Don’t Cook Up Trouble For Yourself In The Kitchen Unless you’re some kind of workaholic who lives off ready-meals, or you just like the idea of dining out every evening with no dishes to wash afterwards, most of us - at some time or other - are going to indulge in a spot of culinary creation in our kitchens. For a lot of people these days experimenting in the cooking sense has become quite a hobby (just go to your local Tesco store and see how big the cookery book section is!). So, it’s important, then, that you get the right cooker for your needs. But how can you tell what’s a good cooker and what makes a bad one? And, more importantly, if you’re getting a kitchen re-fit, then what are you going to replace your old one with? At My Beautiful Kitchen in Glasgow we look

Need Some Help Choosing Kitchen Work Surfaces? Sick of the sight of your current kitchen but can't afford to get the whole room redone? Then a good compromise is to invest in new kitchen work surfaces. We say ‘invest’ because new work surfaces won't just cheer you and your family up, they will also lead to your home looking better and therefore easier to sell if you ever fancy moving on. The worktop counters, with the exception of the main table, probably show the most wear and tear in your kitchen anyway as they tend to become ingrained with food stains, knife marks and dents, regardless of how carefully you look after them. Today ther's a huge range of materials for kitchen counters to choose from. At My Beautiful Kitchen the most popular varieties we've personally fitted are listed below: Types of kitchen worktops available Laminate – this is probably

Induction Hob Technology’s Now At Great Prices We all know that appliances using the very latest technologies are ultra-expensive when they very first come on to the market. Many consumers simply think ‘I’ll never be able to own one of those’. But isn’t it great when you realise that you can have the thing you really wanted, and you really can afford it? That’s exactly what’s happening now, with induction hobs. Although you might not realise it, induction hobs have been on the market place for a number of years now. Indeed, the very first patent for the technology was made in the early 1900s, and General Motors’ Frigidaire division displayed the technology in the USA in the 1950s. But exactly what is induction technology? Well, it’s slightly complex, but here’s the science part. A copper coil is placed beneath the cooking surface, through which an electrical current is passed through,

You Won’t Get That Sinking Feeling With My Beautiful Kitchen The area of the kitchen where we spend most time – apart from at the table – is the kitchen sink and it’s a major feature in any kitchen. So it’s important to get the right sink for you when it comes to designing a new kitchen. There’s an enormous range of different types and brand names to choose from not just in terms of design but also materials and size. Remember you’ll be filling your sink with scalding hot water, dropping huge weights into it such as copper pots and casserole dishes and it’ll be the most scoured place in your home. So a sink doesn’t have to simply look good – it also has to be tough. Another issue to think about is the depth of the sink. Sure, it’s good to have a deep sink

Sparkling Tips For Choosing A Dishwasher Getting the best fit for your appliances is paramount when it comes to designing a new kitchen. Dishwashers are need a little extra attention as they come in lots of different shapes and sizes, but don’t worry one bit. At My Beautiful Kitchen we know everything there is to know about dishwashers and can help you get the fit, style and personality you’re after. There are three main styles of dishwasher: freestanding, integrated  (those have a kitchen door fitted to them) or a semi-integrated model (still has a fitted kitchen door, but the control panel is on the front). But if you haven't got masses of room, then you could always consider a compact table top dishwasher, which will sit neatly on your work surface. There are some key things to look out for, too: Size Matters Under counter dishwashers come in either a standard 60cm width or in a slimline 45cm width. Make sure you’ve got enough room

Choosing The Right Hob For Your Kitchen Gas or electric? White or black? Simple or technological? These are all questions to think about when you are choosing your new hob. As always, at My Beautiful Kitchen we are the experts when it comes to everything kitchen design related, so read on and find which hob will add that spark in your kitchen. Gas versus Electric hobs You may have the choice of gas or electric already decided based on the current fuel supply which runs into your kitchen. If not, then the choice comes down to your personal preference when it comes to cooking. A gas hob provides instant controllable heat. It needs to be installed by a gas safe registered engineer (of course we’ll make sure that happens) and most will feature a flame failure safety device so if the flame goes out then the gas supply cuts

At My Beautiful Kitchen we believe there are times when a back boiler is best Today, when someone’s in the market for a new boiler the ‘go-to’ appliance of choice, is usually the combi boiler. And yes, this is an excellent type of heating system for your home. But combi boilers are not – and shouldn’t be – the first choice for every homeowner. That’s because it’s far simpler and much less costly for some householders to opt for a back boiler instead. At My Beautiful Kitchen we believe that those who already have existing baxi boilers are far better going down this route. Why? Not just because it’s easier to replace a baxi boiler with a newer version rather than install a combi boiler, but it’s also down to the fact that the design of baxi boilers has come on leaps and bounds in terms of

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)