I want a new kitchen!
Kitchens, for me, should be the centre of the home, where we cook, entertain and socialise. That’s why I think it's so important to create a design that ticks all of those boxes! For busy families like mine, a fitted kitchen should be bespoke to you, giving functionality and streamlining the space to make use of every inch.
I would also consider that by revamping your kitchen you would most definitely increase the value of your home. So that stunning kitchen island, with pop-up sockets and an extractor that disappears into thin air and maybe the kitchen sink with a smaller rectangle integrated ice bucket, would make this space the social hub of the home. Therefore, it's critical to get it right! Here are some dos and don’ts to consider.
Don’t forget to allow for enough counter space. You’ll need this for dishing your meals up, prepping and baking, and to give you somewhere to sit with a bottle of wine! It also allows you to display all your appliances and do the washing up.
Do make sure you have enough storage. Understanding how much storage you really need is essential. For example, if you have a large bread maker and you don’t want this on display, make sure you request this with your kitchen designer.
Don't neglect ventilation as this is key for any kitchen. Lingering smells that are not ventilated can drift throughout the home. While the smell of home-cooked food is delicious in the moment, you don’t want the rest of the house to smell and ruin the atmosphere.
Don’t let your rubbish pile up! Make sure that you allow for at least two bins for recycling and everyday rubbish. The best solution is to look at integrated bins or cupboards to conceal freestanding bins. Hiding waste will also help to contain any unwelcome odours. When the dedicated space isn’t allocated at planning stage the only viable option is to have a free-standing bin on display. Thankfully you can buy stylish solutions now, but if this wasn’t part of the plan it won’t please you when you realise waste disposal has been overlooked.
Don’t skimp on lighting. It's so important to get the lighting right, both in terms of functional use and the overall aesthetics. Prepping food will require more direct lighting, and spotlights concealed under wall cabinets and in the ceiling are the most popular solution, and a practical choice to use throughout. They can be grouped according to tasks – which is my absolute favourite – rather than just a runway of lights, and then used with dimmer switches so you can create an atmosphere instantly. You might also want to consider plinth lighting strips that run along the base of your cabinets as they can provide a subtle light that will illuminate your kitchen after hours – I tend to use mine late evening – but they're also handy should you wish to grab a midnight snack! For areas of the kitchen where friends and family will gather, consider living-room-style lighting and interiors. Pendants generally work well above the island in sets of two or three, with another pendant over the dining table, and then to add a more focal light source and create ambience include table lamps on a sideboard or console table.
Do make sure you have enough sockets. It sounds so very obvious, but before you commit to plumbing in all your appliances, think about how you will use your kitchen – and ensure you get the sockets in the right place! Think about where the tea point is going to be, although my advice would be to install a hot water tap. They're amazing for instant hot water for tea and coffee and to pop in saucepans for immediate boiling hot water for vegetables. This will not only save you time but can also reduce your energy consumption. Don’t forget the toaster/sandwich maker, and are you going to have a microwave combi oven all integrated with a warming drawer? This will free up more space on your worktops for other accessories.
Do choose a design that won’t date. As tempting as it might be to go with the latest trends of bright colours, and gloss cabinets may seem a good idea at the time, think about whether you really will still love them in a few years’ time. Be sure you avoid choosing a design that's likely to date and be old news and style in a few years. Kitchens are not cheap to replace, so please keep this in mind when designing your dream kitchen. You can go as loud as you like with the paint, wallpaper and accessories, because these can be easily and affordably replaced. If you're that unsure, I'd recommend sticking to a timeless and classic range.
Do always set a budget! Even if you have the money to splash out, it's really important to have a total figure and to keep what you need from your renovation in mind as that can help you avoid overspending. Always remember that you will need to accessorise and put blinds/curtains up, so all these factors need to be noted in your budgeting. Going over budget is one of the most common mistakes seen in many a home renovation. Creating an inventory list will ensure that you account for both the furniture and the contents.
Don't be seduced by the DIY option. It's a huge temptation but it's easy to forget the level of expertise that's involved in planning any major home project, and especially with kitchens where complicated wiring, plumbing and ventilation systems all feature heavily. These are not to be messed with if you're at all unsure about what you’re doing.
Do seek professional help – this is where we come in! We have registered tradespeople. We assist with planning and project management as we know when to carry out what works at each stage. For instance, tiling before electrics, painting before installation? Absolutely not! Look at the bigger picture, a smart investment from the beginning of the project is much more cost effective. We start with an initial consultation to help us to get to know our clients, to understand what they like to use the kitchen for – more social, more about cooking, for example – and to chat about the appliances that need to be incorporated. This helps us to use the available space most efficiently and also to get a feel for the room itself.
Once we understand all this, we create real-life CGIs so that our clients can see the 'finished' kitchen! When that is approved, we accessorise the whole kitchen with bar stools, tiles or LVT flooring, lighting, furniture, blinds or curtains, and small touches to give the finishing touches! So you see there is so much to take into consideration. And not only that, we will soon be launching our very own workable kitchen displays with many accessories that are new to the market!
Strive for Design founder Leigh Hall is an interior designer in Cambridge and offers on-site appointments, so please call us on 01223 622 688 for a new kitchen consultation.