Kelly Hoppen's tips: hot kitchen style

Wonderful walls

Use your walls to create surprises - build excitement with over-scaled images or unexpected accent colours. Something lots of people forget is to hang art at the right height - people often hang their pictures too high. You should be able to look at a painting without tilting your head upwards.

Remember that whatever colour or texture is chosen for the walls, the ceiling must blend with it. If you use paint on walls, use the same colour on the woodwork and ceiling - it's like wearing black tights and black shoes with a black dress.

Set the mood

Understanding how to create and set the mood is key to adding the finishing touches to your kitchen. For example, invest in some fake flowers, rather than having to refresh them every week, which can be expensive, and put in a vase with added stones or compost at the bottom to create depth and a sense of fertility in your kitchen.

De-clutter

Nowadays, the kitchen is often the main family living space, so you need to make the space accessible and ensure all the elements in it are practical. Be disciplined about not cluttering the kitchen with items you are unlikely to use; remember that you need a space that not only looks great but that is easy to maintain.

Don't forget internal storage solutions, as these will allow you to maximise your kitchen and reduce clutter and the amount of ‘dead space'. Magnet has some clever units that not only enable you to fit more in, but help to create a sense of space which can often make your kitchen look considerably larger.

Secret space saver

If space is limited but you'd love all the benefits of a double oven, the Hotpoint Openspace is the one for you. I believe that kitchen products should really work for you and this oven is great - it has 20% more space than a traditional single oven, but still fits in the same space. Plus, it has four different cooking modes - one even uses an insulating divider to create two separate cooking spaces so it's really flexible and it also looks really stylish too.

Personal inspiration

My key tip in interior design is to not be afraid about thinking "outside the box". Look around you for inspiration; for example, I often visit our local fruit and vegetable market for great table centre pieces and arrangements. Everything from polished red applies, oranges, aubergines and artichokes make great props - and you can eat them when you're finished with them. Or try white rope in oversized brandy glasses to create impact and fill empty kitchen shelves.

Fill your kitchen with furniture that is special and unique to you and don't be afraid of reflecting your family's personality throughout your kitchen.  This will help to build a relaxed and friendly atmosphere in your kitchen and show it off as the heart of your home.

Creating a modern look

If you want to go for a really modern look without having to change your whole kitchen, then black gloss appliances are the perfect choice. This collection of sexy, stylish, products, includes fridge freezers, washing machines, dishwashers and many more to instantly update any kitchen.

Lighting

As a general rule, plan for far more lighting than you think you will need. The more lighting you have, the more choices you have about creating mood within a room, whether it's a romantic dinner for two, or an informal dinner party with friends. This can be done simply and inexpensively using freestanding lights, table lamps and, of course, candles.