Kitchens key in providing the 'wow factor'
Wednesday, 1 December 2010 4:51 PM
British homeowners are increasingly keen to install kitchens which give their property a generous helping of 'wow factor', according to one expert.
Ronnie Whelan, editor of Essential Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom, said that celebrity chefs have had a "huge influence" in making people want to entertain their friends by cooking at home.
"Being able to show off your cooking skills in a kitchen with the 'wow factor' is top of everyone's list," she said.
Whelan went on to say that many people will begin planning their kitchen in the new year as it will take "some time researching the cabinetry and appliances".
"It is a big investment and you don't want to get it wrong," she added.
Meanwhile, Kitchens International recently reported that homeowners would aim to mix and match styles, creating "highly individual and bespoke" looks for their kitchens in 2011.
In addition, it noted that consumers were tending to look for natural materials and organic shapes to create a more classic and conservative cooking space than those that have been popular in recent years.
Last month, insurance company LV= revealed that the kitchen is now typically the most expensive room in a British home.
The average cooking space is now worth almost £4,000 - close to £500 more than the typical living room containing TVs, DVD players and other hi-tech gadgetry.
