Something to hide

Shopfront: German company Arsnova makes these acrylic screens with aluminium frames that are available through Arena Kitchens. They are available in white, orange or red acrylic as well as the blue shade shown here and in about 50 different shades of glass.

In this photograph, three screens are used to hide utility appliances such as a dishwasher and washer/dryer.

Often used in offices to to camouflage fire doors, they could also be adapted to conceal an entire kitchen or as a room divider (perhaps an en suite bathroom in a period room).

Simple mounting and demounting means they can be taken with you if moving. The three panels here cost about €5,900 including installation and a wall buffering system. They are less expensive if used in glass.

Arena Kitchens
Sir John Rogerson's Quay, D2
Tel 01 6715365

The Soya kitchen from Elam at the Minima showroom illustrates how a compact design fits neatly and unobtrusively into a room with a secondary function, in this case, dining and adjoining living space.

Everything needed for cooking and preparing food is contained in a small line of units to one side of the Georgian chimneypiece. On the other side of the room, not seen here, is a freestanding piece in the same finish that hides appliances such as fridge, dishwasher and so on. When its doors are closed it takes on the appearance of an attractive storage unit with no suggestion of its function. Also available is a folding space-saving worktop.

Minima, 8 Herbert Place, D2
Tel 01 6627894

Stainless steel shutters can conceal all sorts of kitchen clutter and create a sense of minimal chic.

For shutters like these, try McNally Kitchens, which has shutters made by Alno.

Alno units are extra deep, allowing for 30 per cent more storage than many other manufacturers.

In a small kitchen that may be part of an open plan living and dining area, shutters allow for an attractive streamlined and somewhat industrial look. Visit their showroom to see how they integrate with various units.

McNally Kitchens
46 Serpentine Avenue
Ballsbridge, D4
Tel 01 6604856