HOW TO BUILD A COOK’S KITCHEN

Living kitchen: Laurence Pidgeon If you are going to spend lots of time in the kitchen, then make it a space where family and friends can comfortably hang out with you. This Laurence Pidgeon-designed kitchen has all the storage and kit a keen cook could need, plus plenty of socialising space. Systemat kitchen in gloss white lacquer with Verde Vienna granite worktops, from £20,000, laurencepidgeon.com

The working triangle: Harvey Jones Everyone knows that to make your kitchen function seamlessly, you need a good ‘working triangle’ – that is, the cooker, sink and food storage all within easy reach of each other, as demonstrated in this classic Shaker-inspired design by Harvey Jones. Shaker kitchen, from £18,000, harveyjones.com

Laurence Pidgeon kitchen (Image: Newquest)

Double islands: Holloways of Ludlow This is an innovative approach to kitchen design by Holloways of Ludlow: two bespoke side-by-side island units with enough storage to accommodate all the integrated appliances and essential utensils the chef of the family could possibly need. It’s statement design at its functional best. Bespoke kitchen, from £25,000, hollowayskitchens.com

Shaker kitchen, Harvey Jones (Image: Newquest)

Perfect pantry: John Lewis of Hungerford If you’ve got the space, then why not install a proper pantry area, like this design by John Lewis of Hungerford? It’s a good solution for storing all those kitchen bits and pieces that are not in regular daily use, plus keeps the messy prep all in one place. Artisan Kitchen, from £25,000, john-lewis.co.uk

Bespoke kitchen, Holloways of Ludlow (Image: Newquest)

Multi-tasking island: Magnet An island feature no longer has to be a solid block of units. Instead mix and match cupboards, drawers and open shelving to house your kitchenalia in the way that is most useful to you. Then finish with a protruding work surface to add a relaxed seating/eating area. Leighton Grey kitchen, from £285 for a 600mm single floor unit, magnet.co.uk

Artisan kitchen, John Lewis of Hungerford (Image: Newquest)

Shelves in reach: Masterclass Ceiling-hung shelves above an island or cooker area make the most of otherwise wasted space and are a great way to keep all the essentials, such as pots, pans and utensils, within easy reach of your resident chef, as this slick, clean-lined design by Masterclass shows. Sierra H Line kitchen, from £7,500, masterclasskitchens.co.uk

Magnet kitchen in Leighton Grey (Image: Newquest)

Material gains: Poggenpohl Think about what you most like to cook and install the appropriate worktop. This cool-to-the-touch porcelain work surface is perfect for preparing bread, pastry and pasta. Designed by Poggenpohl, the kitchen also features a breakfast cupboard, complete with boiling-water tap, which can be neatly hidden behind pocket doors when not in use. +Modo kitchen, from £30,000, poggenpohl.com

Sierra H Line kitchen, Masterclass (Image: Newquest)

Storage solutions: Roundhouse Now we’ve become a nation of foodies, nearly every home has a small library of cookbooks. So why not make a feature of them, and keep them to hand, by adding in bookshelves at the end of your run of units like this design by Roundhouse – which has a real knack for turning practical kitchen storage into a thing of beauty. Urbo bespoke kitchen, from £35,000, roundhousedesign.com

+Modo kitchen, poggenpohl.com (Image: Newquest)

Larder alcove: Smallbone No room for a walk-in larder? Then work with the architecture of your kitchen and instead turn an alcove space into a useful larder cupboard, like this design by Smallbone of Devizes. A statement feature, it will also mean you can instantly put your hand to any ingredient you could ever need. Macassar kitchen, from £40,000, smallbone.co.uk

Urbo kitchen, Roundhouse (Image: Newquest)

 A few essentials every foodie’s kitchen needs…

Macassar kitchen, Smallbone (Image: Newquest)

HOW TO CREATE A TIMELESS KITCHEN