Recipe for success

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Whether you are just sprucing up your old kitchen’s design or completely renovating the space, a kitchen that is well-designed can add value to your house and potentially change your life.

As the chairman of kitchen firm, Smallbone of Devizes, Charlie Smallbone, says: “Translating the idea of a wonderful new kitchen into reality involves both a bigger ‘creative’ vision and a huge amount of detailed planning.

“And it’s the time spent planning which will make all the difference to the final success of the project. For example, if you do a lot of oriental cooking, you will want a hob with a wok burner and steamer with dedicated spice and oils storage close to hand.”

My generation
For today’s generation a kitchen is used for much more than just cooking. The kitchen area is increasingly becoming used for entertaining, so it is imperative that the space you are in is comfortable, yet functional.

When planning the design for your new kitchen you must consider the practicalities of the use of the space as well as the design element: will it be for an individual who uses the microwave every day, or for a large family who cook from scratch every evening? Also, will you need enough space for people to stand and socialise too?

Another consideration when in the planning stage should be how the design of your kitchen will fit in with the rest of your house: should it be in a traditional style, or does your home favour a modern, contemporary look?

To help you visualise this, it is a good idea to tear out pictures from magazines as a guide to colours and styles for your kitchen.

You should then look at the ‘work triangle’ – the path between the cooker, sink and fridge

A new kitchen is a serious permanent investment so it is important that you spend time on deciding its final scheme, as this could not only potentially save you money and time in the long term, but also will provide pleasure for you and your family for years to come.

The very first thing to consider is the basic services that are already at your disposal, such as electricity, water pipes and drainage. This will give you something to work around. You should then look at the ‘work triangle’ – the path between the cooker, sink and fridge. The route should form a small triangle with the appliances and sink in close proximity to minimise unnecessary work and movement around the room, making life easier for you.

Also, if you are just changing your design slightly, it is essential to plan in appliances near plug sockets and if the design is changing altogether, the sockets need to be installed in the right location, and at the right height to fit in with your plans.

Early considerations
Another early consideration should be the positioning of the sink, as, if you want to keep a reign on your budget, it can only really go in one place as it has to connect to the outside drainage. This will also give you an idea of where the cooker should go, as it’s suggested that it should be 600mm away from the sink and on the same run so you are not carrying heavy pots and pans round complicated routes.

The dishwasher should also be within a close proximity to the sink, preferably below a work surface that can be used to stack dirty crockery.

If you are looking to add value to your home, it is worth considering whether to install a fitted or unfitted kitchen. An unfitted kitchen is more traditional: it consists of free-standing units, such as dressers, which can be put up to the walls. If you decide to move, then you can take the units with you.

However, a fitted kitchen makes much better use of the space you have available as it uses every inch of the area, it is also makes the house easier to sell as potential buyers are more likely to invest in a house that comes with a kitchen fitted as standard.

When shopping for a new worktop, make sure that you let your head do all the talking. Although there may be a surface you really like, it is vital that it can stand the test of time. The surface needs to be robust and easy to clean as it will take a lot of battering and will be costly to replace.

Careful consideration should be taken over lighting. It needs to come from directly above the cooking area and not be blocked by your shadow; however, you may want to use a slightly more subtle lighting for your dining area. Ventilation is also a must in a kitchen. The best types are those that extract kitchen vapours directly to the exterior of the house.

Consider your flooring
When considering flooring, it is best to go for a hardwearing and easy to clean surface. Worktops are usually installed at a height of 900mm so try not to buy flooring that will reduce this height. If you choose thick natural stone floor tiles, make sure your builder alters the height of the worktops as necessary.

Storage is key but will more or less work itself out once the ‘work triangle’ is in place. It is logical to place pots and pans near the cooker, cups near the kettle and plates and cutlery near the area in which you dine.