The first step – the room itself

Prior to embarking on the refurbishment of your kitchen, it is worth considering that as well as food preparation, a kitchen will now often form the very hub of a home. In this respect it may be asked to perform the myriad additional functions of pantry, dining room, home office, classroom and even occasional sitting room, and very often, all at once! It should be planned to be able to accommodate these multiple potential requirements safely, all whilst looking as stylish as possible – a truly demanding expectation for any space, whatever its size?

With this in mind, it may be easier to consider the following key details prior to making contact.

Did you inherit or possibly even install your existing kitchen?
How has it performed for you? Are there any features you particularly like, or dislike, about the present layout – does it still even function for your present, or (perhaps anticipated) future household?

Are you considering any building work?

For example, if your existing kitchen currently contains your central heating boiler, this might be a good opportunity to update and possibly even relocate it, and thus obtain the benefits of the latest heating technologies available, as well as freeing up potentially valuable extra space.

Alternatively, perhaps the kitchen is but one element of an entire property renovation, or even new build project – so does its current location even suit your particular circumstances and requirements at all? Should the kitchen’s present location itself be reconsidered? This is an often-overlooked option, but occasionally worth serious consideration?

The style of kitchen

The possibilities are numerous, and constricted usually only by budget. However, there are generally no hard and fast rules regarding what is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ for any particular property – although (perhaps) an ornately designed, traditionally hand-painted kitchen might be taken as slightly incongruous within say, a contemporary glass and steel apartment – ultimately, the client’s choice is the only one that really matters.

With regards to trends, of course they come and go, but leading manufacturers have noted declining interest in what may be seen as fussier cabinet designs – with requests for a much more paired down approach – such as handle-less doors etc. growing ever more popular.

But this in no way means that one’s kitchen must resemble anything like a laboratory environment – especially with the myriad alternative materials and finishes available to choose from, such hand-painted, cutting-edge man made materials or more natural timber veneers. Of course, any suggestion of finishes is only ever given, purely to offer guidance – as the final choice will always remain between you and your ultimate chosen manufacturer.

The layout

Normally, only room size, configuration or budget available will limit a kitchen’s potential layout. However, our more modern lifestyles also mean the days of rigid ‘work triangles’ etc. dictating exactly how a kitchen is designed are now (thankfully) far behind us. That said, ease of use and safety, are always the overriding considerations given to any design proposed.

Appliances

It’s far too easy to think your new kitchen will only be complete with every latest ‘must have’ appliance. Careful, unbiased advice will be offered as to any item’s real value within a layout – and it’s possible worthiness of expenditure upon. With any appliance suggestions made only on merit of previous customer feedback, or their suitability to your particular circumstances – and without any allegiance to any particular brand or manufacturer.

Worktops

It may seem there’s a baffling choice available, from natural stones and timbers as well as hi-tech materials such as laminates, quartz and mineral composites etc. However, contrary to all marketing there really is no ‘ultimate’ kitchen worktop – however, there are some fantastic products around, but each will have its unique advantages, limitations and aftercare requirements. Only unbiased guidance to help identify your ideal material will be provided.