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Top tips for designing a bespoke kitchen

A bespoke kitchen is one that has been built around the homeowner’s personal preferences, while also considering the specifics quirks of the property too. By opting for a bespoke kitchen over a made-to-measure model, homeowners are able to create the perfect space for their needs, influencing every stage of the design process. 

In our previous blog post, we discussed everything you need to know about bespoke kitchens. As a follow up, here are our top five tips for designing the perfect bespoke kitchen.  

1. Write a wishlist 

Before you consider anything to do with the style or design of your kitchen (admittedly the more exciting part!), it’s crucial to understand what needs to fit into your new space. Spend time going through what is in your current kitchen and pull together a list of all the necessities that need to be included within your new room – no matter how large or small.

Think about the appliances that you currently have, as well as the ones you wish you had. For example, is a built-in coffee machine a must to help get your day off on the right foot? Or are you a keen cook who would prefer a bigger oven?

Do you have enough cupboard space at the moment or would it be easier if your tableware or bakeware was more easily accessible?  Don’t simply count the number of cupboards you currently have and assume you’ll put everything away in the new kitchen is a similar fashion: imagine the room as a blank canvas and dream big.

Also, think about busy areas and busy times of day in your kitchen. Do all the family flock to the same area to make their own breakfast, because if they do, this could probably be managed by improving the layout.

2. Get inspired

Inspiration is everything when it comes to planning a bespoke kitchen, subject to budget, you can recreate looks and ideas from anything you’ve seen in real life or online.

Obviously a first port of call is often glossy home interest magazines, as well as the more visual social media sites including Instagram and Pinterest.

But this is your dream kitchen and it should be unique to you. Don’t be restricted by what you see in someone else’s photos when anything is possible with a bespoke kitchen.

Different styles of architecture, nature, personal interests, and travel all have the potential to inspire design and could just make the difference between having a kitchen that mirrors everyone else’s and a room that is completely unique to you.

3. Pick your style

This is where things really start to get exciting and you may start to feel like a child in a sweet shop – possibly a little overwhelmed but bursting with anticipation! 

A bespoke kitchen is by no means a small financial investment, so you need to choose carefully to ensure it fits seamlessly with the rest of your home and evolves with any changes in trends over time. 

For most homeowners, the choice comes down to a classic kitchen or a modern kitchen.

Classic kitchens are commonly labelled as shaker style kitchens. In fact, a shaker kitchen is something quite specific but this term is often used as classic kitchens also usually have traditional painted wood cabinetry.

Alternatively, if a modern style is preferred, high gloss or an ultra matt finish may be your preference.

Once the broad cabinetry style has been selected, you’ll have to make numerous decisions about the detailing, finish, and hardware too.

4. Split the room into key zones

When planning the layout of a kitchen, it’s helpful to split the room into key zones where different tasks will take place. Having specific areas within the kitchen for cooking, washing up, entertaining guests, or even for children to do homework, means the new room will function really well as all areas will have a specific purpose and there won’t be any dead space.

As well as the classic ‘golden triangle’ where the three main work areas of the fridge-freezer, sink and oven, form, you’ve guessed it, a triangle; today’s modern kitchen needs to be versatile.

For example, if a member of the household works from home, do they need a dedicated space in the kitchen that can act as an office? This may be as straightforward as using the kitchen table as a desk, but there are extra considerations that can be overlooked. Does the table need to be near a power source to save the dread of low laptop battery? Is having a phone point nearby crucial? 

Thinking about how the room will be used by different family members at different times of day can help trigger ideas, as can keeping a map of footfall. By this we mean, getting an idea of the route family and friends take in to the kitchen, which doors they use, and how they move around within the room. Having a clear route to bring in supermarket shopping is often undervalued, as is the means to keep muddy paws or football boots out! 

5. Trust the experts

While this may sound a little like blowing our own trumpet, the best way to ensure a homeowner gets the kitchen of their dreams, is to speak to an expert. 

Bespoke kitchen designers have the knowledge, expertise and flair to bring together a huge number of considerations in to one room that works practically, functionally, and aesthetically. 

Admittedly it can sometimes be hard to precisely put your finger on what works in one kitchen and what doesn’t in another, but that’s where a designer can really add value. They’ll work with you to include as much of your wishlist as possible but will also provide a guiding hand to ensure the room works as a whole.

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