The kitchen has always been the heart of the home, but has moved on from being just a place to cook and eat. The days of the kitchen simply being home to the sink and cooker are far behind us. Most designs from larger manufacturers now include home entertainment systems and wall-mounted drop-down televisions.
Planning is the key and if you are brave enough you can do this yourself. Think first what you don't like about your existing kitchen. Is it too dark or too crowded and cluttered? Think about the use of space and light - you could possibly change the windows or even increase your floor space with an extension or by knocking through into another room. As most kitchens are at the back of the house, this is ideal for helping to incorporate the house and garden into one space.
You can create a detailed and accurate kitchen plan yourself without too much difficulty . It's easy to find free software which you can download and work on from your laptop; the old fashioned method of graph paper and a pencil also still works well. If you have never designed a kitchen before, you could be better off employing the services of a professional kitchen planner. All major manufacturers employ planners, and their services are usually free, provided the manufacturer is supplying your kitchen. A wise move would be to visit some of the superstores and larger kitchen supplier chains for inspiration. You are sure to get some ideas here that you may not have considered.
Do consider the needs and requirements of the principal cook in the family when planning your new kitchen. It can be really annoying - not to mention a waste of time and effort - if one has to constantly be moving to and fro across the kitchen when preparing meals. The cooker, work area and fridge should ideally be within easy reach of each other. A popular phrase when planning your kitchen design is to think about the 'work triangle'. Store small appliances and utensils which don't get used that often somewhere out of the way to give yourself more room.
When choosing wall units, remember to include space for doors to open comfortably within your plan. An alternative is to use open shelving, but remember that unless you have a good extractor, items on the shelves can quickly become covered in a film of grease.
Free standing units and dressers can provide a really interesting focus in your kitchen, and provide an alternative to the standard fitted kitchen look. You can pick up old furniture from second hand shops which can be restored to give your kitchen it's own character. Bright curtains could also be used instead of cupboard doors to give your kitchen a rustic feel.
The larger kitchen suppliers will always have special deals and offers. Don't be shy to try and haggle - you may find it relatively easy to negotiate if the company you are purchasing from is also going to be responsible for the installation of your kitchen. Do not dismiss the idea of using smaller firms though, as a local supplier may be just as competitive price-wise. Local kitchen companies and their specialist tradesmen will usually be able to supply you with a much more bespoke and personalised kitchen that one bought from a large store. their job is too keep you happy as a customer, and so will want to make your dream bespoke kitchen a reality. If they keep you happy, then you will be much more likely to recommend them to others in need of a kitchen planner.
About the Author
James Clark Kitchen Co. provide bespoke kitchens designed and manufactured in our Suffolk factory. All aspects of kitchen design are tailored to clients' specific requirements.
