1. Take time to research
Planning for a new kitchen can seem overwhelming, but there are many useful tools that can provide you with ideas and inspiration.
Find inspiration online using social platforms like Instagram, Houzz, and Pinterest as well as kitchen and design magazines for cabinetry, colour schemes, finishes, hardware, and benchtops. The Kitchen Studio online gallery and style pages can also be a helpful tool to help you identify the kind of look you like and the feel you want to create in your new kitchen.
Share your inspiration photos with one of our experienced designers who will help you work through your likes and dislikes and create a cohesive end result that embodies everything you’re after.
There are so many decisions to make when planning your new kitchen, but our Kitchen Studio designers have the expertise and knowledge to remove the stress and translate your ideas into your perfect design.
2. Make a wishlist
It’s always a good idea to create a realistic wish list and set up a budget early on.
Begin by making a list of the things you don’t like about your current kitchen, think about what you do like too. What works, what doesn’t, what you love, and what drives you mad. Then, define what’s an absolute must, what are things you’d really, really like, and what things would you like but could live without.
Armed with all your wishes and ideas, our designers will have a clear understanding of what you want and don’t want from your new kitchen design, and they will offer advice on options and alternatives available. The practicalities will be considered for creating your desired look and layout and how it will be a functional space.
We partner with suppliers who have the latest offerings in innovative kitchen hardware adding another dimension in making your kitchen easy to use and bringing you the most joy.
3. Consider your lifestyle needs
Every kitchen we design is bespoke to suit our client’s lifestyle. In the planning stages, we’ll discuss ideas and your day-to-day movements to work out what layout best suits your requirements. You may already have your heart set on a large island, when in fact a peninsular may actually work better for the space or how you’ll use it, so we will be on hand to offer alternatives and spatial solutions so that you can achieve your wish list goals.
Kitchens are multi-purpose spaces nowadays, used by different members of the family, for different purposes at different times of the day. Reviewing how you want to use your space and how it needs to work for you is really important in the planning stages and will influence the structure of the layout and how you’ll navigate the space. For instance, will there be one or two or more people cooking at the same time? Do you have young children? or regularly have guests over? You’ll want to consider accessibility, storage, preparation space, and walkways… where you’ll cook, eat and relax. If your kitchen is well-planned, everything will flow much easier.
4. Use a designer
The most important part of planning a new kitchen is making sure you find the right designer that you can work with and trust to create your dream project. There are so many elements that contribute to creating a successful working kitchen, and it should ideally be a team effort between you and your Kitchen Studio designer.
As well as collaborating and enjoying sharing ideas, a kitchen designer’s experience, and expertise will offer plenty of simple ideas as well as innovative ones – that you might not have even considered. After all, kitchen designers spend all day trying to find new inventive ways to design spaces that are more practical, attractive, and as clever as possible. Something that may seem difficult or impossible to achieve can usually be worked out!
There are so many decisions to make when creating a kitchen space. We make the experience as stress-free and as enjoyable as possible for you. By working with you to make sure all of your needs are met from both a practical and design perspective we push the boundaries for your concept, offering design suggestions and product recommendations to bring your dream kitchen together.
5. …as early as possible
Don’t underestimate the work involved in project managing a kitchen installation. Not all kitchen companies provide a full project management offer, a Kitchen company that handles the project management like Kitchen Studio can potentially save you a lot of time and money. Especially if your project involves any building, plumbing, and electrical work. It’s important to make sure you can fit your dream kitchen into the space before you have permanent fixtures decided on. Moving a door or window, or electrical and plumbing connections slightly can make all the difference to the layout possibilities. So don’t risk misjudging measurements and requirements that will disrupt things and cost extra money if you have to change things halfway through.
Even when there isn’t any building work, having the creative input from a designer early on will give you maximum time to enjoy planning your space’s options rather than feeling rushed into decisions.
Don’t regret getting a designer on board earlier. Designers can make changes to architectural plans that can transform the way you use and enjoy your living spaces.
6. Prioritise practicality and storage
Having effective storage solutions will make your life easier, so when we design kitchens, practicality and storage is a top consideration. Appliances especially take up a lot of space so it’s vital these are planned into the design. An important consideration is to have your kitchen designed before you purchase any appliances!
Practicality over aesthetics should always come first when designing your kitchen.
You can invest in a stunning kitchen and still hate using it. So, make sure it works for you. Consider how you cook – do you prepare a lot beforehand and therefore need more worktop space? Or is storage more important? Our designers love creating space-saving solutions and take your lifestyle and habits into consideration.
We design with the sink, cooking, and fridge zones all in relatively close proximity to make using your kitchen a breeze, and ensure the small details like switches, recycling/ food disposal, and charging points for phones and iPads are all considered! If you have the space, we can discuss a scullery which could revolutionise your storage and free up lots of space in your other cabinets, helping with the flow of traffic within the kitchen.
7. Use the highest quality materials you can afford
A kitchen is an important investment. A well-made one can add value to your property and provide years of enjoyment to you and your family, so it’s worth taking the time to get things right.
Higher quality materials will afford that luxury, and they also help make a kitchen beautiful and resilient. So, invest wisely. Going bespoke is also a real luxury and one which will pay off. Everything is built with high-quality materials and specs, crafted to fit your space enhancing your family’s lifestyle and bringing you joy. It’s functional, and beautifully built exactly how you want it and that’s what creates long-lasting perfection. Remember, cheap units and cheap appliances are cheap for a reason! If your budget is tight, opt for fewer units that are of a higher quality to ensure a design that will last.
8. Opt for bespoke over off-the-shelf
A kitchen is a very personal thing that needs to suit your own needs whilst also being an amazing feature in your house. Don’t settle for a standard or generic design that you can get from anyone. A bespoke kitchen designer can give you something totally unique and allows for optimum flexibility.
At Kitchen Studio we listen to your exact needs and requirements and fit them around a plan that will be in keeping with the space, being respectful of the architecture of the house. If you have an unusually shaped room, really high ceilings, or original features, a bespoke kitchen will always be better than an ‘off the shelf’ version in these situations. And a great kitchen designer can add bespoke features or unique elements into otherwise unused spaces. For example, an alcove can be adapted into a diner-style booth or turned into an open-door pantry.
Bespoke kitchens are what we do. Our kitchen designers are experts in this field, crafting bespoke kitchen cabinetry to the highest specifications and quality materials.
9. Don't forget lighting
Lighting in the kitchen is an essential consideration for both functional and aesthetic purposes. There’s more than just general ceiling lighting. Task lighting should be used to illuminate specific areas where work is done, to allow for easy and safe food preparation, and accent lighting to highlight specific features or areas in the kitchen, such as a unique backsplash, artwork, or decorative items. Dimmer switches are definitely the way to go nowadays and by using a combination of general, task, accent lighting, and dimmer switches, you can create a well-lit kitchen that meets all your needs while adding style and character to the space.
Creating different zones allows flexibility depending on mood and occasion and can really lift the whole project. And it shouldn’t be an afterthought. Kitchen designers consider the placement of lights and the type of lighting you want to use, as well as where you would like sockets to go, at the beginning of the project. Adding these elements later is disruptive and expensive so a good lighting and electrical plan is key.
10. Design for you
Go with your gut! Don’t feel you need to follow the crowd and be trendy. If you love a certain feature or colour scheme, then incorporate it in your new kitchen, as you will continue to love it over the years. Choose elements that bring you joy and make you feel excited to walk into your new kitchen every morning. Also, rather than following trends, opt for a style that suits your property. An interior that is sympathetic to the period of the property and its features will always look best.
There are so many aspects to consider when designing a kitchen. A Kitchen Studio designer will create your dream space that will bring you joy for future years and add value to your house - let's start planning and sharing ideas!
