Must-have Kitchen Features for Storage, Style and Practicality

What would you consider your favourite feature or item within your kitchen? Is it your life-saving air fryer, your chilled wine fridge or perhaps it’s your large island unit, perfect for entertaining or carrying out everyday tasks?

On Valentine’s Day we ran a competition on our Instagram Stories, to find out what the most beloved items and features are in your kitchens and here are some of the most popular answers:

1. Pantry
2. Integrated bins
3. Lots of storage space
4. A pot of tea brewing
5. Lighting fixtures
6. Kitchen island
7. Quooker boiling water tap
8. The chocolate cupboard
9. Coffee machine
10. Double sink
11. Air fryer
12. Integrated appliances
13. Larder cupboard
14. A cabinet with bi-fold doors for electricals – hides the mess!
15. American style fridge
16. The memories made there; the kitchen is the heart of the home.

Using a random generator, we drew our winner, Stacy Hamill, who loves the larder in her kitchen! Stacy used her £100 Marks & Spencer voucher prize towards gorgeous new lighting to complement her new STORI kitchen. Check out the Hamill family’s stunning kitchen below.

Mr & Mrs Hamill

Contemporary yet classic, this open-plan space has been styled using STORI’s Winslow range in Deep Forest. Mr & Mrs Hamill fell in love with our Winslow range, offering them the look and feel of a true inframe kitchen, without the premium price tag. Winslow’s inframe effect design sets the scene for this space, with the rich woodgrain perfectly combining the modern and timeless elements of this kitchen.

Painted in STORI’s Deep Forest green, the Hamill family wanted a bold colour that would complement the statement art pieces in the space, and Stacy loves green, so this was always going to be a favoured tone! For added warmth, subtle pops of metallic finishes feature throughout the space, with antique brass hardware being used for the handles, plug sockets and lighting fixtures. Pops of colour have been added throughout the space, through the artwork, floral arrangements, the soft furnishings, and the beautiful pink bar stools which add a softness to the space and contrast with the dark green tones.

Flooded with natural light, this kitchen has been accessorised with sparkling quartz worktops and beautiful ribbed glass pendant lights, bringing this kitchen to life and perfect for this busy family.

A Real Kitchen project using our Winslow range painted Deep Forest.

Key Design Features

• The breakfast bar features a submerged sink and ample space for food preparation as well as offering a communal seating area.
• The cabinetry is topped with a traditional cornice and fitted with a plinth, creating a built-in look.
• Textured bar handles are used throughout the space for a cohesive modern design.
• Integrated appliances add a layer of additional convenience within the kitchen’s layout.
• Full height cupboards offer plenty of storage space for dry foods as well as crockery and cookware.

A Real Kitchen project using our Winslow range painted Deep Forest.

“Having looked round many kitchen providers, it was clear to us that STORI was the brand we wanted to go with. The designs were beautiful, as was the attention to detail, and all within a reasonable budget. We took home a brochure to consider what designs would fit our space and which features would make life easier and more practical with a young family. 

The whole experience was so exciting, from looking at brochures to seeing the kitchen come together we are so happy with the end result. We can’t believe it’s our house and our kitchen. It really is the heart of our home now and has made spending time with our family and friends so enjoyable. 

We would highly recommend STORI to family and friends. Our parents have already taken up the recommendation and are almost finished with their own STORI project!”

-Stacy Hamill

Explore More with STORI

Follow our Instagram for kitchen inspiration and competitions!

Ready to start designing your new kitchen? Find your nearest retailer here.