Renovating the Kitchen – Finding the Right Design
The kitchen has always been ‘the heart of the home’ which is why it’s often a number one priority as a home project. As the family grows, so do the many household functions that a kitchen needs to fulfil. Not forgetting that, as a much-used room, it also needs to be stylish, and somewhere where you want to hang out with friends.
So, renovating the kitchen, where do you start? It can feel a bit overwhelming to take on a multi-functional space as a design project, which is why the My Build My Way team has come up with a step-by-step guide to help. We go through all the different components that make up a kitchen, so you can feel confident that nothing has been left out.
Collaborate on Renovating the Kitchen
Working with a kitchen designer helps you to translate your requirements into practical solutions. You may know that you want a light and airy kitchen space, for example, but you need a designer to offer innovative ways to achieve it. It’s also a great confidence boost to be able to share ideas with someone who knows exactly how to make things happen.
Before you meet with your kitchen designer, you’ll need to have an idea of the style you want, and the features that are important to you and your family:
Start With the Layout
When you’re renovating a kitchen, layout is key as it’s difficult to change along the line. Try answering the following questions to get an idea of what you want:
- Do you want an island, and is your kitchen large enough to provide ‘breathing space’ around it?
- How many people need to be able to access counter tops at the same time?
- Do you eat together as a family? Is there room for you to do this comfortably?
- Can you achieve a triangle between the oven, fridge and sink to help with the flow of the kitchen?
- Does your layout allow for each family member’s needs when using the kitchen?
What Kind of Cabinets?
The style of the kitchen cabinets you choose tends to set the tone for the kitchen as a whole. They’re also probably the most striking design element of the space as many of them will sit at eye-level.
Most kitchen renovations start with broad brush stroke decisions – traditional/contemporary, sleek/shabby chic, bright/elegant – which then get more refined as the different components come together.
Let’s Talk Appliances
Whether you’re aching for an Aga or would rather that appliances only make an appearance when being used, your attitude toward how you integrate the oven, washing machine etc., will determine the feel of your kitchen. If your kitchen is small, you’ll want them built in with doors that don’t obstruct. Alternatively, in a large kitchen you may wish to feature a butler’s sink, or range type oven.
Light is Key to Kitchen Renovation
How much natural light do you need in your kitchen? And what kind of artificial lighting do you require to create the ambiance you want for family meals? The kitchen gets used throughout the day, so plan your lighting by tracking a typical day from breakfast through to supper – summer and winter. Once you’ve got a clear design, you can find the solutions you need to achieve it.
Colouring the Kitchen
The colour palette you choose should work alongside your lighting design. When choosing your colours remember to take into account the floor, cabinets, counters, walls, and ceiling. Create mood boards for yourself, get coloured pieces of fabric that you can try out in different spots. Most important, remember that your counters and floor are the most difficult things to change – so make clear decisions about them and work outwards.
About That Flooring
Renovating your kitchen will always involve a tension between style, aesthetic, and practicality. You need your flooring to be easy to clean and maintain, durable, and long-lasting – as well as looking great. The options are:
- Wood Flooring. Always popular, but heavy on maintenance.
- Stone Flooring. Marble, limestone, travertine, or terrazzo look stunning and are pretty easy to maintain.
- Polished Concrete. Tough, durable, and beautiful. This is easy to maintain, but can be cold in winter – maybe think about underfloor heating?
Is Renovating the Kitchen Your Next Project?
If you have your design in place for your kitchen remodel, My Build My Way can help you to turn your ideas into reality. We can introduce you to the right builders for the job, all of whom we have checked and verified as trustworthy. Once you have your builder, we’ll ensure that everything goes without a hitch, and you’ll get the kitchen you’ve designed.
Best of all, our service is absolutely free to use. Like to find out more? Call us today on 0800 2465453.