One thing to learn along the way to scoring pretty kitchen designs is that there are Cooks and there are Bakers. Sure, there are cooks out there who bake, and bakers who cook – but more often than not, our homeowners are more dedicated to one camp than the other.
A baker’s kitchen is a happy space, where passion can really flourish – whether you’re a pro scratch baker or new to the art since lockdown; ‘you’re butter late than never!’
For first-time bakers, aside from having a perfect kitchen design, these tips from baking with Anna Brooks will help you enhance your baking skills.
Here’s a collected list of top tips and considerations for anyone creating the dream baker’s kitchen.
WORKTOPS
Granite is one of the most popular kitchen worktop materials and is ideal for a household that loves to bake! It’s a cool material and perfect for working those buttery doughs. Easy to maintain, floury granite surfaces are easy wipe clean once you’ve finishedcutting out your cookies. There’s also no need to worry about hot baking trays coming into contact with the surfaces, as granite is heat-resistant and is unlikely to scratch or chip, so can withstand the busyness of a baker’s kitchen.
If you’re looking for a worktop update that won’t cost too much dough, Magnet is currently running an offer on all worktops, with upto 1/3 off throughout September.
OVENS
Quite possibly the most essential appliance in the kitchen when it comes to baking, it’s important that your oven is fit for requirement. There is a lot to consider when choosing a new oven, size, style, placement, number of functions, the list goes on. With the help of a designer, you can find an oven that feels like it was built for you and slots perfectly into your finished design.
When it comes to baking, generous oven space is a must, so consider investing in a practical double oven. This will enable you to bake more than one layer or cake component at a time, it’ll also help if you need to cook dinner simultaneously, meaning you can bake at any time of the day.
Maximise use of fan control whilst baking, as the fan recirculates the heat throughout the oven, helping to create evenly baked goods.
LAYOUT
When planning the layout of your baking haven, rather than heading straight for the traditional L or U-shaped arrangements, first consider zoning. Zoning is exactly what it sounds like; breaking the space up into dedicated zones based on most popular uses, to maximise function and efficiency. When you’re baking it’s likely that you’ll be flitting between pantries or store cupboards for dry ingredients and flours; the fridge for butter and milk; the oven for the important part.
You can also hire an expert to help you plan your layout so that these key elements and appliances are in close proximity, allowing you to move between them quickly and spend more time on those special finishing touches of your next showstopper.
COLOUR SCHEME
Deciding a colour scheme is the cherry on top of the cake. A baker’s kitchen needs to be functional, but not at the cost of style. It’s possible your sweet tooth extends to your taste in colour and if so, you want to consider soothing shades such as Pistachio, Rose Bowl, Lilac Blossom and Seagrass. All of which afford a calming setting for you to create your favourite treats in and provide the most Instagrammable backdrop for your best bakes.
Keep these tips in mind when planning your kitchen and not only will you have a space fit for Ms Berry herself, but you’ll create a kitchen that fuels your passion and that you’re guaranteed to love for years to come.
