Whether you’re simply looking to improve your existing house or carry out major works to one you’re intending to buy, it pays to understand the scope of the available Permitted Development rights.
Read More
Needing to wait for the pot to boil is thankfully a thing of the past, thanks to the ingenious invention that is the Quooker.
For many these questions may not be up there with ‘To be or not to be….’ but if you are looking at having a beautiful, modern kitchen installed and you want to avoid the age-old issues of a home filled with odours of garlic and old cooking oil, then these questions will be as important to you as the colour scheme you’ve spent hours if not weeks mulling over.
The Extractor Hood has been around for many years, removing airborne grease from the cooking process, eradicating unwanted smells such as re-used cooking oil and the sometimes too strong stench of garlic, not to mention heat and steam using ether a flexible or rigid duct. There is no regulation stipulating that you have one as such, however the benefits it brings to your overall cooking experience should not be underestimated. Styles have evolved from the traditional wall-mounted canopy hood, to more linear steel and glass designs. These pieces of kit are not just functional(stopping your house smelling like last night’s dinner) they can be a real stylish addition to your kitchen.
The creators at BORA have produced a hob with an inbuilt down-draft extractor that pulls steam and odours down and away at four times the rate that they are produced. In BORA’s own words they describe this as ‘UNLIMITED FREEDOM. – MAXIMUM FLEXIBILITY FOR THE KITCHEN’.
View the video to understand what you expect from this amazing cooking hob.
- Intuitive control with a control panel operating by a swipe action of your index finger
- Minimum volume even when being used on high power level
- Simple cleaning thanks to the easy removal of all parts that can be cleaned in the dishwasher
- An oversized cooking surface with space for up to 4 pots measuring 24cm at the same time
- The minimalistic design blends in discreetly with any modern kitchen design
- A wide range of cooktops are available from surface induction to gas or Tepan stainless steel
- An automatic extractor power level that adjusts itself to your current cooking conditions
- Time and energy saving in abundance with the precise and rapid heating abilities
We’d love to discuss how we can incorporate this amazing product in the design of your new kitchen, get in touch today and let us help you breathe fresh life into your kitchen space.
We love to inspire our clients, but we also love to be inspired. That’s why you’ll find the team at Lime Interiors, heading to London Olympia between 22nd March-7th April, to visit The Ideal Home Show 2019. With over 600 innovative companies exhibiting, 100’s of free talks, the latest in technology for the home and fresh ideas from the experts, we plan on returning to Lime HQ armed with design ideas for the future that are inspired by the theme for 2019 – the Best of British.
There will be six gorgeous room sets this year featuring the latest in colour, ideas and trends to bring any home to life. The Best of British theme will be focusing on home grown talent and we understand that room-sets will include a family living space leading out to the garden, a grownup living room with a boot room using natural materials, a bedroom fit for a queen in a combination of contemporary/classic and the room that obviously peaks our interest, is an open-plan kitchen-diner with touches of Hollywood.
So, aside from the Best of British theme, what else can we expect for 2019 in terms of style and colour? The experts are talking Pinks, burnt oranges and yellows, gorgeous greens and Pantone’s colour of the year, Living Coral, with each scheme focusing on inspiring ideas for modern living.
One of the major design trends for 2019 is the extra-long, multi-zoned kitchen island with a cantilever to accommodate stools beneath for a more informal effect and a run of cupboards and drawers beneath the worktop, to keep your work surfaces clutter-free. Coupled with a very cool induction hob, for many this would be the kitchen island of dreams.
Also bang on trend is the use of opposites. High-gloss surfaces that are matched with matt or concrete effect within the furniture doors, drawers and worksurfaces. The use of a two-tone colour combination in 2019 kitchens is on-trend, with darker, tall units complemented by a stand-out island in a lighter shade.
The next big fashion must have in appliances and essential for the new contemporary kitchen is the Cooling Wall. This consists of a tall larder fridge, a tall freezer and a tall wine fridge placed side by side in any configuration of your choice. The fronts of the fridge and freezer can be the same as your run of cabinets or in stainless steel for an industrial look, while the wine fridge has a UV glass front and integrated lighting to make a feature of the bottles within.
We wanted to share the 3D design images of our latest kitchen renovation project, that we feel encapsulates a combination of all the latest trends; two-tone, multi surface with a high spec cooling wall in a stunning combined kitchen/study .
If you like what you see, get in touch today and let us help create your ‘Ideal Kitchen’.
We love kitchens – it’s what we do. We create stunning, beautiful and contemporary spaces for our clients to cook and entertain in.
Part of the job that we love, is finding unusual and unique additions to really make a kitchen stand out from the rest. We’re always looking to find that ‘something special’, that will turn your kitchen from ‘something great’ to ‘something extraordinary’.
We’re in the process of designing a fantastic kitchen which we feel does that in abundance. In shades of white and grey, we’re incorporating a beautiful worktop with stylish floor to ceiling wall units, using some unusual materials. The end result as shown here from the 3D design stage, we feel is a thing of beauty.
One of the real ‘wow’ elements of this kitchen is the extractor fan which we feel resembles more a piece of suspended art, than just a functional extractor fan. Gone are the days when the kitchen extractor fan needed to be large, bulky and tank-like. Extractor fan design has come a long way and fans these days are created to complement your dream kitchen, as well as to be functional. Many will opt for the brushed steel chimney hood, however as these images show, there are other options available.
If you’re considering replacing your old kitchen and want something that will stand out from the rest, get in touch with the team at Lime Interiors today on 07496 099446.
Home is definitely where the heart is and for many of us, the kitchen is the heartbeat itself. It’s the first port of call for many after a hard day’s work. Some will head straight to the sink, armed with the kettle for a well-deserved cup of tea. For others a glass of chilled white wine could do the trick and then there’s those who grab themselves a beer, flip off the cap and let the stresses of the day disperse in a nice, cool glass of beer. Whatever your ‘poison’ at the end of a busy day, this now versatile room with all its amazing gadgetry and Wi-Fi technology has become the mainstay of many a home. So, we thought we’d take you back to a time when the kitchen was a little humbler, than it is now.
We may think that the modern-day kitchen is just that, inspired and formed from modern day living, a creation from the ‘noughties’. ‘Quaint and outdated’ we may think when we look back at images of kitchens from previous decades, however these cooking spaces from yester-year have played a part influencing the spaces we now cook and socialise in. Each era has brought with it, its own obsession from that time.
In early 1900, Fred W. Wolf of Fort Wayne, Indiana, invented refrigerators for home and domestic use with models consisting of a unit that was mounted on top of an ice box.
The 1920’s were viewed as ‘sanitation conscious’, think all-white kitchens that are clean enough to eat your lunch off.
The advent of early ‘appliance technology’ in the 1930’s, brought with it a real change in how we were able to prepare food and beverages. Thanks to appliances from General Electric, such as the electric kettle with automatic cut-out, making a cup of tea became a whole lot easier.
The 1940’s introduced us to food storage in the format of Tupperware containers, developed by Earl Silas Tupper in Massachusetts. Due to rationing because of the war, preserving also became popular in this decade.
The 1950’s saw the first non-stick pan produced and the invention of the microwave oven.
The 1960’s brought a leap in change for the humble kitchen. New technology enabled most fridges to have a freezer compartment below the refrigerator. Ovens and hobs were built into cabinets, both portable and inbuilt dishwashers becoming the norm, Washer and Dryer machines were now able to clean and dry clothes in less time and with fewer wrinkles than before.
The 70’s brought with it the Breville toasted sandwich maker, the Swan Teasmade and the Soda Stream.(who didn’t want a Soda Stream maker?)
The 1980’s bought with it the birth of television cooking shows such as Food and Drink, followed by Ready Steady Cook in the 1990’s, in early 2000 Saturday Kitchen launched and is still running to this day.
That leads us back to the modern-day kitchen….stunning floor to ceiling cabinets, concrete work surfaces, high speed ovens that clean themselves, induction hobs that go from cold to hot to cold instantaneously, music piped seamlessly through invisible speakers, boiling water straight from the tap with no need for a kettle and a flat screen TV to catch up on the latest Netflix box set.
Yester-years kitchens have helped to create the kitchen of today, get in touch with us on 07496 099446 and we will help to create your kitchen of the future.
Microbrewery, microchip, micromanage. From tiny breweries producing amazing beers to overbearing, enthusiastic management teams, the world in ‘micro’ is firmly here to stay in many formats and despite its name, the impact is huge, especially in property.
For many, the desire to actually live within the city’s heartbeat may seem like an unrealistic pipedream due to the cost per square foot. However, with the continuing emergence of Micro Apartments, these dreams could become a reality.
With space at a premium, these new developments, around 400 square feet, are rising in popularity as young professionals seek luxury amenities in the best locations. American studio David Baker Architects have completed a complex comprising of 69 ‘micro-units’ in San Francisco. Winner of an Honour Award in the 2018 AIA SF Design Awards.
Sticking to the ‘micro’ theme, from one US city to another. We love the article from Inhabitat.com on the Arlo Hotel in Hudson Square, New York City. America’s “first micro hotel with 4-star design” packs big style into small rooms. The images from the article show that you don’t need a vast amount of space to make an impact.
If the idea of a Micro Apartment appeals to you, but you can’t imagine how people live in such a small space from a storage perspective, take a look at the fantastic piece on micro-apartments from an interior design perspective from Homedit.com. It may just make you rethink your need for ‘more space’. If you’re looking to cleverly redevelop the existing space that you have, get in touch with Gary or Greg today. Lime Interiors – Designers, Creators….Space Innovators.
Have you ever stopped and wondered why family and friends all tend to congregate in the kitchen?
What is it about kitchens that evoke a mysterious magnetic attraction? In years gone by, the household kitchen was designed for preparing and cooking meals. However, over the past few decades, this one particular room, more than any other has slowly morphed into the epicentre of the home. The average kitchen wears many hats—it’s where the family congregate after school, the place to raid the biscuit tin, a children’s art museum on the fridge and above all a place to socialise and enjoy good food with family and friends. The kitchen was immortalised as the place to be in the song released in 1980 by Jona Lewie …”you will always find him in the kitchen at parties.” Whoever ‘he’ was, he was enjoying himself in the place where everyone else wanted to be.
Over the coming months, we’ll be sharing our knowledge on what it takes to help create the ideal kitchen space for your home. We’ll cover all the elements that need to be looked at including colour, style, textures, appliances and materials. A feature that every kitchen has irrelevant of size, is a work surface, this may be more prominent in some kitchens than others. Kitchens with a long central island will almost certainly have more worksurface than those without the island however the right worksurface is important irrelevant of size.
There are a number of countertops worth considering on the market and if you’ve ever gone looking, you may well have been confused by the differences between what look like very similar products. So, we wanted to shed some light on your choices and why you might consider them.
Corian® Kitchen Countertops
We love working with Corian®. It’s a solid surface used in kitchen worktops, islands and prefabricated sinks and is fashioned from high-performance Corian® and available in a dazzling array of styles and colours. It’s non-porous, so stains cannot penetrate its surface. The manufacturers advise that with proper cleaning, Corian® also resists the growth of mould, mildew and bacteria and due to the seamless look of integrated Corian® kitchen worktops, sinks, and coved backsplashes, it also means there are no crevices to trap dirt and bacteria.
Quartz Kitchen Countertops
Quartz is attractive for its durability and its consistent colour characteristics. This type of work surface offers an impressive colour selection in white, black or grey hues and is becoming a popular and functional choice in modern kitchen design.
Granite Kitchen Countertops
Granite remains high on the list of trendy kitchen countertops for the 2019 kitchen. It’s often cited as the most durable natural material available and is known for resisting cracks and chips well. Trivets are a thing of the past in a kitchen with a granite work surface. Granite allows you to place hot pans directly on the countertop, you can cut right on the surface without damage, and spills wipe away easily.
Marble Kitchen Countertops
When we think of marble, most of us think of luxury and style, and although it exudes elegance, it’s a functional and stable material, it has a great aesthetical and colour selection, it responds well to temperature and mechanical damage; the only blip is when it comes to stains, this is where you need to be careful.
Metal Kitchen Countertops
Metals are all the rage in a 2019 kitchen. Trendy and fashionable it lends itself to more urban and modernistic design arrangements. The phrase may be ‘all that glitters is gold’, however who isn’t drawn to the shine of a metal surface? With new technologies and innovations, the age-old view that metal and rust go hand in hand is a thing of the past. Using a metal surface in a modern kitchen will take it to the next level.
Reclaimed Wooden Countertops
For those who have a more traditional and natural idea of design in mind, the beauty of natural wood will always top their list. Using wood as a surface in your kitchen is never a bad choice and many are using reclaimed wood as an option for a countertop. It’s sustainable and Nature-friendly, and environmentally a more sustainable resource that granite because wood is renewable and using reclaimed wood is even more so. Offering irresistible charm and warmth, it’s also a great choice for the planet.
Reclaimed Wood 
Metal 
Corian 
Quartz 
Granite 
Marble
At Lime Interiors we specialise in helping you create the perfect kitchen with the perfect worksurface. We help to design, create and implement a space that works for you and the family and the way you live. This will include ensuring you have the right layout, the right appliances, the right style of unit and ensuring you make the most out of the lighting available to you. Whether your style is old and classic, or tranquil and modern, we’re here to help create your dream kitchen from lighting to units, space to design with no compromise. Get in touch today and let’s start the journey together.
In our previous blog, we discussed open plan living and how room divisions could be created without the need for bricks and mortar. One of our suggestions was that of a living wall. For those who love the idea of bringing the outside in(and are not known for their lack of green fingered prowess), a ‘living wall’ brings that concept to the very heart of your home, or work environment. Plants provide an uplifting and calming effect and studies have shown that simply having a view of greenery increases productivity in the workplace, so maybe it’s time to ditch the painted walls for planted walls!
So how difficult is it to achieve? If you have a structurally sound solid wall, you can have a living wall. With the excitement surrounding this latest trend in home dividers, there are kits available making this a feasible option in home decoration. In principle, decide where you want your living wall, build the frame using treated 2 inch x 1 inch battens and mount it to the wall, attach the plastic planters to the fame working from the bottom of the frame upwards in staggered rows. Finally fill the planters with your chosen plants. Choosing the right plants is important, work out whether you want colour, scent or do you want plants you can use in the kitchen?
Plants that work well are:
Adiantum(maidenhead fern)
Galanthus(snowdrop)
Liriope muscari(lilyturf)
Pelargonium peltatum(ivy-leaved geranium)
Vina minor(lesser periwinkle)
Herbs such as Thyme, Oregano and Basil
Your living wall will need watering every 2-3 days and like any other living plant, will need to be taken care of. If you’ve chosen flowering plants, they’ll need to be deadheaded to encourage new blooms, and any annual plants will benefit from a liquid feed every couple of weeks to stay looking their best.
If you’re looking to truly bring life to your indoor space and are tired of plain walls, we’ve found some fantastic ideas to give you inspiration. Call Gary or Greg today at Lime Interiors to discuss how we can help you create your dream space.
If you’re a fan of TV home improvement shows, it’s likely that you will have the likes of Grand Designs and Love It or List It on series link. Despite the fact these shows are presented VERY differently (think Kevin McCloud’s somewhat pompous air versus Kirsty and Phil’s more relaxed demeanour) what these programmes generally have in common, is a desire for open plan living. Open spaces are great for a number of reasons especially in the home, done well, this type of home arrangement keeps things flowing and bright.
So how do we achieve this open plan living? If the desire is ‘Separate but Seamless, look no further, we’re here to help.
Firstly, you need to consider ‘Zoning’ This is where you work out exactly what you want from your ‘living space’. It’s important to work out which space is for social interaction with family and friends, where do you want to work and study, which area is for calm reflection and where do you want to collapse in a heap with a glass of wine after a long day at work?
The only time the open plan living concept may not be quite so ideal, is when you need a little privacy to actual define a specific space without the restrictions of a brick wall. Thankfully, all is not lost and there’s no need to call in the bricklayer. The answer…is Room Dividers. These dividers allow us to section off parts of an open plan living space. They enable us to create little micro rooms without fully closing off areas, and still allow light to flood in to what could otherwise, if walled, be a dark and gloomy space.
We’ve pulled together some fabulous ideas on ways to divide rooms, let us know what you think.
If you’re great at keeping plants alive, why not consider a living wall?
We love this idea of an almost ‘floating wall’ providing light above, below and at each side.
a bedroom and en-suite using wooden panels
Who would’ve thought there was a bedroom the other side of this divide?
Always remember that natural light makes a space feel larger than it actually is. So, if you have the desire for ‘bringing the outside in’ and budget allows, consider wall to wall, floor to ceiling patio doors, or bi-folding doors, both allow a seamless flow out to an adjacent outdoor space. Many of us find joy in collapsing on a comfortable sofa at the end of the day, so within your open plan living space, ensuring you create a seating area that offers a sense of almost privacy, is vital. This where the right type of furniture is important. A corner sofa can provide the ‘illusion’ of being behind a wall, it helps to create a defined seating area.
Everyone can plan a room, but it’s our passion for kitchen, bathroom and bedroom design and our ability to create beautiful spaces with a clear understanding of what the client needs, that makes us different. Give Lime Interiors a call today to discuss how we can help you create the open plan living space you’ve always dreamed of.