Forget sleek beech and granite worktops - cool design is nothing if your kitchen is not properly laid out. The advice from the experts is to spend as much time as you need planning your perfect kitchen - after all, as one of your biggest investments, you will be living with it for at least 15 years.
The good news is that if your kitchen is well planned you should be able to update it without replacing any of the major items. A change of paint colour, window treatments and accessories will be enough to give the well-planned kitchen a whole new look.
- Step 1: Budget
- Step 2: Assess your needs
- Step 3: Choose your kitchen type (Galley, double galley, L Shape, U Shape)
Step 1: Budget
Decide on your budget. Will it cover a complete extension, an entire refit or just a revamp? You can successfully revamp an existing kitchen from just €3,000 while an entire refit will average €10,000. The best advice is never to spend more than 10% of the value of your home on your kitchen.
Step 2: Assess your needs
Do you like to cook? Will you need lots of storage for fresh ingredients or a large fridge / freezer for convenience foods? Do you want to interact with guests while you cook? Will you have an informal eating area in your kitchen? Will it accommodate a washer/ dryer or can you locate laundry facilities elsewhere? Will the kids use the kitchen? To help you focus on what you want, write a list of all the things you hate about your current kitchen. E.g. If you dread bending down to load and unload the dishwasher you might be better to move it to waist height in your new kitchen. If you don't have enough workspace for food preparation you need to address it in your new design. Do you prefer open shelves (for the tidy among us) or would you rather close the door on chaos?
Step 3: Choose your kitchen shape
The Galley Kitchen: Suitable for long narrow rooms and small spaces. In the galley kitchen all the units run along one wall so the position of the sink, hob and fridge is crucial to the success of the design. Tips for planning;
- Keep the hob and sink close together but with at least 18in of work space between them.
- Choose under counter appliances as they will offer a longer run of worktop space.
- Keep the dishwasher close to the sink for ease of plumbing.
- Fully integrated appliances are the best choice for galley kitchens as a run of cupboard doors will look much better in a small space than a plethora of white goods.
- Consider a deeper worktop than the norm so you can easily store kettles and small appliances that are needed every day.
- Use the space between the worktop and the wall units for hanging utensils.
- A flip-down table or pull-out trolley or butcher's block is an ideal option in a galley kitchen as it can double as an impromptu breakfast bar or food preparation area.
- Opt for washer/dryer and other multifunctional appliances where space is limited.
Double Galley: In the two wall galley kitchen, units and appliances run along facing walls. Tips for planning;
- The distance between the two runs of units should be at least 42in. However you should reconsider using this type of layout if your room is very wide or has doors at either end making it into a corridor.
- Keep full height units or appliances at the end of a run of units for the most practical use of space.
L Shape:In the L shaped kitchen units and appliances run on adjacent walls. This is an extremely versatile kitchen layout and where the room is large enough it allows space for a dining table. Tips for planning;
- The corner space can be difficult to access in an L shaped kitchen. Consider a rotating carousel. You could also use it to accommodate a diagonal sink or hob.
- Plan your activity areas, cooking, fridge and sink in a triangle no more than 3ft from each.
U Shape: In the U shaped kitchen units and appliances run around three sides of the room. Tips for planning;
- Here you will have two corner spaces to consider so make sure you utilise what can often be wasted space.
- Consider tapering the end units or using them for open shelving to add design style to the room.
- U shaped kitchens can be darker than other alternatives so invest in lighting, including under the counter task lighting, spot lights and central ceiling dimmer lights.
- Place dishwasher, hob etc to the centre of the run so that they do not obstruct other units when opened.
- Keep the fridge towards the end of a run of units so it can be accessed without disturbing the cook!
