What you need to know about kitchen designs
The kitchen is the most important room in any home and therefore should be functional, light, airy and a pleasant space to work in. Most kitchens these days are part of an open plan area combining cooking, dining, living and entertaining spaces so you want it to not only work well but also look smart.
One of the most important things to consider when planning a brand new kitchen or kitchen renovation is your budget. There are so many styles, designs, layouts, appliances and finishes to choose from it is a good idea to search the internet and magazines for kitchens that appeal to you. If you have family, friends or neighbours who have a new kitchen, chat to them about their choices and any ideas or recommendations they have. Ask to have a good look at their kitchen, you could be surprised by clever storage ideas hidden inside kitchen cabinet doors, drawers and pantries.
When you are ready to approach a kitchen company specialist make sure you get a few quotes. A kitchen company representative will come to your home to chat to you about your ideas, likes and dislikes. They will measure the space and take into consideration your needs, wants, style and budget. They will also make recommendations about layouts and offer practical ideas on functionality. A professional kitchen designer will also consider ways to incorporate plenty of light and air into your kitchen.
Once a design is created you will then choose the appliances, finishes and colours for your kitchen. There are so many choices it will be mind boggling. KItchen splashbacks for example could be tiles, stone, glass, laminate, pressed tin panels, stainless steel, polished concrete or even a mirror or window. The list doesn’t stop there and it’s similar for bench tops. There are however some products that may be suitable as a kitchen benchtop but not a splash back. Timber is one such product that while it has been popular for use as a bench top it is not recommended as a splash back. If you love the look of timber there are timber look tiles on the market which look like the real thing and would work well as a splash back. You may like to incorporate a combination of two different products as bench tops. For example stainless steel where your cook top is and perhaps stone for your island bench. This of course will depend on the layout of the kitchen and the look you are trying to achieve.
There are also decisions to be made about many other aspects of the kitchen. For example do you want a gas, electric or induction stove. Four burner, wok burner, or grill plate. Free standing combined cookers are once again popular and now there is also the option of dual fuel units which have a gas cooktop and an electric oven. You may prefer an under bench oven and microwave to wall mounted. Think about what type of range hood, fridge, sink and taps you like. The designer will take into account the size of each of these items when planning your design and layout. Floor coverings and lighting are also important. You will need a hard wearing non slip floor that compliments the other finishes of the kitchen. The placement of lighting is very important in a kitchen. It is essential to be able to safely see your working areas. There are many types of suitable lights ranging from down lights and pendants to under bench and LEDs.
Visiting kitchen showrooms is a practical way to get first hand ideas on clever and stylish kitchens. Kitchen companies will usually cover jobs over a wide area of your town or city. They have their own list of regular tradespeople for plumbing, electricals and tiling. You can however use your own tradesperson to work in conjunction with the kitchen installers. Be sure that you are dealing with licensed and insured workmen.
Your kitchen designer will work closely with you to create a beautiful space that is a joy to be in. As the kitchen is the most expensive room in your home you want it to suit the needs of your family and life style, while adding value to your property.
Homeimprovement2day has a vast Australia wide home improvement directory of kitchen designers, kitchen renovators and kitchen cabinet makers as well as associated trades such as builders, plumbers, electricians, tilers and painters.
For moer information, please contact the expert contributor.
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