Design Guide & Planning Tips – Part 5

Lighting
Good lighting is essential and should be thought about at the planning stage. Make the most of natural light. Lighting serves three functions; general lighting, task lighting and decorative lighting.
General lighting should provide consistent light. If the kitchen is used for multiple tasks then allow control of this general lighting for each zone of use perhaps with dimmer switches.
Task lighting should be adequate for performing task such as food preparation or washing up. Often shadows are formed from the main general light. Bring light into the work area perhaps with lights under wall units, above units or as part of a flyover.
Decorative lighting to direct the eye. Illuminated glass shelves or a focused spotlight to pick out a specific feature.

Tip
For good ideas on the latest lighting techniques look at the ways designers use lighting in high street shops

Design Guide & Planning Tips – Part 4

Selecting a Style
Start with the architecture of your home. The kitchen should look as if it belongs to the house. The kitchen does not have to be authentic but the style characteristics can be reinterpreted and modified. A good design should integrate with the rest of your home and fell part of the whole house. Visit showrooms and look at magazines for ideas.

Tip
If you are looking to sell your home in the future, bear in mind the style you choose will affect the sale of your property. A simple classic or contemporary style is the best option

Popular styles include:

Minimalist
Clean lines and absence of clutter. Hide away small appliances. Neutral tones with a splash of colour.

Farmhouse
Warm and rustic. Use natural timber for worktops and doors.

Hi-Tech
Commercially inspired. Industrial look with a rugged uncluttered efficient space.

Country
Traditional accessories such as a Belfast sink along with tongue and groove panelling. Units painted pale colours and hardwood worksurfaces.

Contemporary
A cool clean look with Scandinavian influence. Pale woods such as birch or maple. Colours are modern and fresh.

Tip
For good ideas on the latest lighting techniques look at the ways designers use lighting in high street shops

Design Guide & Planning Tips – Part 3

Storage
There are many different units available in varying standard sizes. Drawer units, Tall units and Corner units provide different storage solutions. Choose these carefully to make effect use of space.

Tip
Place a drawer unit close to the sink so the top drawer can be used for cutlery

Tip
Making a change to the height or depth of a run of units can add an interesting visual effect

Tip
Maximise the use of corner base units by fitting carousel shelves

Design Guide & Planning Tips – Part 2

Layout Concepts
Using the kitchen involves bending, lifting, reaching, walking and carrying. Shorten the distances travelled and reduce the amount of movements involved. Preparing a meal involves a sequence from unpacking the shopping, through cooking to finishing with the washing up. Arrange the kitchen to accommodate these tasks in the order they occur. This will enable smooth flow and save time and energy. To improve the kitchen’s efficiency consider each activity; visualise carrying out each task. Your work centre should have everything you need within easy reach. This will minimise moving and walking and make using the kitchen more enjoyable. Use the work triangle. This is the route taken between the three main appliances. Draw a line between the fridge to the hob to the sink and back to the fridge. Ideally keep this total distance more that 3.6m and less than 7m. These lines represent the route of walking where most of the work will take place.

Tip
Right handed people usually feel more comfortable working clockwise and left handed people anticlockwise. Take this into account when planning the flow of your kitchen.

Galley Kitchen

The Island

The L-Shape Kitchen

Single Wall

The U-Shape Kitchen

Tip
It is good practice to keep a clear length of worktop within a step or two of the cooker and sink. This will become a natural workspace.

Design Guide & Planning Tips – Part 1

Planning
Make good use of space and consider how your kitchen will be used. This will provide a practical and stylish design.

Tip
Be flexible – A spacious Island unit, can be used for occasional meals and as a food preparation area while a dining table provides extra space to be used as a home study or a formal entertaining area.

Lifestyle
Consider the size of your family. Does the kitchen need to double up as a dining area, crèche, office? Dining needs can range greatly from feeding the children to a formal dinner party. What is the frequency and style of entertaining? The size of cooking and preparation facilities will depend on this. The more people you cook for the more space you will need to prepare and serve. Do you have meals in the kitchen? This could range from breakfast snacks to a full meal at the dinner table. How often do you like to go shopping? Storage space will be needed if you dont go that often.

Tip
Plan your budget. Consider the size, the design, and the required longevity of your new kitchen. Balance your requirements and your wishlist.

Budget
Your kitchen is probably the best investment you can make in your property. Before you set a budget you should balance up your wishes with the longevity that you’re looking for. A highly appointed kitchen that will last for a long time will clearly be more than a basic kitchen which you may only live with for a few years.
NOTE: If your kitchen has to last, don’t cut corners by buying inferior quality units. This will always be more costly in the long run.

Tip
Could adjoining areas or rooms be more usefully used for space in the kitchen? Perhaps a small room could be used as a utility room. Could the kitchen and dining room be knocked together to create an open plan living space.

Find a Suitable Space
Start with your existing kitchen. Does it already meet your requirements? Is it too small or too big, too narrow or too wide? Could the layout be changed to make a better use of space?