While preparing and eating food is the main activity, it’s also where it all happens. Out of all the rooms in the house, the kitchen is where we all seem to congregate. For most, it’s where families socialise and seem to be at their happiest.
Based on our experience, here are a few kitchen renovation tips on how to design the best kitchen for your family.
Tip 1: Temporary benchtop
Once the cabinets have been installed, a template for the benchtop is made. This is to ensure that everything in your kitchen fits precisely. Fabricating the finished benchtop takes time so there is often a 3 to 14 days wait. This can be frustrating, especially with so much work being done and still no usable kitchen.
However, there’s a temporary workaround. Ask your builder to install a temporary MDF benchtop with the sink and hobs hooked up. This can feel like a real treat after 2 to 6 weeks of waiting time for the cabinetry to be installed.
Tip 2: Electrical plan
Think of the electrical and lighting design before you design your kitchen. Talk to a lighting expert, who knows the latest options and solutions. A good lighting expert knows how to give your kitchen that point of difference while making it a great working and relaxing environment. So plan carefully in advance. It saves you time and money, as well as ensuring that you are getting the best available technology.
Tip 3: Maximise space
There are many ways to maximise space. For example, the Netherlands has the most brilliant solutions for the tiniest of spaces, such as using touch drawers in the toe space under the kitchen cabinetry. When you press the front of them with your foot they open. Great for storing those pans you don’t often use. Good kitchen designers can show you how to maximise storage.
Tip 4: Layout
Kitchen designs have come to new heights especially since your 1970’s U kitchen. Unfortunately, we still see a lot of houses that were designed without giving much thought in advance. The result? A disappointing kitchen with inaccessible corner cupboards, inefficient pantries etc. Therefore, get your kitchen designer in early, before any design finalisation is made, so you can maximise your build investment on your kitchen renovation.
Tip 5: Extra depth in the benchtop
A standard benchtop is typically manufactured at 600mm deep. However, creating a 700mm deep benchtop makes a huge visual difference and this gives you other added options.
For example:
- Recessed knife grooves
- Recess Herb Pots
- Extra deep cabinetry
- Additional depth behind and in front of your hobs for herb and oils
Keep these tips in mind and the chances of your kitchen renovation being a success will be high and more importantly an enjoyable experience.