With the weather continuing to take a turn for the worse, and April's rainfall already more than surpassing the monthly average, now could be a good time to you’re your attentions to the inside of the home.

And there is no better place to start than the kitchen, which is a focal point of the home throughout the year - regardless of how miserable it looks out of the window.

Along with installing new kitchen taps and assessing whether a spacious new fridge freezer is required, there are other details to attend to.

Not least the work surface - and finding the right style will be important in setting the tone for the kitchen design you have in mind.

Stuart White, managing director of Bushboard.co.uk, an independent manufacturer of work surfaces founded in the 1930s, believes that solid surfacing is one of the upcoming materials that should be considered for the kitchen.

He says that having already proved a hit in the bathroom, it is beginning to establish itself in kitchens too.

"Materials and uses always crossover in these two key areas of the home and solid surfacing looks set to grow strongly in 2012," he explained. "It has none of the ongoing care and maintenance issues [that come with] stone and is easy and quick to install, making this a material with powerful functional and aesthetic attributes."

And what about other areas of the kitchen? Mr White says that laminate splashbacks behind kitchen taps can provide a "strong contrast" from other features and are among the spring trends.

"Compared to glass, they are much easier to install and also around a third cheaper - so you can really enjoy the uplifting feel they bring to your kitchen and simply change them when you're ready for something different," he added.

So there you have it. Next time you're feeling glum about the wet and windy weather, take some time to think about how you can add warmth to your kitchen instead.