So, it’s finally time to design your dream kitchen. No more trying to stuff all your dry food into that one tiny cupboard or having to create the world’s most precarious plate tower because, yep, you guessed it, the dishwasher has broken again. No. Today is the day for some big changes. But, while the giant double fridge and luxury marble topped island seemed like a good idea, are they actually going to fit into your space? And, if so, will you still be able to afford that gorgeous farmhouse sink you’ve been drooling over for months? Well, sit down, take a deep breath, and relax, because we’re here to solve all your problems. These 4 easy tips will have you well on your way to cooking scrumptious creations in the kitchen of your dreams.
1. Assess Your Current Kitchen
Before even starting to design, it’s vital to first understand what exactly you’ll be using the space for. And the perfect place to start is your old kitchen! Although this may seem like an odd tip, it’s the easiest way to avoid design and space issues in your new kitchen. We highly recommend checking what items you already have (crockery, appliances…), and what new items you may want for your new kitchen. This is a perfect way to ensure that your new kitchen has the right amount of cupboard and counter space for all your items. You don’t want to invest all your money in a kitchen that looks incredible but doesn’t actually have enough space for all your needs. Additionally, we also advise using this as a chance to get rid of any appliances or items that are no longer needed. We all know that grease covered toastie machine from 8 years ago is probably more of a health risk now…
Alongside analyzing your space needs, it’s also a good idea to assess the flaws in your current kitchen. Why have you decided you want to build a new kitchen? Maybe you’ve decided there isn’t enough space for everyone anymore, or maybe it just feels a little dated. Whatever it is, it’s important to acknowledge how you’re going to target the problem in your new kitchen. If you’ve decided you want it to be a more family orientated space, you may want to suggest this to your lead designer.
2. Get Inspired
Sometimes, knowing what you want can be extremely difficult. In fact, it might not even come from having too little ideas but, more often than not, people find themselves overwhelmed by all the different choices! Should I go for marble with gold accents? Or a bolder more art deco vibe? The best way to beat the brain fuzz is to look at other kitchens. Okay, just to be clear, we’re definitely not condoning breaking into your neighbor’s house to see whether they’ve used a ceramic or poly backsplash. But you may want to have a little look online or go to a kitchen showroom. We find Pinterest is an ideal place to look. You can even create different boards based on color or style! Or, as we can appreciate, not everyone is as kitchen obsessed as we are, you can even follow profiles with already curated kitchen boards.
If you’re more of a hands-on person, you may want to try a kitchen showroom, or even just head into a furniture store. While you may not find your perfect kitchen, it can be a good way to find inspiration and learn what colors and textures look good together.
3. Plumbing, Plumbing, Plumbing
It can be easy to get caught up in all the fun aspects of designing and completely forget about the practical side. But unfortunately, the truth is, you can’t have your elaborate farmhouse sink without the equally elaborate piping that goes behind it. Lucky for you, we have the perfect fix for all your piping problems. Bergau Plumbing allows quick and easy plumbing services all the way from installing hot water heaters to re-piping your brand-new kitchen. Not only does it offer highly skilled workers, but also round the clock phone support, meaning you can contact your plumbing company at any time! Using trusted, well-established plumbers is extremely important, as piping is often cited as one of the biggest problem causers within kitchen design.
4. Electricity is Essential
Designing a new kitchen means you can finally have the exact space you want. And, while it’s important to have crockery and appliances, these are useless without the appropriate lighting. No one wants to start their dinner to suddenly realize that they can’t actually see what they’re chopping because, oops, we forgot to put in the under-counter lights. Depending on your budget and style of kitchen, you may want to consult with a light expert regarding how to light your space. The right lighting goes a long way. However, if you feel it’s not necessary, you could also look online at different lighting options. It’s important to consider whether you want LED inset lighting or the more traditional lampshade style.
Alongside this, you may want to evaluate where you want your appliances to be placed. This is crucial as it will determine where your outlets should be inserted. While this may not seem like a big deal, not having enough outlets can be the difference between having that hassle-free air fryer or not. Additionally, if you want that family feel, you may want to consider outlets around the island or table, so the family can all work together without having to fight over who gets to charge their laptop first.
Whether this is your first kitchen design or you’re a designing genius, the process can still feel more than a little overwhelming. But if you’ve done your research, there’s nothing to worry about! You can sit back and just enjoy the process knowing that, in a couple of months, you’ll be sautéing veg in the kitchen of your dreams. Good luck!
