Going traditional in the Kitchen

THERE’S a great deal to be said for tradition. It gives us a sense of who we are, where we come from, our own mythology if you will.

But tradition went out of fashion in interiors, and much as I crave the modern, uncluttered, streamlined look with furnishings and accessories in moderation, there is something comforting, if not warming, about objects, textures and finishes that are familiar from our earlier years. They also create a connection with a happy time or someone who was well-loved but now no longer with us.

If there’s one room where we’ve moved perhaps a little too far from tradition, it’s the kitchen. In Ireland it has always been the hub of the home for everything from cooking and eating to socialising and hearing the confessions of troubled friends. Even the weekly bath was performed in front of an open fire in times past, making it a very functional space, but cosy at the same time.

Now we’ve retained function with modern kitchen design but removed the cosiness. Of course there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that, but have we moved too far in line with the view of architect Le Corbusier, that a house should be a machine for living? Surely it’s more than that.

Think of those long lines of streamlined cabinets, clutter-free work surfaces erring more on the side of machine and less on homeliness. Then factor in the vast open-plan layout and we may have achieved cold and clinical over hearty warmth.

But it’s not irreversible, nor does it need reversing as such. It simply requires unity — and nothing unites an open-plan kitchen and dining area quite like an amazing piece of art or photography to focus the eye. Colour can also help to create defined areas, so consider injecting something warm onto your walls to remove the chill of minimal and neutral.

In-vogue grey in its warmer varieties is perfect for anyone who can’t quite take on the vibrancy of the new colour palettes being touted this season.

Colourful kettle and toaster sets can be bought to go with a tablecloth, and matching cushions scattered on a sofa at the other end of the space will help to unify and create a sense of warmth at the same time.

Colour matching will also help to achieve a sense of balance, making each area equal to the other so no one space stands out or dominates, or is lost and less used as a result.

Also consider shapes and how they can contribute to a sense of cosiness. Abandon those stainless steel kettles and toasters in favour of more rotund retro styles, and stick with neutrals if you wish. For a slight change, pastels and flat orange, yellow, green and dark blue of the 1970s are the in-thing.

If you don’t have a kitchen island already and have space for one, it’s an effective way to create visual interest in a large area. It can serve as a centrally located hub where the cook can prepare food without having a back turned to the room, and an island can function as a makeshift office when you have a few emails to write or a shopping list to compile.

* Next week we’re checking out the new looks for 2014 launching at the London Design Festival