Planning Tips
When it comes to designing your kitchen you have 3
options:
-
get a professional to do it for you
- retain the existing
layout
- plan a new layout
yourself
If you've decided on doing it yourself then we recommend you
download our
FREE Kitchen Design guide by
entering your details in the boxes below. Just click on the
link in the confirmation email you'll be sent to download your
copy.
This simple guide is aimed at
DIY'rs who have never designed a kitchen before and explains the
various steps involved and all the things you have to take into
consideration. Once you've downloaded the guide
you'll also
receive a free 7-part installation guide by email which will help
you complete your kitchen project with the least amount of fuss.
Further details of what's included can be found here:
www.simplekitchendesign.co.uk
However, if you're in a real hurry
and just need a few pointers, then read on...
- unless there's a good reason to
change it, keeping the existing layout is often the best thing
to do (especially if it's a fairly modern property - i.e. an
architect will probably have already come up with the best use
of space)
- if you need to change it, start
by measuring your kitchen accurately in cm or mm and draw a
sketch of the floorplan (this is easiest on graph paper)
- think of 100mm (10cm) as the
'building block' for your new plan. Most kitchen units are in
standard sizes in multiples of this e.g. 500mm, 600mm, 1000mm
etc.
- round-down whatever your room
measurements are to the nearest 100mm e.g your room is 3310mm x
2430mm - round this down to 3300mm x 2400mm
- doing this will make it very
easy to see which units will fit in the space you have
- if you're going to be left with
a gap at the end of a run of units, buy a spare 'worktop support
panel' or a length of 'plinth' to cut spacer panels from
- don't change the location of
the sink and cooker unless you really have to - doing so will
add additional time and expense for plumbing and wiring
alterations
- if you plan to install
integrated appliances remember that they fit hard back against
the wall - there is no room for any pipework or electrical
sockets. Most integrated appliances like washing machines and
dishwashers don't require a unit to be housed in - they normally
sit directly on the floor - but you will need to buy an
'integrated appliance door' and a length of plinth (see
Accessories section)
- get up to speed on kitchen
jargon and learn the difference between pelmet and
plinth, built-under and built-in and much more
with our
jargon buster.
