Everything plus the kitchen sink

SAM WYLIE-HARRIS looks at the modern trends to help you to make the most of the busiest room in the house

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WALK into a kitchen showroom and all those options can be a little bit overwhelming.

As Lizzie Beesley, head of style and design at Howdens, puts it: "Autumn is peak kitchen renovation season, and today's kitchens are much more than a collection of fitted cabinets.

"They are multi-functional spaces with personality, offering focal points, social zones, and practical features... whether you have a modern or classic kitchen, a good design should balance utility with visual appeal."

Here, Lizzie gives the lowdown on what's trending, blending form and function...

LAYOUT TRENDS

Layouts are becoming more personalised and adaptive says the designer. "While open-plan kitchens remain popular for their sociability, we're seeing a rise in broken-plan designs, which use shelving, islands, or partial walls to create subtle zoning within the space."

MODERN KITCHENS