The Kitchen

The kitchen is where friends and family spend a lot of time and increasingly it's the heartbeat of the home, which is why we're devoting so much space to it.

 

New designs, new gadgets and features make kitchens one of the more fun elements of your new home to plan. The layout of your kitchen will be largely dictated by the available space and its relationship to other rooms and traffic flows, but there are elements within the kitchen itself over which you have a wide range of choice.

 

Your building designer may wish to play a large part in the design of your kitchen but often specialist companies are employed that will design and manufacture your dream kitchen off site and fit it before you move in.

 

Consider how much storage space you need.

 

Remember the golden triangle of sink/bench, fridge and hob and try to make sure it's not too big or things are in the way.

 

Do you have enough bench space (depth as well as length)?

 

Think about rubbish handling - recycling of cans and glass and compost bucket for organics.

 

Consider the traffic flow in and around the kitchen. Are there areas where work collides with traffic and how can this be redesigned to minimize impact?

 

Think about the possible reflection of the sun off stainless steel.

 

Do the rubbish bins you've selected fit under your sink with the assorted drainage and water pipes?

 

Where and how will you store cleaning products, especially for easy access?

 

Water filters are regularly thought of but how about a soap dispenser?

 

Are the handles easy to use - can you get your fingers in; will they be dirt traps?

 

The kitchen tap is the most used in the house - get a good one.

 

Are the materials chosen for cupboard/drawer facings and bench tops easy to keep clean and durable?

 

Do you have sufficient lighting and lights in places where they're needed?

 

Gas is a great way to cook. You can precisely control the temperature which is one of the many reasons why chefs prefer to cook with gas. It gives fantastic indoor and outdoor cooking options, with a wide range of ovens, cooktops and barbeques in the latest styles to suit any home and budget.
Even if gas is not available in your street, you can install large home use tanks that will last a household months and can get replaced whenever you want.

 

Quotes and Design
Be aware that when you're offered 'free quotes', expect that this often means you need to supply the plans or have your available space filled up with standard modules. Even architect drawings generally only specify the space available for cabinets with a suggested position for the sink and cooking areas. Professional design input will often be the crucial difference in making a good working kitchen! Also, make sure you are aware of who it is you are paying to supply your kitchen and find out exactly what their warranty covers.

 

Designer/Manufacturer
Depending on your budget and the time you wish to spend on your kitchen project yourself, you could get anything from a one hour design consultation right through to a fully-fledged design and project management service.