Contemporary kitchens have developed into a social hub as well as a food factory and the preference is for an open-plan space, which accommodates zones for cooking, dining and a general living area.

Kitchen furniture needs to look as good as it can, as it often extends into, and becomes part of the general living space, so concealing the practical parts of it and keeping the necessary clutter hidden, is an important consideration.

When designing a modern kitchen, you may want a space that provides a seamless flow from living, to cooking, to dining and with this blurring of lines between the kitchen and living areas, it may be that you don’t want your appliances or food prep on show.

One way to achieve a ‘hidden kitchen’ is for the appliances to be concealed. This is often followed by the desire for the prep area including sinks and general food prep space to be as discreet as it’s possible to be, particularly if the dining area is linked to the kitchen. Other demands include hidden AV equipment for a concealed TV or audio resources, or for space for a small hidden office.

There are lots of ways to achieve a beautiful and functional concealed kitchen. Extra sinks or wine chillers can sit concealed behind closed doors and small appliances can be kept out of sight in a practical tambour unit, where the door rolls up out of sight or down to hide toasters or other breakfast gear (or even a computer) while keeping it readily accessible.

‘Pocket’ doors are also a really practical solution – ergonomically designed using a system which allows them to pivot and slide back out of sight, means that anything can be hidden behind them, from sinks, wine coolers to any number of appliances – particularly useful if you have no extra space for a utility room.

The most important thing is to figure out what you want to conceal and work with your kitchen designer to do this effectively and beautifully.  There really are no limits in terms of concealed spaces  – it comes down to what you want to achieve and, of course, what you want to hide.

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Our expert kitchen designers can help you make the best choices for your Roundhouse bespoke kitchen. Visit any of our six Roundhouse showrooms; Wigmore St, Clapham, Fulham, Richmond, Guildford & Cheltenham and get planning!