Creating your Dream Kitchen
We often start the design process by asking our clients to consider the space they have, the space they need and how they want their new kitchen to embody their lifestyle.
1. Lifestyle
By this we mean take some time to consider your family's needs and your lifestyle to ensure that everyone gets the most out of the space.
Ask yourself how often you cook, what appliances you would like (is the top of the line oven and cooktop important to you) and how much storage is essential. Perhaps the kitchen is your family's main space for socialising and entertaining. In this case, you may want to pay extra attention to your seating choices and bench space, or maybe dedicate certain areas to serve more than one purpose.
2. Kitchen Layout
The layout of your kitchen is probably one of the most important elements you will choose during your kitchen renovation process. In addition to aesthetics, the general flow and functionality can affect the creation of your dream kitchen.
Consider the space you have to work with. Is it narrow, would a galley style kitchen fit as opposed to closing the space off with an island bench? Will adding overhead cupboards close in the space, making it feel cluttered and small, or should you look at open shelving?
Do you need ample bench space or additional cupboard space, these are all important elements to consider when renovating your kitchen.
Consult with your cabinet maker who can provide you with expert advice, kitchen plans and elevations to assist you with making your decision.
3. Storage Maximisation
There are various clever ways to ensure you gain plentiful storage, some of these include:
Appliance cupboards - An appliance cupboard is a great place to hide your small and large appliances that often clutter up a kitchen. This appliance cupboard often features a retractable door that can showcase or conceal as required.
Bin Drawers - Hide away the practical aspects of a kitchen that are a little less pleasing to the eye, like bins, with integrated storage.
Pull-out Pantry – The perfect way to guarantee your pantry stays organised, pull-out pantries make it super easy to see what items you have in your pantry as they don’t end up pushed to the back of the cupboard.
Pot racks – These can be made to pull out and generally fit more items than drawers and will take up less room.
Don’t be afraid to consider installing open shelving. Open shelving can create the illusion of depth while still making the most of the wall space available.
4. Budget
Consider what budget you have to work with. It is important you consult with your cabinet maker around your budget prior to requesting a quote. There is nothing worse than receiving a quote and experiencing a case of “bill-shock”. We can often suggest alternative materials and solutions to achieve the same look and feel.