Top Tips for Updating Your Kitchen

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If you’ve always dreamed of a beautiful and functional kitchen then maybe it’s time you considered a bespoke fitted kitchen. There’s no better way to achieve that perfect balance between style and form. A well-designed bespoke fitted kitchen is a thing of beauty. Finely balancing aesthetics with practicality, it’s something that needs careful planning and a lot of time.

Considering your kitchen update can be exciting but also a little worrying as it’s a big investment and you’ll want to ensure that you get every single detail just right. Here are some top tips for updating your kitchen so that you’ll love it for many years to come.

Look first at the general style of your property. When was it built? What is the overall feel? Period homes need different considerations than new builds. A cottage-style kitchen can be wonderfully cosy, but will it work in a small, modern flat? Equally, will a sleek, contemporary kitchen look good in a Victorian house? Unless you’re an experienced designer, it makes sense to choose a kitchen which suits the age and style of your home. Having said that, a fusion can work well too. High end, modern fittings combined with more classical cabinets can work very well.

Choose a kitchen that is right for you

A big consideration is your lifestyle. Make sure your kitchen suits you and your family. What sort of routines do you have? Are you fond of big, kitchen gatherings? Like cooking? Or are you more of an eat-out type of person? If you eat out a lot, then it won’t make sense to install the best cooking facilities on the market but could be a good idea to ensure the room is basic but beautiful.

Technical issues

Here are some of the most important considerations when it comes to the planning stage:

• Plumbing and waste for the sinks
• Plumbing and waste for a dishwasher and/or washing machine
• Gas or electric supply for cooker
• Sockets – how many and where to put them.
• Lighting – where do you most need it? Under fitted cabinets? Ceiling?
• Windows – how do they fit in with your cabinets and appliances?
• French windows are a popular addition to kitchens situated at the rear of a property
• Do you need doors to other rooms or would re-siting or closing them up give you better wall space for units
• Separation of part of a large room to form a utility room is possible and provides extra storage.

A great tip is to speak to friends and neighbours. Especially if their properties are similar to you own. What issues if any, did they come up against? Do they have any regrets about their choices? Learn from others’ mistakes but above all, follow your instinct. Your bespoke kitchen is a big investment – get it right the first time.