Kitchen design was at the heart of a triumph in home innovation, as a new north London development was granted high plaudits.Barnet Councils housing scheme at September Court in Whetstone caught the eye of the National Home Improvement Council (NHIC), which granted it two home design awards primarily for its sensitivity to household needs.A 25 million venture that came as part of the local New Choices Project, the housing development comprised a set of self-contained flats specially tailored for those with learning disabilities and mental health problems.The special needs facilities category yielded one of the NHIC awards for the site, with a comprehensive fitted kitchen playing a key role in making the homes suitable for the needs of their residents.Fitted kitchens, with matching and appliance-shielding cabinet fronts, often help to simplify kitchen design and can be complemented by subtle sinks (often in stainless steel) that do not clash with the dominant colour and material of the design scheme.In addition to the well-adapted kitchens, the Barnet development was praised for the opportunities they granted residents both for self-sufficiency and for socialising in communal lounges.