This year's British Food Fortnight, an event which has grown massively since its original conception in 2002, is finally drawing to a close this weekend.
Autumn/Fall is a traditional time for celebrating British food - something this festival emphasizes with its Fresh and Local theme, aiming to create more robust markets for local businesses and farmers markets. Of course, buying fresh local produce is just the start of the creative process, and having the perfect kitchen in which to produce them is the next step.
People's ideas of their dream kitchen can differ wildly, says James Wyatt, partner of award-winning estate agency Barton Wyatt in Virginia Water, Surrey. Wyatt commented that it can be very difficult to decide on a new kitchen, saying "Should clients ask for opinions, then we always recommend something in neutral colors using the very best kitchen products and appliances they can afford."
Wyatt pointed out that in the past they have come across properties which have inappropriate kitchens, making it much harder to find a buyer. He cites the case of a beautifully renovated Jacobean house with a B&Q kitchen that was obviously an afterthought; this negatively affected the price of the property and slowed the sale considerably.
Barton Wyatt's top tips for creating a dream kitchen for a new owner are to choose the very best high-end appliances, as many luxury kitchens come with an integrated coffee machine, conduction hob and a built-in wine fridge. "What is a built-in Wine Fridge?" you might ask. A built-in wine cooler fridge is tailor-made for the exact amount of space you have in a certain area.
Apparently instant hot water taps and pizza ovens at https://pellethead.com/poboy-wood-pellet-pizza-oven-review/ are the latest thing, and people who do a lot of entertaining are looking for two dishwashers. They also advise choosing a kitchen which is hard wearing and won't date, because if you aren't selling immediately, you'll have to consider how it will look in a few years’ time. Lighting is also important, and the floor needs to be hard wearing. The latest kitchen designs may feature toughened glass and aluminum, but Barton Wyatt considers granite hard to beat.
Barton Wyatt is currently selling a new build property on the Wentworth Estate which has an amazing outside kitchen with a large built-in barbecue, drinks fridge, storage cupboards and plenty of work surfaces. The outdoor kitchen is situated right next to the indoor swimming pool and hot tub and has gorgeous views across the woodlands. With England's current Indian summer, having an outdoor kitchen doesn't seem so far-fetched. The six bedroom property is for sale for £6.5 million.