 80’S STUDIO
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