Since lockdown lifted, we’ve been flooded with enquiries about new kitchens. It would seem that with all the extra usage and time at home as a nation we’ve felt it’s time to give a facelift to what for many of us is the heart of the home.
Getting a new kitchen can be a big investment and for many it’s the biggest they’ll ever make (except their home obviously) so it’s worth taking a moment to think about it before you start ordering anything. The last thing you want to do is install a new kitchen only to find twelve months down the line you’re wishing you’d done things differently.
With that in mind here’s our top 5 tips for anyone wanting to buy a new kitchen:
This might sound obvious, and you probably think you’ve already done it, but very few have. Most people have some idea of what they want the space to look and feel like, they know they want an island or a certain colour of cupboard, but not everyone really thinks about the details.
If you’re quite the cook and plan extravagant meals ask yourself ‘will the pans be within reaching distance of the sink, can I reach the drawers from the hob?’
If you plan to use it as an entertaining space, you probably want to make sure there’s places for drinks and an area to congregate.
Whenever we design a kitchen we make sure the homeowner has a clear idea of how the intend to use the space and build outwards from that.
Remember just because your kitchen was laid out one way doesn’t mean we need to replace it with the same.
For a number of years now large American style islands have become very fashionable, and why wouldn’t they, when done well they’re great and transform the room from just a cooking room to a liveable space where you can eat and entertain. However, that doesn’t mean everyone should have one.
Islands, breakfast bars and peninsulas require a certain amount of space to be practical and while they can look fantastic they can also become very frustrating if you constantly feel like accessing certain cupboards and drawers is a challenge and not easily done. We recommend a minimum of 900mm (90cm) clear space around any kitchen island that has opening drawers or doors.
Don’t become disheartened though if you read this and feel your dreams of a kitchen island being crushed there are ways we can incorporate them into small spaces, it just requires some creativity.
We see lots of people who’ve invested heavily in a beautiful new kitchen, styled to perfection, something that looks like the front cover of Ideal Home magazine but either neglected the floor or installed something totally unsuitable.
If a new floor is on the agenda at some point in the next few years, it’s always best to do it when you install the kitchen. It both minimises disruption but also ensures that where possible we can fit under and new units and leave a seamless finish.
Also, not only will the kitchen be a high traffic area in any home but it’s probably the room you feel you need to clean the most often so it’s important to choose something hard wearing and ideally waterproof!
