Design Tips

Your requirements and thus your input, will determine the type of kitchen best suited to your unique lifestyle.

A few handy tips to help you, our customer, navigate through the myriad of questions and decisions concerning the type and style of kitchen that meets your needs.

• The basics of kitchen design:
  • Determine the various ways your kitchen is used, by whom and how frequently.
  • Assess your kitchen area accordingly.
  • Are your needs best covered by a L shaped, U shaped or Galley layout?
  • The working triangle allows you to determine the placement of the cleaning area versus the cooking area versus refrigeration area.
• Which type of worktop suits your requirements?
• Lighting: spotlights, down lights, under counter lights or task lights.
• Storage Solutions
  • Below the worktop area is ideal for heavy pots & pans and especially for electrical equipment.
  • Bottles can be kept in a pullout drawer.
  • Items on open display collect steam, dust and grease – rather use glass doors.
  • A corner carousel will add space to your kitchen
  • A freestanding cupboard is ideal in a smaller kitchen, as it can be used for storing crockery and as storage for food in bottles, packets and tins.
  • Make use of drawer organizers.
• The Budget – a rough draft
  • Kitchen furniture : 40%
  • Appliances : 20%
  • Worktops : 15%
  • Fittings : 10%
  • Sink & taps : 5%
  • Tiling : 5%
  • Flooring : 5%
• Features you want to incorporate
  • Make a list of these features e g. glass doors, islands, wicker baskets, wine racks.
• Special Needs
  • A disability, elderly people or children that cook, will influence your layout.
• Like / Dislike list
  • What do you like about your current kitchen and would like to incorporate in the new kitchen?
  • What do you dislike about your current kitchen? What does not work for you?
  • Any new ideas that you have come across?
• Appliances needed in the kitchen and their placement
  • List free standing appliances: fridge, freezer, washing machine, tumble drier, dishwasher, vacuum cleaner
  • List integrated appliances: fridge, freezer, washing machine, tumble drier, dishwasher, vacuum cleaner
  • List small electrical appliances: microwave, toaster, kettle, food processor, liquidizer, juice extractor, griddle, deep fat fryer, bread maker.
• Utensils
  • What utensils do you use and where do you want them placed for easy access?
• Finally
  • Give your cookbooks a space.
  • Don’t forget about a location for your bin.