Image Credit: Marlborough Tiles

With its classic design and craftsmanship that lasts a lifetime, an Aga is an investment piece for your home and is often the starting point when designing a kitchen. Whether you are embarking on a kitchen renovation and are including an Aga stove, or if you have inherited an Aga via a house move and want to update the existing kitchen around it, here are a few tips on designing your kitchen around this legacy cooker.

colourful aga — *Image Credit:* *Marlborough Tiles*

Embracing the Aga stove as a focal point

With its distinct appearance, an Aga will instantly be the focal point in any kitchen. Full of character and a statement of luxury, the Aga stove’s strong presence should always be accentuated.

To highlight an Aga in your kitchen, why not draw further attention to it with decorative tiles as a splashback? Zellige or dainty, handpainted tiles work well to elevate the historical beauty of an Aga, while traditional tongue and groove panelling adds heritage detailing into the kitchen without distracting from the piece itself.

Consider The Colour

If you choose a particular Aga colour or inherit one in a certain shade, this should be the starting point for the rest of the kitchen palette. A classic black or cream-coloured Aga works well within any scheme, while an Aga in a punchy shade is a standalone piece; kitchen cabinet colours should blend and enhance it rather than try to dominate alongside it.

If you have a bold orange, red or bright blue Aga, combine it with neutral light or dark tones in the rest of your kitchen that will simply elevate the stove. If you have a cream or black Aga, kitchen cabinets painted a pale blue, sage green or off-white are colours that work well to accentuate the cooker.

dark green kitchen — *Image Credit:* *Rehome*

Harmonising traditional elements with contemporary design

Juggling the traditional appeal of the Aga cooker with contemporary architectural features means that you have to consider mixing the old with the new. Steer clear of overly modern and glossy kitchen cabinets and instead, combine your Aga with more traditional shaker units. Avoid mixing your Aga with harsh, modern LED lighting and alternatively, gain extra mood lighting by dotting atmospheric lamps around the countertops for a soft glow.

Optimising kitchen layout for functionality and aesthetics

Creating a good kitchen layout around the Aga cooker calls for strategic consideration of workflow, storage and eating areas that improve daily efficiency, rather than only the placement of the device. As the Aga cooker is the visual anchor in the room, make sure that it is positioned centrally and not squashed into the corner. It’s important that there is ample workspace on either side of the Aga (both for aesthetic reasons and practicality) and that the stove aligns centrally with any kitchen island.

You may also want to consider building an over-shelf above the Aga for visual appeal and contemplate installing a wall-mounted water tap over it for practicality. Be aware that an Aga cooker has a lot more depth than standard cookers, so ensure that you take into account that your units are equally as deep to align with this type of stove.

Accessorise

Make the most of your Aga and accentuate its unique character by investing in accessories designed especially for the stove. Specialist Aga textiles include hob pads and oven mitts, while you can also buy a whimsical boiling water kettle to use specifically on the Aga.

Hanging copper pots, displaying large wooden chopping boards and categorising cooking oils around the Aga look appealing and transform a functional kitchen into a welcoming haven for culinary activities and social events.

aga accessories — *Image Credit:* *Sophie Allport*

Ultimately, arranging your kitchen around an Aga cooker requires consideration - involving combining modern design with this legacy piece to produce an aesthetically beautiful and functional room that honours the past, all while embracing the conveniences of the present. Pay attention when balancing the integration of both traditional and modern components via a careful choice of cabinets, materials and colours for a stylish kitchen full of warmth and flair.