Planning and buying new kitchen- Things you need to know
Above: A New York loft-style kitchen
When you are thinking of renovating your kitchen, there are many things you need to consider. These include practicalities, function and aesthetics. This guide will help you plan, design and bring your new dream kitchen to life.
Price- How much does a new kitchen cost?
The cost of your kitchen can vary a lot depending on the decisions you make. So what makes the same size and shape of the kitchen vary so much in cost? The door style, unit colour, type of units, worktops and appliances are the things that increase the price. When you add drawers, colour-matched end panels, curved units, pull-out larders, solid worktops, boiling water taps and appliances, the price will increase.
Budget-Friendly Kitchens- Are you looking for a bargain?
Perhaps you prefer to go on holiday, maybe you are a landlord or are looking for a quick fix? You can save money by opting for flat-packed versions of kitchens with doors instead of drawers, going for laminate worktops instead of solid and choosing basic range appliances.
Longevity - How long will my kitchen last?
Think about how long you want the kitchen to last. A well-designed and factory-built kitchen should last a family 15-20 years however, the style and colour of units may make the kitchen look dated quickly so choose very carefully if you would like a kitchen to last for many years.
Discover your style - How to choose a new kitchen
There are 1000s of door styles and colours. Use Pinterest and the internet or look at magazines for inspiration and build a scrapbook of ideas and inspiration. It may be an ultra-modern handless style or a more classic-looking shaker. Gather your ideas in one place and your style will develop.
What are the pain points of your existing kitchen?
Your sink might be in the wrong place or perhaps you have a lack of storage. Have you enough worktop space? Consider the things that just do not work for you. Some older properties have very small kitchens. Do you have a dining room that is rarely used or could you swap another room in your home to make the kitchen larger? Maybe you could consider taking a wall down?
What do you need or want in your new kitchen?
Create a wish list of everything you would like to have in your kitchen. These may include things like space for recycling bins, storage for your spices or a filtered cold water tap. Take time and think about it. List everything you need and would like in the new space.
The right kitchen fitting team - Qualified & registered installers
You may have chosen your units, doors and worktops, but who will you need to fit it? Every kitchen needs a minimum of 3 tradespeople to fit the kitchen. A joiner, plumber and electrician to start with, not just one man. That is before considering plastering your walls, laying floors or decorating the new space. Do you know a team of trusted and registered tradespeople who can fit this kitchen for you? There are crucial factors to consider here.
If you have an existing Gas hob or you would like a new Gas hob installed, you must have a registered gas-safe engineer to carry out this work for you. Appliances need sockets, switches and spurs so ensure your electrician is NIC EIC or Select registered. Are you confident that your plumber is qualified to carry out the work? Gas, electricity and water are all very dangerous. It is not worth risking the lives of your family by cutting corners here. Make sure your fitting team are registered and insured. This is your home and you need to protect it.
A new kitchen isn’t just about units and worktops
Many companies offer free CAD designs for a new kitchen but can they deliver the dream? You may have been given a gorgeous new kitchen layout and have chosen your units, worktops and handles but there are still pieces missing from the jigsaw. Has someone come to your home, carried out a survey and made sure the kitchen will fit? What flooring will coordinate with the rest of the scheme? Have you chosen paint or wallpaper? What about splashbacks?
A new kitchen is like a jigsaw puzzle. Make sure you know what you want the flooring to be and the colour of the walls before you sign on the dotted line. Don't get pressured into sales or only today's offers, this is a big investment so take your time and get it right. Gather all the samples together and take them into your kitchen before you order. It may look fantastic in the showroom but in your home may be a very different story. Lighting and natural daylight can have very different effects on materials.
Summary of how to select and buy a new kitchen
Price - Set a realistic budget: Include units, worktops, appliances, type of heating, flooring, lighting, splashbacks, wall finishes, window dressings, furniture and decoration.
How long do you want the kitchen to last - Budget-friendly few years or 15 years plus?
Your style- Gather ideas from Pinterest, magazines or the internet.
Bugbears - What does not work in your current kitchen? List it.
Needs and wants - What do you need and want in your new kitchen? List it.
The right team - Do you have registered and insured tradespeople? Min 3 required.
Sample selection - This is a big investment. Get all samples together and try before you buy.
If you follow this guide we can assure you that your “Dream Kitchen” will be brought to life.
