9 minute read
KITCHEN PLANNING
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5 steps to the PERFECT KITCHEN
Follow our step-by-step guide to creating a timeless kitchen that’s super stylish and built to last
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PLAY WITH SCALE
Add interest to white units by contrasting small-scale splashback tiles with bold and bright printed blinds for a punch of colour
For a quick change, swap in colourful accessories
he more prepared you are
Tat the start of a kitchen renovation, the more likely it is to succeed as a space that’s both practical and beautiful. From choosing a layout and including plenty of storage to selecting fixtures and fittings, careful planning will prevent costly mistakes further down the line.
Getting the right layout for your space is key to getting your kitchen right. It may look fantastic, but if it fails to function as a workspace, it’ll be a huge disappointment. A kitchen designer will be able to advise on a layout that looks good and works perfectly. Before thinking about a design, it helps to have an idea of room formations. Every space is different, but most suit one of five basic layouts...
1 Plan the layout
Start with a scale plan of the space.
Measure and include features such as windows, chimney breasts, doors and boilers. Cut out to-scale shapes of every fitting you’d like to include, and rearrange them until you find a layout that works. Alternatively, look online for free kitchen design apps. Incorporate plenty of space between the individual elements and consider how the room will work with more than one person in there at the same time. U shaped Allowing for units on three walls, this shape offers plenty of workspace USE TWO SIDES OF THE ROOM for your working triangle to keep it compact in a large space. Or, consider placing one element, such as the sink, on an island. ALLOW FOR LOTS OF WORKTOP between your cooker and sink if they are on the same run of units. A distance of at least 80cm is preferable. MAXIMISE YOUR STORAGE by adding clever solutions in both corner cupboards. GO FOR INFORMAL DINING in larger rooms by placing a peninsula at one end of a long run of cabinets. Galley Usually a long, narrow room where units sit along one or both walls in a line AVOID WALL UNITS IN A NARROW SPACE to prevent the room feeling too cluttered. Go for open shelving instead. GO MODERN Use handleless units and fit semi- or fully-integrated appliances. LAY YOUR FLOORING WIDTHWAYS It will help to make the space appear wider. ARRANGE THE WORKING TRIANGLE so your hob and fridge aren’t opposite each other – that way people won’t end up back to back when cooking together. BANISH CLUTTER by investing in internal storage solutions such as multi-layer drawers, pull-out racks and pan dividers to keep your essentials organised. Island Great for roomier designs, an island provides extra workspace while helping to create a tighter working triangle ALLOW ENOUGH SPACE around an island to open cabinets and dishwasher or oven doors. A workable minimum is 90cm, but 120cm is preferable. INSTALL A HARD-WORKING ISLAND Consider a prep sink and possibly a dishwasher or wine fridge, too. Extra drawers for storing pots and pans are a good idea if your hob is on the island. THINK SAFETY FIRST and choose curved corners, which will do less harm to toddler heads and adult hips. L shaped This layout offers lots of flexibility without feeling too enclosed KEEP AN OPEN FEEL by placing wall units along only one side of the room. ENSURE THERE’S PLENTY OF WORKSURFACE AREA on either side of the sink and the cooker, too, for the most efficient use of space. PLAN A PLACE TO EAT IF SPACE ALLOWS A table or raised breakfast bar at the end of the longest run of units creates a spot for informal dining. UTILISE THE CORNERS with special pull-out kidney-shaped units or carousels. FIT TASK LIGHTING over the prep areas and supplement natural light from any
windows with spots and downlighters. Open plan Great for kitchen-diners, this layout has plenty of room for dining and seating ZONE IT by separating the functional areas – for cooking, eating and relaxing – using different but cohesive materials and textures to create distinct spaces. INVEST IN QUIET APPLIANCES so you don’t end up trying to talk over a noisy extractor or washing machine. However, make sure your extractor is powerful enough to banish lingering cooking smells. HEAT THE SPACE EFFICIENTLY A large room with a stone or porcelain tiled floor might be best suited to underfloor heating for an even spread of warmth.
2. Identify improvements Walk through your current kitchen and make a comprehensive list of what you love and, more importantly, the things you don’t, about your existing space. This will help you to focus on your priorities for the room, and concentrate on your must-haves and your don’t-wants.
WHAT IS THE WORKING TRIANGLE?
The working triangle dictates where the three key elements of hob, fridge-freezer and sink sit in your kitchen and is an important consideration to reduce the distance you have to walk when cooking. You move between these three features all the time when preparing meals, so they need to be in a practical arrangement and within easy reach of each other. Ideally, the sides of the triangle created by these three points should be no more than 2.7m and no less than 1.2m long.
STAND TA LL
Make full use of floor-to-ceiling space in a small kitchen by stacking cupboards and built-in appliances. Just make sure you can still reach everything!
RULE OF THREE
Create symmetry on a kitchen island by lining up three striking bar stools and hang three sleek pendants above 3. Make the space work for you Think about how you live as a family and how you intend to use the space. For instance, do you cook from scratch and entertain guests a lot? Will the room be used for tasks other than cooking – homework, for example? Finally, think to the future to ensure you’re prepared for how your needs might change as your family grows.
Looking for more kitchen inspiration and clever makeover ideas? Visit idealhome.co.uk
4. Consider your storage needs Now’s the time to make sure you plan a place for everything. Measure your tallest mixers and biggest plates and take a good look at your kitchen appliances and accessories, thinking about what you want to place, and where. Arranging everything according to its function will mean you’re not having to walk too far around the room when cooking and tidying away. Visit storage specialists Blum.com for tips on how best to organise your space.
5. Put safety first
Essential if you have small children in the house, the most efficient and safest layout will route traffic away from your oven and hob to ensure kids aren’t likely to get themselves under your feet and into danger when you’re moving hot pans around the room. Make the fridge accessible but don’t put it at the very heart of the room. Try placing it to one side, nearest the entrance to the room, so children can help themselves to drinks without venturing into the cooking space.
Further the sleek look with handleless base units
UNIFIED LOOK OPEN STORAGE
Swap traditional over-counter cupboards for purpose-built open shelving units – perfect for keeping recipe books to hand and dry goods organised
Extend a tiled splashback to the ceiling – it’s easy to clean and zones the kitchen area in an open-plan space
SURVIVE THE WORK
Plan a way to cook and keep food and drinks chilled when your kitchen is out of action. Look into buying an inexpensive mini fridge for essentials like milk, while a microwave and kettle can be plugged in anywhere for pared-back food prep while your kitchen is out of bounds.
If a new floor is being fitted or the waste pipe is being relocated and you don’t have another one, it might be best to decamp to a friend’s house.
Minimise the inevitable mess. Cover hallway floors with old sheets to protect them while products are being taken through the house. Ask for any cutting of tiles and plasterboard to be done outside to minimise dust, and seal off the doors to other rooms.
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