As an alternative to shelves, almost every cupboard these days can be purchased with fitted pullout wireware that is designed to make access to that jar at the back easier. In addition, drawer storage can also be ‘structured’ with various flexible dividers.

As the standard wall cabinet is not deep enough to accommodate a 30cm (12in) plate laid flat, open plate racks are often used instead. With an complementary set of crockery stored in them, these racks can be both practical and attractive.

A freestanding wine rack is often added to a kitchen to keep wine stored properly, so built in ones are available to keep everything matching and often to use that last narrow space effectively.

A separate rubbish bin that truly complements a kitchen is hard to come by, so these are often hidden within a base cupboard. For even greater convenience, the bin is set up such that the lid is automatically lifted when the door is opened, and nowadays they even include separate sections to make recycling easier.

Currently, some kitchen utensils are in themselves works of designer art and hiding them in a drawer can be something of a shame. For decorative and convenience purposes therefore, there are now a number of wall mounted accessories that can display these items within easy reach.

Shelves that aren’t housed in a cupboard can be extremely useful in providing a place for nick nacks or a vase of flowers to be displayed. When coupled with lighting, the effect can be dramatic.

Some manufacturers now provide an ironing board that is hidden behind a dummy drawer front so it can be kept in a convenient place without spoiling the look of a new kitchen.

Many people like to place a television in their kitchen so they don’t miss out on their favourite programmes while preparing a meal. With the advent of flat panel LCD and plasma screens, small flip-down televisions are now available which can be hidden beneath a wall cabinet pelmet when not in use.

The vast majority of kitchen cabinets are rectangular and create a very angular look to a kitchen. Some adventurous manufacturers have therefore also added curved drawers and cupboards to their range so that this angular look can be relieved and an area of softer interest is created.