Rebecca Nottingham speaks exclusively to George Clarke, Channel 4's Restoration Man. The well respected architect turned TV presenter and new face of The Ideal Home Show gives his views and opinions on the KBB industry...

How important are kitchens and bathrooms from a property perspective?
Kitchens and bathrooms are the main room in any home so they are an extremely important feature of any property. They're also very intensive areas that need a lot of tradesmen to deliver them well for the home owner, and because of that they're often the most expensive and valuable rooms in a home. But irrespective of value, it also comes down to adding comfort to the home. What's great about the kitchen and bathroom industry is that there are so many affordable products out there. You know, you don't have to spend an absolute fortune these days to get a great looking kitchen or bathroom. I get involved in a whole range of projects and in some cases I have to source the most affordable product possible, but still manage to get a fantastic looking product and that's very important in today's market.

What would you say is the most important room in your home?
I spend all my time in my kitchen at home, when I'm at home that is. I think that room, especially, has evolved tremendously over the years. Kitchens are no longer just about functionality these days they're about looking great and about being part of a bigger space in your home if possible. I think people like Jamie Oliver have made the whole idea of cooking much more relaxed and more fun and as a result it's made us look at our kitchens differently. At home we do most of our socialising sitting around the dining table in the kitchen.

What are the trends you're seeing in kitchens and bathrooms?
Funnily enough, I've seen trends come and go. Some that were popular in the '90s have completely disappeared, for example I think open-plan kitchen, dining and living room spaces are actually gradually disappearing. Unless you live in a batchelor pad I don't think it really works for family life! Having your kitchen, dining room and living room all in the one space is not suitable for family living because it's like a battle of the volumes. And unless you have a massive house, the separate, formal dining rooms, are starting to disappear now as well.

What inspires you when choosing kitchen and bathroom products for your projects?
For me what's really important is that the rooms really work with the building itself. The rooms are a design space yes, but they're also an integral part of the whole building. I try to guide and steer people in the direction I think is right, but at the end of the day it's the client that dictates what products we go for and I work with them as closely as possible to ensure that happens.

With more people improving rather than moving, have they become more daring?
The industry is in a pretty bad state, I've never seen anything like it. But I think it's actually quite a good thing that people are staying where they are and improving what they've got. During the boom, the property just went so crazy and out of control in terms of affordability that it needed to slow down so that people can catch up. I think homes are definitely becoming more personal and about the people living in them rather than just about making them anonymous so that other people will buy them. For me that's what architecture is about.

What innovations really stand out for you in the kitchen and bathroom industries?
It may not sound very sexy but I think there are a few brassware companies that are developing products that use less water but still give you high pressure for a luxurious experience. I think it's those simple things that are really improving levels of comfort and the quality of the bathroom and kitchen experience, but at the same time they have an ecological angle on them because they're saving water and therefore reducing energy bills.

You must have visited a few kitchen and bathroom retailers in your time. What are the ones that are doing it well doing?  
I think that the really good ones are the ones that have brilliant customer service, people who genuinely know what they're talking about. People who can help you in terms of layout, design, materials and what products you should go for to suit your budget to get that whole package. Those who make the whole experience as effortless for the consumer as possible.

What's your most memorable restoration project to date?
I remember them all to be honest, but for me I think the one that stands out is the one that was featured in the first programme of this series. It was a stunning windmill in Kent. The owner's had one of the best restoration builders that I've ever met in my life. I think it was probably the best restoration project I've ever seen in terms of standard and quality of finish. Even down to the kitchen. I mean, putting a kitchen in a windmill, even a circular kitchen, is tricky by any standard but the finish on that and the whole project was amazing.

Describe your own kitchen and bathroom...
It's a combined kitchen dining room area where we spend most of our time. We've got a big oval marble dining table which we all sit and chat around. That room looks out on to the garden too, which is really lovely. The kitchen is from a fantastic independent showroom on the Kings Road. It was a mid-range brand, it wasn't cheap but it certainly wasn't mega expensive. It's just a super simple, long, linear kitchen with white gloss units and a thick white Corian work surface. It's finished off with a frosted glass splash back that runs the length of the worktop, which we can write messages on which is a great touch, and we have Smeg appliances. I wanted the bathrooms to be really smart and with really quality fixings so we went for Hansgrohe and Duravit. I've also invested in a water softener to prolong the life of them.

What were the most important factors when you were designing them?
I wanted a look that would blend in with the rest of the house and quality finishes that would look better with age rather than date.