There is often a misconception around the differences between modular and bespoke kitchens.
- Modular is where a kitchen designer works with individual cabinetry that is already designed to set sizes.
- Bespoke is where a designer will tell a cabinetmaker what sizes the cabinet should be built to.
The issue with modular kitchens is that it assumes all humans are the same height and all kitchen spaces will perfectly accommodate the standard sizing of the cabinets. But, to get a truly custom-built kitchen specific to you and your kitchen room-size, bespoke is the most logical option to choose from.
The bespoke kitchen market is full of companies, cabinetmakers or joiners who have a factory full of machinery and people that they want to keep busy. What they tend to design is actually modular cabinetry because it’s quick and easy to produce: they sell on price not on design. But, in fact bespoke or custom-made doesn’t have to be costly, and although it may take just a little longer to produce, the end product will suit your personal needs that much better.
For example, decades ago the standard kitchen range was at a height suitable for cooking on. That height is now what BBQ’s are set at. Whereas most joiners will set your hob at 900mm high, no matter your own physical stature, because it’s easy for their cabinetry manufacturing.
This is where using a kitchen designer that doesn’t have a manufacturing business to worry about is really important. Look at architects. They are specialists and will design and specify your home, often provide oversight and even project management to ensure it is built to that specification and quality. But they don’t physically build your home.
A Kitchen Studio designer will focus on what works for you and your home. Each kitchen will be custom designed with your physical attributes, family dynamics, cooking style and room sizes in mind. The designer is not concerned with what the manufacturer likes to do, simply because they have always done it that way. A Kitchen Studio designer’s only focus is the customer’s needs and how they combine those with their training and industry experience.
Many years ago, most kitchens were designed by joiners. These joiners had no design training and more importantly very little cooking experience. As a result, we grew up with some poorly designed kitchens but never realised it as that’s all there was available. We brought up our families and successfully cooked for decades in those designs so it’s very easy for that poor design to be re-introduced into new kitchens by a customer, untrained designer or the joiner.
The kitchen is an important space for you and your family, so it makes sense to get it right. Don’t plump for standard sizes or modular cabinets, just because they are quick and cheap. And don’t be put off by terms such as “bespoke” or “custom-made”. They simply mean ‘made for you and not the average person’. Spend a little more time and create a space that works perfectly for you for now and into the future.
