The Basics of Kitchen Design
Planning your new kitchen from scratch can be daunting. There’s lots to think about, and the range of options in any kitchen showroom is baffling. Many of the large chains will offer the services of a designer, who will take your preferences into account and pull together a drawing of how your kitchen could look. However, this step will be much easier if you’ve thought about the basics of kitchen design first, or if you’re buying a kitchen online, you’ll have to take on all the designing job yourself.
What is the “kitchen triangle”?
Most kitchen designers will talk about the kitchen triangle. This means the traditional design method which puts the cooker, fridge and sink at three points of a triangle. These are the three elements of a kitchen which are used the most, so it makes sense to have each of them within easy reach. Although this is a good starting point for any design, it can be tweaked and altered to fit your particular needs. Don’t be afraid to switch the position of your sink or cooker if you feel it will work better for you.
Consider Your Existing Layout
If you’re trying to keep control of costs for your kitchen renovation, then think about where the plumbing, gas and electricity cables run at present. It is always possible to get plumbers and electricians to run new cables or re-route waste pipes, but this will obviously come at a price. If you can keep your cooker and sink in the same position, then this could provide a good starting point for any new design.
Number of Units?
Kitchens come in all shapes and sizes and it’s always tempting to think that the solution to lack of storage in the kitchen is to add more units. But is that really the answer? Often, the issue isn’t lack of units but the fact they’re in the wrong place, or are cupboards rather than drawers, or are too tall or too short. This is your opportunity to redesign what sort of storage you have, and use some of the gadgets and unusual storage options now available on the market.
Material Choice
Once you’re happy with the layout of your new kitchen, you can then move on to thinking about the design elements. There is no “right” and “wrong” here, these choices are a matter of personal choice. There are budget implications too – a solid wood kitchen is going to cost more than one made from other materials. Likewise, choosing a solid granite worksurface will cost a lot more than opting for a laminate top.
Colour and Style
Again, choices about whether to go for a modern, sleek and glossy kitchen, or a more traditional country kitchen are a matter of personal style and choice. In general though, traditional kitchens are more appropriate for a period property, and if you have a very modern home, a gloss kitchen is the better option. Any large showroom will have a wide range of different styles to help you narrow your choices.
