Make a Statement with an American Fridge Freezer OK, so they’re certainly a little bit brash and bold, and they are definitely big, but if you’ve got the room for one in your kitchen, then we think an American style fridge freezer is an essential. These beauties could be described as the big daddies of the kitchen, becoming a real central point of  great kitchen design, but did you know that they can also be gentle giants, too? That’s right, because they’re not the energy sapping monsters you might think that they would be. And, although they are often bigger than conventional fridge freezers, if you currently are housing a separate fridge and freezer you’ll actually be saving on space width-wise. So, we’ve come up with a few great reasons why we at My Beautiful Kitchen think that an American style fridge freezer could be just perfect for you. Fridge Style Let’s

Let There Be Light… For Your Kitchen Other than designing high gloss kitchen units in the liveliest shade possible, the best way to brighten up an otherwise dull or tired kitchen is to install a new window and literally let the sun in. Regardless of the size of your kitchen this can make a huge difference to its appearance. A skylight can be just as effective too of course, but not many kitchens have an open-access roof on which to do this. Putting in a new window might not be a big a job as you might think. There’s a process you have to go through of course, sometimes it’s just a matter of putting in the new window and then other times you will require acquiring planning permission (particularly if you live in a conservation area and your home is listed or you’re building in an exterior wall)

High Gloss Kitchens – A Reflection On You Your kitchen says a lot about who you are and few kitchens say more about you than a high gloss kitchen. Just now, high gloss kitchens are all the rage. Hardly surprising, since they really do elicit that wow-factor the moment you walk in. Try inviting a neighbour round for a cuppa after your new installation and you’ll see what I mean! But it’s their sheer versatility when it comes to design that lets you really stamp your personality on a high gloss kitchen. There’s simply an enormous range of colours, hues, textural finishes and styles. Add a little bit of personal flair and you’ve got a kitchen you’ll really want to be seen in. And you may not even need a kitchen mirror! A shining kitchen example For the most part, high gloss kitchens are all about elegant modernicity. It’s

Choose A Handle-less Kitchen Design Handle-less kitchens are enjoying a real upsurge in popularity, and not simply because they look great. But because they can add a whole new dimension of convenience to your kitchen too. The latest technology makes it easy to operate the doors when you’ve got your hands full. And, as for cleaning, well, it’s as easy as wipe-and-go. No handles mean no awkward bits and bobs to clean. Getting a handle on style Handle-less kitchens might look modern, but they’ve been around awhile, since the 60s in fact, when they were seen as the ultimate futuristic kitchen and a cool way to integrate asymmetrical look into a kitchen plan. Of course, the big selling point here is style. Simply check out the streamlined, uncluttered look of the Remo White to get an idea of what the handle-less look could do for your kitchen. As you

When choosing your new refrigeration appliance it can seem like you’re standing at the bottom of a very icy mountain. There are so many varieties to choose from. But don’t panic because we’re so helpful and friendly at My Beautiful Kitchen, we’ve pulled together an overview of the different types of cooling appliance out there along with some handy hints, too. We’re nice like that you see. Integrated fridges: An integrated fridge (sometimes known as a built-in model) is great if you have a particular look you are trying to achieve in your kitchen. An integrated fridge will sit neatly in a space behind a cupboard door. People who are looking to create a designer kitchen will often insist that their appliances are built-in so the design is seamless. This type of model comes in various configurations from a 50/50 split with equal amounts of fridge and

Your Kitchen Will Never Be Let Down By Laminate Choosing a flooring material for your new kitchen installation isn’t by any stretch of the imagination an easy task. One of the busiest rooms in the house, the kitchen receives a lot of ‘traffic’ and will be exposed to water, steam, mucky boots and no doubt a host of hot and cold spilled foodstuffs so it’s important to get flooring which is tough, durable and isn’t going to crack when a saucepan lands on it. Enter laminate! This sturdy and rather attractive material has been growing in popularity over the past decade or so and has been known to occasionally line every room in the house. At My Beautiful Kitchen we use Pergo laminate (one of the top three manufacturers of the material). Pergo Flooring is off a very high quality, tough, durable and produced in hundreds of different styles from

New Heating – What Does It All Boil(er) Down To? When it comes to choosing a gas boiler for your kitchen, it’s not an easy decision to make. The average householder will be an expert in many fields but at My Beautiful Kitchen we’re betting it isn’t boiler supply. And that’s why we’ve tried to make that decision in a bit easier for you by outlining the pros and cons of each boiler in this post. The information should provide you with a more level playing field when it comes to making your mind up on what is, after all, a pretty expensive piece of equipment that you’re going to have around your home for a long time (or at least, that’s the idea!) You’ve probably been advised already by friends and work colleague to go for a combi boiler. That’s because they’re the most popular variety these days

The Beauty Of An Oak Kitchen When it comes to kitchen design, oak is truly versatile, lending itself to both the rustic look and modern style. The sheer nature of oak means there’s also scope to blend traditional flair with the modernity offered by the newest high tech kitchens yet, the true beauty of oak goes beyond aesthetics. It has a number of other qualities, which makes oak a very natural companion for your dream kitchen. Town and country Country homes and farmhouse cottages might seem the most obvious environment for solid oak kitchens, but that’s not to say oak kitchens are out of place in the city. In urban townhouses, for example, an oak kitchen can happily sit alongside modern appliances and fittings without looking forced or out of place, particularly in large, airy kitchens. This is because, with a little care, oak can matches effortlessly with

Pyroclean Is Hot Stuff! OK, hands up, who actually enjoys cleaning their oven? Yes, I suspected as much. While there are a few of you with their hands up (are you gluttons for punishment), for the majority of us it’s a real chore. Think of all the money spent on cleaning products, all the hours of elbow grease you need to put in, the horrible brown sludge you have to soak up at the bottom of your oven afterwards, the chemicals and the time spent when you really could be doing something far nicer. Wouldn’t it just be a lot easier if there were some magic way of the job doing itself? Some awesome invention that leaves the inside of your oven spotless in a matter of minutes? Well, would you believe it… there actually is! Introducing the Pyroletic Oven

Splashbacks are a fab way to brighten up and redesign your kitchen and can be a real eye catcher in a new installation by providing a strong accent colour. But of course when it comes to choosing the right splashback for your room you’re not just restricted to colour choices, there’s also a whole world of kitchen splashback textures out there from glass, acrylic, ceramic and laminate to granite, steel and glass - you’re spoiled for choice. It all really boils down to why you want the splashbacks in the first place (ie mostly décor?), where you want them, whether you’re prepared to clean them regularly and how much you’re willing to spend. We’ve broken it down to try and make it easier for you. Looks Glass, steel, acrylic are all reflective materials and can make a small pokey kitchen look bigger, lighter and sunnier. Glass splashbacks are