When planning a kitchen renovation, the first thing you should consider is how you will use the space.

Sally Miller, One of our talented designers at our Basingstoke Showroom recommends focusing on function and creating a wish list of the things you want your kitchen to be able to do and the items it needs to hold.

Think about whether you want a kitchen that is suitable for dining in, how many people you need to accommodate, and whether you need a cozy space with a TV. Consider the number of sinks you want and whether you need a waste disposal, and don’t forget about practical details like where outdoor shoes and the vacuum cleaner will go.

Time to gather ideas

When deciding on the style of your new kitchen, it’s a good idea to start by gathering inspiration.

Spending some time online looking at different kitchen styles and creating a moodboard on a platform like Houzz, Pinterest or our moods page . This will help you clarify your ideas and will be a valuable tool for your kitchen designer. As you search for ideas, consider factors like the style of your home and whether you prefer a modern or classical look. Your designer will use your moodboard to ensure that they capture the essence of your project.

When choosing materials for your kitchen, the flooring and worktops you select will have a major impact on the overall look and function of the space. For this reason, it’s important to consider these materials early in the design process.

Think about whether you want the flooring to flow throughout the ground floor of your home or whether you want it to help your kitchen feel separate from the rest of the house. When it comes to worktops, we suggest looking at the pros and cons of different materials, such as natural marble, granite, composite stone, solid wood, and Corian. Each of these materials has its own characteristics, so it’s important to choose the one that best suits your needs and preferences.

Choosing appliances

When choosing appliances for your kitchen, our designers will help you consider all of the options. However, at the early stages of the design process, there are a few key questions you should think about.

For example:

• Do you prefer an eye-level oven or a range cooker?
• Do you want a stainless-steel fridge-freezer?
• Would you prefer concealed appliances?

Consider whether you want any additional appliances, like a wine cooler or steam oven, and if you have space for a kitchen island, think about whether you want it to include a hob or sink for cooking or whether you prefer to keep it clear for socialising.

In addition to the kitchen cabinetry and appliances, it’s also important to consider other aspects of the room, such as plumbing, electrics, lighting, and plastering. These elements are often overlooked, but they can have a big impact on the success of your renovation. It’s also worth considering whether any building work is needed to create your dream kitchen, such as moving a door or window or knocking down a wall. Our designers will discuss these extra details early in the process to avoid any unexpected issues and to ensure that you have a clear understanding of the scope and cost of the project.

We can’t emphasise enough the importance of discussing budget with your designer. It’s a crucial question, because it will give them a good idea of what they are designing and allow them to maximise the potential of the room within your budget. Having this conversation openly and honestly can help both parties understand which compromises the client is willing to make.

The most important thing to consider when designing a kitchen is what the client wants and needs. For our designers, a good understanding of the client’s intended use for the space has a big impact on the design criteria, This can then guide decisions on appliance choice, layout, worktop materials, and flooring. We advise clients to think about what they want from their kitchen before discussing it with a professional, and that the ultimate goal is to help the client create the kitchen of their dreams.

If you would like to arrange a consultation with one of our designers, please call us at either our Basingstoke or Ascot showrooms.