Your Guide to Planning a New Kitchen
Planning a new kitchen can be stressful.
Considerations When Planning a New Kitchen.
Kitchens have come a long way in the past few decades. People are looking for kitchens that offer more than just counter space and cabinets; they want to be able to cook, eat, socialize, and entertain all within the same room. If you're in need of a new kitchen but aren't sure where to start, we've compiled 5 considerations that can help make your decision easier.
Your New Kitchen Space.
It's helpful to use social media platforms such as Instagram, Houzz and Pinterest for style ideas but often these pictures are based on celebrity homes and do not fit in the real world. Before investing in a new kitchen, make sure to measure the space you have and sketch out roughly what your vision is. If you are using the exact space you have now, there may be little room for changing the layout. If you are planning a kitchen extension or a brand new kitchen space, it's helpful to mark out the area on the floor using masking tape or canes if it's outside.
Remember to mark out the internal space as adding the wall thickness of around 30cm each side can lead to mistakes in planning.
Room to Move.
Make sure you have enough rom to move around in your kitchen. A common disappointment is realising that the long dreamed for kitchen island is not possible.
A kitchen island isn't a one-size fits all feature. You need to have at least 1m between the worktop/cabinets and run. Any narrower, it will likely feel too tight! This distance ensures you can walk around the island easily; It also allows someone to stand at the island or work top/cupboards and for someone else to be behind them - without any limitations; Finally, this space ensures that drawers & cupboards open up with no restrictions whatsoever.
Even if you think your artistic talents are limited, you will find it helpful to draw this out roughly on paper. We are happy to come and measure for you if yo are unsure.
Your New Kitchen Style.
When faced with the wide variety of styles and colours, it's helpful to think about your lifestyle first.
Is low maintenance your priority or do you want a particular look regardless of any extra work it may take to maintain your beautiful kitchen?
Most kitchens are fairly easy to wipe down but lots of shiny surfaces do mean a bit more polishing if there are sticky fingers around. Mouldings on the door attract a little more cleaning than flat fronted doors.
Do you prefer a contemporary, country or traditional look? This will help narrow down your choices. Modern kitchens are often though of as sleek and shiny so the first thought is often of gloss flat fronted doors. However, the shaker style in muted greys and greens with the right worktop can also be considered 'bang on trend'.
Although your new kitchen is for you, if you plan to put your house on the market within a short time, it's worth considering what will appeal to the mass market as a kitchen can make a big difference.
Kitchen Appliances.
One of the most important kitchen decisions you will make is regarding the cooker and hob. In the UK, more than 90% of homes choose electricity for their cooker but the choice of gas or electric for hobs is a personal one. Gas is often chosen because of the speed of changing temperatures but that is addressed with the new induction hobs.
While day to day use is covered by most appliance solutions, take into consideration, how many you have to cook for if you entertain. For some, the choice is made based on the largest family gathering of the year.
Which features will you want, slide and hide doors, built in steam, timer finctions? Explore the features of Neff ovens. We are big fans of their range of integrated appliances.
A washing machine will be essential. Will it be sited in the kitchen or do you have a separate utility room? If you need to save space, consider a combined washing machine and tumble dryer. The dishwasher is also considered essential as part of the modern kitchen. Make sure that you plan for this to be by the sink for ease of use and because of connecting to the water pipes.
Once the essential appliances are taken care of, it's time to think about the luxury items. When you choose an integrated appliance, you may be sacrificing storage so it's important to find the right balance. Built in microwaves, coffee machines and large American Fridge Freezers are wonderful luxuries but be aware of the space they take. We'll help you work through these options during your free consultation.
Budget for Your New Kitchen.
No doubt you have a budget in mind for your new kitchen. Customers are often reluctant to tell us their budget but it really does help to know roughly where you're thinking is. The fear is that kitchen designers will use up all of the budget when they don't need to or charge more but that does not happen here. We design the kitchen that is right for you. No games. No artificially inflated prices to show false discounts.
The design is most important but you may be able to save money by compromising in small ways with your choice of worktops, appliances and storage accessories.
Call us to book your free design appointment 01908 698 899 or use any of the forms on the page and we will help you to design your dream kitchen. You can watch your dream kitchen come to life on our state of the art computer design system.
