1. Be really clear about your budget. Start with a figure that you think you can easily afford and call this the minimum figure. Then decide on an absolute must-include-everything figure that you can afford at a stretch. DON’T tell this figure to your kitchen designer; tell them the bottom end figure is what you are aiming for but they should also include a second design idea costing up to x% more in case you get a (fictional) bonus from work in the next month or so.
2. Could you get away with simply replacing the counter tops and cabinet doors? If you want something that will impress friends and neighbors or you are looking to sell your home in the near future, get a kitchen design company in as they will know what potential buyers are after. Again be firm about your price limits. If you just want to modernise then take a trip to your local home improvement centre and look at simply replacing the counter tops and cabinet door. This will save you a fortune, even if you include the cost of getting a fitter to replace the doors for you.
3. Make a list of things that you like and dislike about your current kitchen in order to help identify your needs. Think about the amount of storage, type of cooker, the size of your sink etc.
4. Put together an ideas board of pictures from magazines and by looking around the internet at modern kitchen designs: consider colors, styles, textures, equipment, lighting, furniture and gadgets. This will help designers understand what style of kitchen you are looking for.
5. Function is the key. What do you and your family use your kitchen for? Is it a place for lounging around or just for cooking? Your lifestyle will determine the look, feel and content of your new kitchen.
6. Where possible, plan to keep power and water supply points as they are as moving them is a major part of renovation costs.
7. Think about the ventilation points when planning your kitchen. Don’t plan cabinets over them!
8. Plan the main areas (sink, food preparation and hob) close together and store your utensils near to where you are most likely to use them. This will make your kitchen more efficient.
9. If you have a small kitchen think about tall shallow cabinet storage to make the most of the space available.
10. Banish clutter. If it doesn’t belong in the kitchen, put it somewhere else!
11. Think long term: Building a new kitchen is a major expense so make sure that you consider the wow factor. Ask woodFX your kitchen designer what other customers are buying that they weren’t buying a few years ago, including equipment and gadgets. A kitchen with the wow factor can easily add up to 10% to the asking price for a home and or make it a more attractive proposition in a competitive market.
12. Built in gadgets, equipment and lighting could be what give your kitchen that x factor. Take a look around for the latest ideas ? the internet makes this easy.
13. Try and build in easily changeable features. You may love your kitchen now but as fashions and equipment change, how easy will it be to replace work surfaces and cabinet doors? If you can get away with just changing the counter tops and cupboard doors every few years, your kitchen will always look modern and fresh at a fraction of the cost of buying a new one.
14. ECO kitchens are a must. Look at features and themes that will save energy and water in your kitchen. You will save money on household bills and help the environment at the same time.
15. Can you get a grant for making your kitchen greener? Ask around!
The Best Kitchens in Sheffield, South Yorkshire
Tuesday, 2 June 2009
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