From hidden, bespoke to smart features – we list our favourite appliances and accessories that not only boost the practicality of your kitchen worktops but give a punch of pizzazz as well…
Sometimes, it’s the little things that can transform your kitchen from ordinary to extraordinary. Picture this: invisible hobs that keep your design seamless, integrated wine chillers and ice troughs perfect for effortless entertaining, to extendable pieces that help add more space when needed. However, while all these kitchen worktop wonders are impressive, they can also be pretty complicated to install.
So, our advice is to always talk with your architect, kitchen or interior designer about the practicalities that come with each piece. For instance, some may need a particular material, from engineered quartz to porcelain, while for others, you’ll need to factor in how the space below will be affected.
The question is, which will you choose?
Time to get trough
A kitchen trough offers both practical and stylish solutions to boost your worktop’s multi-functionality. For instance, ABI Interiors’ troughs replace the traditional ice bucket for drinks with a stylish and streamlined design that is slotted straight into your kitchen’s benchtop. They come in a variety of sizes, and can also be easily customised with accessories such as a bamboo knife rack, a colander insert, a three-piece chopping board set and a draining tray.
We’ve also seen homeowners use their troughs for growing herbs. These particular troughs can be under-mounted or top-mounted and come in four stylish finishes that include stainless steel, brushed brass, brushed copper and brushed gunmetal.
Double time
Häfele’s Atim extension is the perfect way to increase countertop space in small kitchens. The extendable section slides out from underneath the counter and is brought up to the same height as the kitchen worktop, giving you more space for food preparation.
The Atim comes in several sizes, including a large format that can double as a small dining table. It is reinforced for stability, giving you peace of mind while you cook.
Invisible cooking
The fairly fantastical CookingRAK from Rak Ceramics is designed to create a multi-functional kitchen space where you can prepare, cook and dine in the same space – ideal for those who love dining and entertaining.
Completely hidden from sight, there are no controls and no obvious spots to place your pans. It works via the CookingRAK app – where you can easily manage the zone controls, the timer, power and temperature controls, and security shutdown.
Wondering how this can possibly be safe? Well, with this induction system, the countertop surface doesn’t heat up. Instead, as it works using electromagnetic currents, it will only heat the cookware placed over the hob.
Hide and seek
A downdraft hood is a great extraction alternative if your ceiling is too high, you want to get creative with pendant lights, improve sight lines, or if your style is more minimalistic. They work by rising up from the island when in use, then disappearing back into the worktop when not required.
Miele’s extraction specialist Lucy Thomas says with this type of hood, the design of the hob can be key – as research has found pots and pans placed on the front rings of a traditional-style hob are not as successfully vented as those on the back. This is why a panoramic hob would be the best design if you go for a downdraft hood. It’s narrower, offering four zones almost in a line, to ensure cooking fumes and steam are effectively taken away.
Keep it chill
Say cheers to perfectly chilled drinks with Kaelo’s integrated bottle cooler. The discreet device – hand-built in the Cotswolds – keeps your wine at the ideal temperature, ready to serve just how you like it. Open a bottle at 5 degrees – keep it at 5 degrees. Open a bottle at 12 degrees – keep it at 12 degrees. The cooler integrates into any new or existing surface, perfectly pairing with your kitchen island or home bar.
The underside is no larger than an A4 sheet of paper and requires no specialist installation – we always recommend hiring professionals for carrying out work such as this, but really, according to Kaelo’s installation guide, all that’s needed is the right-sized hole, an accessible power socket and, depending on the size of the void, a small vent to allow airflow. What’s also good to know is that it costs as little as 2p per hour to run.
Pop-up solutions for your worktop
With a hidden electrical point, you have power at your fingertips ready for any eventuality – whether that be charging your phone, using countertop appliances for baking, or if you use your island as an office. The S-Box Chameleon uses a matching worktop slab as its cover, allowing it to seamlessly blend into the countertop. To use it, just press down on the top, and the power pops up.
Waterfall wonders
Who says your worktop has to stop when it gets to the sink? Make it work just that little bit harder with the SASO worktop sink from Caple and add an instant bit of wow factor to your kitchen design. It works by only showing the base of the bowl and overflow, while the rest of the sink is clad in a super-stylish waterfall worktop, making this the perfect choice for those who are looking for a sleek, discreet look.
It’s worth noting that it’s designed to work with three work surfaces – quartz, solid surface and stone. Each side of the base is also angled for easy access to reach the corners and edges. Every SASO sink is made from 1.2mm brushed stainless steel for durability with a 90mm waste outlet for a basket strainer. It’s available with matching half bowls and it is suitable for a waste disposable unit.
Suck it up
This clever appliance from Bora is a built-in vacuum sealer that helps make food last up to three times longer. From fruit, vegetables, meat and fish to sauces, soups and other liquids such as oils and wine, vacuum sealing retains food’s natural taste and fresh, appetising appearance.
The QVac is flush-mounted in worktops or surface-mounted on top of them, and has three functions: vacuum sealing in vacuum boxes and vacuum bags, resealing bottles and marinating. The added benefit? It doesn’t take up any valuable worktop space – as the substructure is fitted below – and you can pop it down to be flush with your countertop once you’re done.
Additional words: Vicki Evans
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