Things to consider when planning a new kitchen

A new kitchen can transform the way you use your home. Talk to professional architects to make sure you’ve got all your bases covered.

What do you want your new kitchen to be?

The way we use our kitchens has changed over the decades. In the past, it was a separate room of the house where you cooked and stored food. Now, however, it’s the hub of the house. Kitchens can take up almost a whole floor of the home. They’re places for children to play, families to eat and entertain. Cooking takes place there too, but it almost takes a back seat.

As you plan your new kitchen, you need to think about what you want your new kitchen to be. Do you want a large, multi-purpose kitchen? Or do you want your friends and family to dine in a separate room and keep the kitchen for cooking?

What will your new kitchen look like?

Think carefully about the design for a new kitchen. If you are keeping the walls and doors where they are, you have limited scope for changes. However, if you are knocking down walls or building a new extension, you have some big choices to make. Here are three well-known types of kitchen:

• Galley – Like the galley on a ship, a galley kitchen has working and storage areas on both sides, leaving a narrow corridor in the middle for you to work
• L-shaped – An L-shaped kitchen has units and counters on two adjacent sides, leaving a larger space for living
• Island kitchen – An island kitchen will have units around the walls, but its centrepiece is a large block in the middle, which can be used for food preparation, cooking and dining. Island kitchens are currently in style.

Is your new kitchen practical?

Remember, you have to live with your new kitchen for years, even decades, after you install it. You need to make sure it is easy to use every day, with everything in its place. Don’t make compromises on practicality in favour of aesthetics.

It’s as simple as making sure you place things you use together near each other, such as the sink and dishwasher, or the fridge and food preparation area.

A common way to lay out a kitchen incorporates the ‘Golden Triangle’. Where you locate your fridge, cooking area and sink should be in a triangle; no more than 7 metres apart from each other, so they are not too far apart, but no less than 3.5 metres, so you have enough space.

Another popular concept is creating ‘work zones’ in your kitchen; distinct, separate areas for food storage, preparation and cooking, with more distance than the Golden Triangle. You may prefer this layout, particularly if you are going for a larger kitchen area.

Have you thought about light, heat and electricity?

A high standard of lighting will be essential in your new kitchen, particularly if it’s going to be the room where you dine and entertain. A popular idea is to combine LED strip-lights and spotlights, spread across separate, controllable zones in your kitchen. If you have an island, low-hanging pendant lights can look stunning.

While you are renovating your kitchen, you may want to take the opportunity to install underfloor heating, to ensure your kitchen is homely and warm, even when you’re not cooking.

Finally, make sure you have enough electrical power points in your new kitchen. Think about where you want your appliances (kettle, toaster, food processor) to go and ensure you have outlets nearby. You may choose to cover your sockets up in countertop cabinets. Another good idea is to have socket units with USB chargers, so you can charge your phone as you cook.

Do you have enough storage space?

When designing a new kitchen, many people underestimate the amount of storage space they need. You need to make sure you plan for enough cupboard and drawer space for all your pots and pans, as well as your crockery and your food. Carousel cabinets are great ways to use the corner of the room.

Building a new kitchen is also an opportunity to go big on your fridge. If you’re bringing in a large American-style refrigerator, make sure you allow for enough space.

Finally, do you want to keep your bulkier appliances, like your washing machine, in a separate utility room, or have them in your new kitchen? A utility room may encroach on the space available in your new kitchen, but it keeps these items nicely hidden away.

Which architects will you choose?

As you can see, there is a lot to think about when planning a new kitchen. But, you do not have to do it alone.

Harvey Wright Architects know how to take all these factors into consideration, using their years of experience of delighting their clients. Whether it’s a timeless design or something more innovative and original, you can be sure that Ian Harvey and Daniel Wright will help you plan a kitchen that is right for you.

To find out more about Harvey Wright Architects, call 020 3239 6044 or visit hwarchitects.co.uk.

---