CityPages Kuwait June 2016 Issue June 2016 | Page 26

A SPLASH IN THE KITCHEN

Paul Tunbridge
A professional Facilities Manager
from England, and with work
experience across mainland Europe
before arriving in Kuwait in 2007
Paul's interests include architecture
and gardening as well as creative
writing and the arts in general.

26

JUNE, 2016

It was in our recent May issue that I talked
about the choices we should consider when
approaching the design and installation of a new
kitchen. Making the correct choices is of prime
importance when the project is likely to be
expensive, and is required to be practical as well
as aesthetically pleasing over a long period –
after all, the thought of a wholesale replacement
of cabinets, countertops and major appliances
after short-term use is enough to bring tears
to the eyes of even the most hardened of bank
managers!
But not everyone is in a position to install a totally
new kitchen, or to replace an existing one, and I am
conscious that there is a big rental market in which the
landlords do not necessarily want to spend megabucks
on fixtures and fittings which may not return value-formoney on their investment, and where tenants do not
want to spend cash on fixtures that will have to be left
behind when they move on. Hence, a lot of us are faced
with some pretty dull, boring and uninspiring kitchens.
The good news, let me tell you, is that all is not lost.
It really doesn’t need to cost much to inject some life
into a room in which you are likely to spend quite a
bit of time preparing your meals, but the small amount
of effort needed will reap dividends if the end result
makes you feel happy every time you enter the kitchen,
because you will enjoy the entire cooking process just
that little bit more.
For me, the answer is blindingly simple - give your
kitchen an energy-boost with a splash of colour! In
kitchens which are not in pristine condition, some
vibrant colours will help to focus interest away from
what your eye doesn’t want to see; in kitchens which are
monotonously lacking in colour or style, an injection of
colour will create some focal points.
The only two things to consider are firstly, the best
colour to choose; and secondly, how much of the
chosen colour to use.
So let’s start by choosing a colour. This is a very
personal choice, as everyone has different views and
preferences. Hence, there is no right or wrong colour,
just aim for a colour which will act as a complementary
contrast to the base units, work surfaces, backsplashes
and flooring, and choose a colour that makes you
happy. It is worth remembering that you can use

several shades of the same colour and don’t need
to stick strictly to one particular shade. If you feel
exceptionally adventurous, you might even opt for a
combination of different colours for an eclectic look
and feel.
The amount of colour you use will really depend on the
vibrancy of the chosen colour and also on the size of
the kitchen. Too much accent colour in a small kitchen
could be quite overpowering, whilst a large space
might benefit from having some larger colour splashes.
Nowadays there are several refrigerator manufacturers
who offer their appliances in a range of colours; one of
these could create a great focal point in a large kitchen,
but may swamp a small one. Equally, installing several
brightly-coloured large appliances might prove to be
serious over-kill of an otherwise good idea and could
outdate the kitchen very quickly.
To illustrate my suggestions, let me use my own
kitchen as an example. When I moved into my current
apartment a little over a year ago, I was pleased to
inherit a brand new kitchen with some simple, but good
quality, base units. With wall and floor tiles in grey,
black granite worktops and stainless steel appliances,
the white cabinets with steel handles provided some
much needed lightness in the small room, which was
overall clean and clinical but uninspiring to someone
who likes to t hink of himself as a creative cook. My
white fridge-freezer did not look out of place alongside
the other appliances and the addition of an extra
wall cabinet in complementary style, plus some open
shelving and racking on a blank wall, provided some
essential space for storing everyday pots, pans and
utensils. Then I applied some colour. I settled on green
as my main colour and placed some green items around
the kitchen – not too many, but just enough to create
some interest. To contrast with the green, I added a
few red items for balance and think this works well. Of
course, I do not keep strictly to these colours and there
are one or two yellows, purples and creams dotted
around which do not detract from the overall theme
but add little pockets of interest. From the photo which
accompanies this article you will get a better idea of my
own vision and, whether or not you like my personal
style, I hope you will feel inspired to make your own
kitchen a brighter and more exciting space.
Go on - make a splash!