Kitchen Design

For most families, the kitchen is the heart of the home. More than just an area used for cooking and food storage, it’s the focal point of most modern homes, with people inclined to spend more money on a kitchen than on any other room.

Perhaps the social area of the house, a modern kitchen is so much more than simply a room in which to cook in. The hub of family life, it has many uses. Meeting room. Dinning room. Entertaining room.

Like families, no two kitchens are ever the same. Whether you have £5,000 or £35,000 to spend, kitchens come in all shapes and sizes and the design can be tailored to be as unique and as individual as you and your family.

The design stage is where the magic begins

When it comes to choosing a new kitchen, the kitchen design stage is the most important stage in the whole process – it’s where the magic begins.

Key to kitchen design is listening to a customer’s requirements. An experienced planner will visit your home to undertake a survey of your kitchen, discuss your needs and give advice. Once all the information and measurements have been taken, a visual design – a 3D CAD drawing – is produced, bringing your new dream kitchen to life.

From kitchen worktops and cabinets to appliances and tiles and space saving solutions, your kitchen designer can help you create your dream kitchen; one which meets your needs and desires, and which best utilises the space available.

Things to consider when designing your kitchen

• Functionality - whether you opt for a farmhouse kitchen or prefer a modern contemporary look, the ideal kitchen has both the wow factor and functionality. You need to be able to prepare food, cook, serve and wash up in it – so however good a kitchen looks, if it’s not functional then you’ll essentially be throwing your money down the drain.

• Layout – be it an open plan kitchen or an L-shaped design, unless you’re knocking out walls, you can only work with the space you’re given. However, if you’re ripping out existing units, you don’t necessarily have to stick to the current layout.

• Remember the triangle effect –  bear in mind that you should always keep the cooker/hob, sink and fridge at a close distance to one another.

• Storage – you can never have enough storage space, particularly if you like your kitchen worktops to remain clutter free.

• Lighting – from ceiling spotlights to halogen lighting in glazed wall units, good lighting will help to create the illusion of space; particularly pivotal if you kitchen is on the smaller side.

• Worktops – never underestimate counter space; the more the better.

• Appliances – from hoods and hobs to ovens and dishwashers, the right appliances are key to for any kitchen – as is making sure they can fit.

Style and taste

Style is really a question of taste. Just as they come in all shapes and sizes, kitchens come in many, many different styles. Popular kitchen ranges include shaker, country kitchen, Victorian and contemporary. Units come in a wide range of finishes, with high gloss black and gloss white popular for minimalist kitchens, while oak, ash, maple and walnut a popular choice if you want a more traditional, classic looking kitchen.

Cost and budget

When designing your new kitchen, cost is of paramount importance for most people. Therefore it’s important to establish a budget – and stick to it. The cost will be determined by a myriad of things: from materials used for the cabinets and worktops, to appliances, accessories and flooring. Bespoke handmade kitchens, with cabinets constructed from the finest timbers from leading high end kitchen manufacturers like Howdens Joinery, Dewhirst and Symphony will usually cost more, compared to kitchen designs from high street DIY chains such as Magnet, B&Q and Wickes.

A new kitchen will not only help to improve your family’s quality of life, but if done right will add value to your home.