How to Choose and Design a Handmade Kitchen

The easiest way to get the ball rolling on your design process is to simply construct a list of ideal features you’d like your kitchen to have. Then, by taking into account budgetary constraints and the room’s dimensions you can reduce your list accordingly.

 

Also consider what the main purpose of your kitchen will be. If you want to extend your cooking repertoire you’ll need a different space compared to someone who’s more likely to pop a ready meal into the oven each evening. You’ll need to think about the kitchen’s finish too. Do you want somewhere bright and colourful or minimalist and serene? Do you have simple hardwearing tastes or do you long for a luxurious length of marble worktop? There are so many things you need to consider.

 

Let your imagination run wild!

 

Try not to think about how the shape of your kitchen limits you when you start your design. Instead, identify ways to use every inch of the space you have, after all that’s one of the reasons why you are installing a handmade kitchen instead of a fitted one.

 

An L-shaped kitchen could have wall to wall cabinets for extra space, whilst a square room could introduce a cooking island or a large dining table in its middle to eliminate wasted space. When it comes to the positioning of your appliances, a lot is made of a kitchen’s work triangle. The position of your sink, oven and fridge can be quite important in a kitchen. If you have a small area to work with, you’ll probably be left without any other option than to place the three close together, but those with a large space should really consider its utility.

 

Of course if you aren’t one for much traditional cooking, and instead rely on a microwave or other kitchen gadgets on a daily basis, it may make more sense to create a large expanse of worktop that can house all these items in close proximity to each other instead.

 

The one thing most people can agree on with the arrangement of a kitchen is the flexibility it can offer. If you want it to also function as a dining room or an area for your children to do their homework, make that the priority of your design. Make the space work for you. By hanging your cabinets high on the walls and installing deep drawers under your worktops, you can maximise on cupboard space without compromising on practicality.

 

Have low level drawers instead of cupboards, which will make it easier for you to find what you are looking for without having to crouch and bend. You can also add extra space by hanging pots and pans on specially constructed hooks, to save on cupboard space and ensure that they are always within reach.

 

Visual Appeal

 

When people choose a handmade kitchen over a fitted one, they generally do so for the customisation opportunities that it affords them. For a striking look, consider using different materials to divide the room visually. By doing this you can differentiate cooking, dining and living areas without using a physical room divider. Make sure that the materials you use do compliment each other, the idea is to bring and differentiate these aspects of the kitchen, not alienate them.

 

It may seem like a good idea to choose the first colour that catches your eye when you are designing your kitchen, but remember that you’ll have to live with these colours on a day to day basis. A single wall painted red can make a bold statement, but having each wall painted in the same colour could be overpowering. Alternatively add a splash of colour with bright mosaic tiles across one wall or with a brightly coloured splash-back.

 

Lighting your space

 

Small sections of colour can be just as effective at making an impact as large expanses. You need to consider how you want to light your kitchen too. Lights that dangle from the ceiling aren’t always practical in a kitchen. Strip lights can offer a large amount of light when cooking and are relatively compact in their design.

 

You could also install spotlights over sections of the kitchen that you expect to use most. To ensure that nothing spoils the carefully designed aesthetics of your kitchen, you may also want to consider integrating your appliances within the cabinets. Front panels can be attached to most appliances to ensure that when they are not in use they will be hidden away from view, whilst still retaining their functionality.

 

When you choosing the materials and finishing touches for your kitchen, consider how generally available they are. If you need to repair or replace any sections of your kitchen, you may come to regret choosing those antique fixtures, that exotic hardwood floor, or those one of a kind delicate tiles, when you can’t find a suitable replacement for them. If you do decide to incorporate these items into your home, make sure you are prepared to compromise on your carefully considered style in the future.

 

Still confused?

 

If after reading this you’re still confused about where to start, don’t worry you don’t have to come up with everything on your own. You can look to home design magazines or internet for some added inspiration.

 

Alternatively, take the list that you drew up at the start and take it along to a bespoke kitchen designer, along with the dimensions of the kitchen you’d like to see them in. This service will incur a one off fee, but if you have a very small or awkwardly shaped room or you simply don’t know where to begin, an independent designer may prove to be a saving grace. You will still have a say in the final design and if you aren’t happy with their ideas, there is nothing to say that you have to follow their design. All final decisions will still rest with you.