Mereway Kitchens, the UK kitchen manufacturer with reseller here in Ireland, have launched some fabulous new additions to their Cucina Color Collection.

Soft shapes and textural finishes are what it’s all about this year, and this Spring sees the introduction of some irresistibly stylish products into their Italian inspired Cucina Colore collection.

Whilst white is the colour that never goes out of fashion, the current trend sees combinations of vibrant, interesting woodgrains and softer organic hues. With this in mind, Mereway Kitchens have launched new finish Coco Bolo; a flat slab MFC door with a striking, linear woodgrain available in a light textured matt finish or sleek high gloss finish.

For a darker, more sumptuous feel take a look at new Mali Wenge; a rich, dark woodgrain finish available in matt textured and high gloss options. With both finishes starting in Price Group 1, showrooms can really create the look of a designer kitchen but at a really affordable price.

For those looking for solid colour options Mereway Kitchens have introduced new doors in Olive and Pebble; 2 soft earthy hues with a tranquil feel. Featuring the latest matt foil technology these new doors simulate a painted finish that’s almost velvety to the touch.

Cucina Colore distinguishes itself with a palette of 25 door colours and finishes that stand out from the crowd in silk, soft matt, textured, gloss and gloss woodgrains. Combine these with a choice of 22 cabinet colours, for endless design possibilities.

But it’s not just colour that creates a design statement. As curves continue to dominate modern kitchen design, Mereway have remained bang on trend with internal and external curves for their Lastra slab style available in all 6 gloss painted colours; natural tones White, Cream, Pergamon and Cappuccino as well as classic bolds in Burgundy and Black. Or select smooth external curves select the popular handleless Futura style with grip profiles in a choice of colours for even greater design possibilities.

The range unites Italian sophistication with quality British manufacturing. Packed with minimalist style, the Cucina Colore range not only looks great in the kitchen but design ideas can run right through into living areas creating seamless flow of furniture.

Mereway Kitchens are available from various resellers around Ireland, including Chris Keating House of Design.

Visit www.chriskeatinghouseofdesign.com for more information or call them on 021 4634738 or 087 6944235

An issue that often arises in kitchen design is how do you seamlessly integrate a dishwasher into a modern or contemporary kitchen that is designed with wide drawers in mind.  The answer is……..the Fisher&Paykel DishDrawer® Wide.

Fisher&Paykel are a New Zealand based appliance manufacturer who were the first to introduce the concept of a dishwasher drawer.  And now they have expanded the DishDrawer® range to include a 900mm wide version to suit modern kitchen designs.  It is part of their Tomorrow’s Kitchen range that also includes CoolDrawer, a multi-temperature cooling drawer; CookSpace, a multi-function oven; CookTop, an induction hob; and VentSurface, a clever and automatic rangehood.  All products in this range are 900mm wide.

Based on the DishDrawer® concept, the new, wider 90cm dishwasher has all the benefits of DishDrawer®: the ergonomic drawer design, 9 wash programmes including delay start and eco options, key lock, child lock and a flexible racking system.

DishDrawer® Wide allows for 9 place settings including larger plates up to 315mm and large bowls with its fold-and-slide system. Small cups or tall mugs can easily be accommodated with the height-adjustable racks. Additional, handy features include a multi-purpose clip to hold plastic lids or large platters in place, as well as knife clips.

For more information on Fisher&Paykel appliances, visit their website at www.fisherpaykel.ie

Atag, the luxury kitchen appliance brand, have a lovely online brochure showcasing their new products for 2011.

There are some really stunning appliances that you must check out if you are in the market for some high end appliances.  Atag only sell through kitchen specialist partners, so you can go to their website www.atag.co.uk to find a reseller.

Click on the brochure below to start browsing!

Neff Appliances, distributed in Ireland by the KAL group, have announced new dates for their fantastic demonstrations.

Demonstrations take place right throughout the year and showcase the features and benefits of cooking with the legendary Neff Circotherm system.

November 24th, December 1st and December 8th have a Christmas Cooking theme and promises to be a real treat, helping you prepare for the Christmas season.

To book a place, or for more information, contact KAL on 01 4136400, email enquiries@kal.ie or vist their website at http://www.kal.ie/contentv3/index.cfm?fuseaction=page&pageID=17220. 

Please remember that booking is essential.

The aim of any association is to bring professional standards to their industry.  That’s exactly the main aim of the recently launched Irish Kitchen Designers Institute.

The aim of the institute is to provide professional status and standards for kitchen designers on a national and international level.  By providing industry specific training and courses, the institute supports kitchen designers in all stages of their career.

Whether you are an experienced kitchen design professional or a design student, the mission is to help further the careers of designers and give accreditation which will enhance the designers status within the industry and with consumers.

The institute will also work with people wishing to persue a career in kitchen design with their training courses offering a perfect platform to launch your new career.

For more information on training and accreditation, contact the Irish Kitchen Designers Institute at ikdi@ireland.com or visit their website at www.ikdi.info.

I came across this kitchen range cooker from La Cornue and immediately thought “what a fabulous colour”  The cooker in question is the La Cornue Grand Maman 90 in this striking blue, part of the Cornuchef range from the French maker.

The Grand Maman comes with a spectacular 84 litre vaulted oven in gas or electric and a stainless steel hob equipped with five 3.5 kw burners. The burners are available either in a combination of gas and electric, or all electric.

With its contemporary, sober and distinctive appearance, and its large snail oven handle, the Cornuchef will easily adapt to all styles of kitchen and form a perpetually fashionable centrepiece. La Cornue offers a choice of 24 colours for your Cornuchef and its extractor hood, as always to be complemented by stainless steel or solid brass.

When I saw this beautiful blue colour, I immediately thought how fabulous it would look with an off-white or cream painted kitchen.

I think both colours would complement each other perfectly while keeping the range cooker as the focal point in the room. Imagine all the WOWs when your friends came to see your newly installed kitchen with a La Cornue as the centrepiece.

More information on LaCornue cookers and the Grand Maman can be found at www.lacornue.com

All at Kitchenindex.ie would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and our best wishes for 2011.  Stay safe and healthy, and we will be back in the new year with even more great tips, advice and supplier information for your dream kitchen.

Sometimes when we think of traditional kitchens, an image flashes in to our head of the typical English country home look.  Askitchen design has moved on over the years, the love of this kitchen style has remained constant, with homeowners loving a warm and cozy kitchen that awaits them after a long day.

Mereway Kitchens, with agents all over Ireland and the UK, have focused on this English style kitchen with their ranges they called “English Revival” and “Wentworth”.

Both range of kitchens come in solid wood and painted finishes with a mix of wood and paint being a popular style, however the English Revival range focuses more on upmarket In-Frame kitchens.

English Revival Shaker Design by Mereway Kitchens – Mixing Woodgrain Painted Finish

Mereway Kitchens – New England White – A Traditional Painted Kitchen

Again a Mix of Wood & Paint – This Time Solid Oak & Soft Green Painted Finish

These beautiful traditional and classical kitchens by Mereway Kitchens are available from Chris Keating House of Design.

For more information about Chris Keating House of Design visit their profile page here on Kitchenindex.ie by going to:

http://www.kitchenindex.ie/retail/category-1/Fitted-Kitchens-and-Bedrooms.aspx/listing-2877/Chris-Keating-House-of-Design

Visit Chris Keatings website at www.chriskeatinghouseofdesign.com

Falmec Pharoe Cooker Hood

Your choice of cooker hood can sometimes make a big difference when it comes to adding that “WOW Factor” to your kitchen.

Gone are the days when your only choice is a basic stainless steel hood that offers little in the way of design or style.

The choice you now have is much broader, with appliance manufacturers and kitchen designers realising that a cooker hood can now be the focal point in kitchen design.

We’ve put together this showcase of funky cooker hoods that we love at Kitchenindex.ie and think you might like for your new kitchen. They would certainly add some style and could be that “something different” that you’ve been looking for.

You will also find links at the bottom of the page that will take you to the websites of the brands that we have featured.

For more information on these cooker hoods and for information on where to buy you can visit the following websites:

Best – www.besthoods.co.uk

Elica – www.elica.ie

Faber – www.fff.ie/home/products/cooker-hoods

Falmec – www.drumms.ie/products/products-by-brand/falmec/hoods

Franke – www.franke.ie

Gorenje – www.gorenje.co.uk

Miele – www.miele.ie

Neff – www.neff.ie

Whirlpool – www.whirlpool.ie

It’s hard to believe, but our start up kitchen and bedroom website is 1 years old.

Our first year in business has been a great adventure and has really been about finding our feet.  The next year will be about growing the website, offering more great content, articles and inspiration about kitchens and bedrooms, all while offering the kitchen and bedroom industry a great platform to showcase their work.

We also hope to add some great new features to the website which will make it easier to find the kitchen and bedroom of your dreams.  Our blog will also highlight all the great work, products and services by our members.

Kitchenindex.ie is all about offering inspiration and valuable advice to homeowners looking to invest in a new kitchen or bedroom.  At the same time, we bring you closer to suppliers of kitchens, bedrooms, kitchen worktops, kitchen appliances and tiles and flooring.

So our first year has been great, but our second year is going to be even better.

The adventure is just beginning!!