Kitchen Design, Supply & Installation

Designing and building a new kitchen is one of the best ways to create a new functional and beautiful space to enjoy your property. Although challenging, creating a new kitchen creates will also help to add value to the sale price of your home.

Creating a New Kitchen

Deciding how you want to use the space should be the first thing you consider when creating a new kitchen. This will help you design a practical floor plan that makes the most of your space while ensuring the kitchen meets your needs. Visualise how you will use the space and consider working with a professional to draft plans. Hiring a designer is a great way to help with developing a layout that works as well as a designing a kitchen that looks beautiful. They will work with you to understand how you will use the space and what your needs are while creating a functional layout that maximise the space that is available. A kitchen designer also helps with selecting finishes and fittings to create a uniform concept and look.

To design an effective layout with efficient work space, think about how you use the kitchen. For example, choose a location for dishes and flatware close to the dishwasher to help with unloading. The layout should have wide walkways, especially in the cooking zone. There should also be space around stoves, refrigerators and microwaves. If you are incorporating an island, the design should relate to the intended function. For example, there should be enough space if you are using the island to prepare and cook food or for eating. Design a layout that considers the placement of electrical outlets, pipes and gas lines before installing any appliance. The kitchen should also have sufficient storage space, including for recycling and garbage bins. Finally, choose a design that has one focal point and subtle details rather than a kitchen design with too much to look at such as fancy tiles combined with a flashy countertop and colourful cabinets.

Finding the Right Fittings

There are a lot of details to consider when designing and building a kitchen. Although choosing all your kitchen fittings can be daunting, planning will help you decide and prevent you from becoming overwhelmed. Make a list of all the items you need. Then, choose a concept or theme. This will make it easier to find items that fit within your theme. A theme will also focus your search and keep you on track. You should also research items online before heading out to a shop or supplier. This will help you avoid being faced with too many options when out shopping.

Setting a budget is crucial. To set a realistic budget, send your list of items to at least three kitchen suppliers. Shopping around to find the right fittings will help you find items that achieve your design objectives while respecting your budget, whether you are building the kitchen yourself or plan to hire a fitter. You can then compare these costs with the prices you found during your online research. This will help you find the cheapest supplier for the fittings you need. To further reduce costs, look for sales especially if you receive very high quotes on certain items on your list. These quotes will also help you if you are working with a designer or fitter. Knowing how much things cost will allow you to be informed when discussing how fittings are supplied for your project.

Choosing a Kitchen Designer, Supplier and Fitter

Whether you are designing a new kitchen or remodelling an existing one, it is important that you work with an experienced and qualified kitchen designer and fitter. You may need to work with three different contractors, such as a designer, supplier and fitter. In some cases, a single contractor will be able to provide all services related to designing and building your new kitchen. Regardless of how you approach the project, get multiple quotes that include all labour and material costs. Also, check the contractor's references and qualifications. Looking at examples of their previous work will also help determine whether you are getting value for your money.

Given the high cost of creating a new kitchen, it is vital that you work with qualified and experienced professionals. Membership in a trade organisation or association is a great way to identify a reputable contractor. The Kitchen Bathroom Bedroom Specialists Association (KBSA) has over 300 accredited members including retailers, manufacturers and suppliers with expertise in new and remodelled kitchens. Other organisations include the FairTrades Kitchen, Bathroom & Bedroom Trade Association, the British Kitchen Designers Association (BKDA) and the Institute of Kitchen, Bedroom & Bathroom Installers (iKBBI). Suppliers may also be members of a relevant association, such as The Tile Association (TTA) and the Association for British Furniture Manufacturers (BFM). If a plumber is needed to install a sink or undertake other water-related, they should be certified under a Competent Person Scheme such as the Association of Plumbing and Heating Contractors (APHC), Benchmark, Building Engineering Services Competence Assessment (BESCA), Certsure, HETAS, NAPIT or Stroma.