Designing your new kitchen is an exciting time, but it can also feel a little daunting. While the kitchen is typically the hub of the home, every family is unique and will want something different from the space.
There are also several common requirements when it comes to designing a kitchen. For example, it should flow with the home’s other usable spaces, provide great functionality and – perhaps most importantly – offer plenty of opportunities for you to connect as a family.
This means it’s an important space to get right.
At Bespoke Living AIC we make sure your kitchen is perfectly tailored to your needs, but we’ve also put together some useful tips to help you get started:
1. Put functionality first
One of the most important aspects to consider when you’re planning your new kitchen is how you’ll be using the space.
Today, a kitchen is so much more than a place to cook – it’s a space to eat and spend time together as a family, to catch up with friends or simply somewhere you can go to relax with a glass of wine at the end of a long day.
Considering how you’ll use the space and how you need it to work is crucial when you’re planning a kitchen – this helps to create one that’s perfectly suited to you and your family.
To work out what you’ll need, ask yourself:
- How do you plan to use your kitchen every day?
- Other than cooking, what activities do you like to do in the kitchen?
- How many people are likely to be in your kitchen at one time?
- What and how much do you need to store in your kitchen?
- If you like to entertain, how much seating will you need?
- How much space do you need to prepare meals?
2. Find your inspiration
In this day and age, there’s an endless supply of material and beautiful imagery available for inspiration at your fingertips. So when you’re planning a new kitchen, begin by gathering together design ideas, examples and pictures that really appeal to you.
Platforms like Instagram, Pinterest and Houzz are a great way to find and save inspiring images that can begin to form the basis of your kitchen design. And there’s no need to be restricted to just images, you can also be inspired by spaces, layouts, colours and textures.
Don’t be afraid to initially save lots of images. It’s best to collate all of these in one place and make notes of what you do and don’t like about each photograph. This can help you whittle down your selection and really hone in on your personal design style.
3. Make room for storage
Very few people complain about having too much storage space. In fact, one of the biggest issues and frustrations our clients tell us about is the lack of space they have in their current home for storing items and putting things away.
To make your kitchen work effectively, it’s essential that it has plenty of drawers, cupboards and smart storage solutions to keep your new space tidy and clutter-free. To help you achieve this, consider integrating large, deep draws to contain your pots and pans and adding pull-out larders for easy access to store cupboard essentials.
If the space allows, you could even opt for a luxurious walk-in pantry to make sure your dream kitchen is always kept clear of clutter.
4. Consider your appliances
Deciding on your appliances early on will help speed up the design process and can also eliminate issues further down the line. If you’re reconfiguring an existing kitchen space, it’s important to consider which appliances you’ll need and where. Not to mention making sure there’ll be power wherever you’re likely to need it.
Making use of existing plumbing, gas or electrical points will save on labour costs, but depending on your new layout this isn’t always possible. Working with a designer will help provide the best configuration for your needs. It will also highlight if any major changes are needed to the layout, enabling you to include this in your budget for the renovation works.
Selecting the brand and type of appliances you’d like to include in your kitchen at an early stage will also help when it comes to allocating budget and finishes. We can give you cost-saving tips and advice on which areas of your kitchen it’s worth splurging on.
5. Visualise your space
Once you’ve decided on the layout, colour palette, finishes and hardware, it’s useful to visualise your kitchen before you commit to the final design. At Bespoke Living AIC, we’re uniquely set up to offer realistic 3D images of your kitchen, including the specific door style, unit colour, worktop finish and specified flooring.
This allows you to take a virtual tour and provides you with a really clear idea of how your bespoke kitchen will look and feel before it’s been commissioned.
Viewing it like this also helps you to identify if there are any tweaks or changes you’d like, so we can make sure you’re absolutely thrilled with the overall layout and feel of the space before you sign off your kitchen for production.
6. Add some finishing touches
Once your kitchen has been installed, it’s important to add some finishing touches to personalise the space and really make it yours. Simply adding some stylish accessories, blinds, curtains and soft furnishings can create a huge difference.
A blank wall could be the perfect opportunity to add a large striking piece of art and create a focal point for the room. Well-chosen accessories can also break up the space, and shelves displaying your favourite items and recipe books can help add colour to pale schemes.
If you have a kitchen island, consider incorporating some statement pendant lights and stylish bar stools. Now it’s time to sit back, relax and enjoy spending time in your dream kitchen!
If you’d like to find out more or need advice on how to style and design your dream kitchen space, simply get in touch – we’d love to help.
