They may be built for cooking, but today’s kitchens are often designed with so much more in mind so time to renovate the busiest room in the house, says Agnes Zmijewska, owner of Kitchen Revolutions in Raynes Park
We have so many ideas and a lot of experience to help you create your perfect kitchen. You could be ripping out the old and installing a brand-new kitchen, moving your kitchen into a new room or simply tackling a small project to update your current kitchen. Whatever your kitchen project, we can give essential advice, from how to plan a kitchen to choosing kitchen lighting.
Functioning kitchens
Our kitchens are where we cook, eat, entertain and socialise, so it’s important to create a kitchen design that ticks all these boxes – and more. For a busy family home, a fitted kitchen is a bespoke solution that will offer fantastic functionality and streamline the space to make the most of every inch. If you’re on a tight budget consider revamping kitchen cabinets or investing in some new kitchen worktops. This will refresh the style and add years of service to the busiest room in the house.
Tips for renovating
Renovating a kitchen is a smart bet for increasing the value of your home, so that beautiful kitchen island could turn into a great investment for the future.
- How to create a big kitchen-diner and plan the perfect entertaining space by turning a kitchen and dining room into one open-plan space.
Are you planning to knock down the wall between your kitchen and dining room to create one big kitchen-diner? Here are a few things to consider before you pick up that sledgehammer. Depending on whether the wall you want to knock down is load bearing, you may need to support the new opening by inserting a rolled steel joist (RSJ). If this is the case, consult a structural engineer for advice.
- Make your kitchen-diner work for you.
Don’t get too hung up about kitchen work triangles, just think about how you’ll use the room and what’s best for your lifestyle. Remember to think about the design as a whole, co-ordinating colours and textures across the room for a coherent look.
- Reach out into the garden
Think about having French windows, as it’s lovely to be able to step straight out into the garden from the kitchen-diner. It’s often possible to enlarge an existing window but get professional advice first.
The right design will create an efficient space that’s safe and comfortable for all the family.
Depending on the size of your room, you might want to combine cooking and prep areas with dining and living zones all in one open-plan space. That’s why it’s so crucial to get to know the most common kitchen layouts and pick the right one for your space. Many people these days want a family hub where everyone can come together for meals. They still need room to do their own thing – be that unwind on the sofa, catch up with TV, browse the internet or fit in some homework. Even if you don’t have masses of space, having somewhere in the kitchen to enjoy a glass of wine or supper with friends will allow you to be part of the conversation while preparing the meal.
- Good layout is essential.
When it comes to the functional part of the room, a good layout will make the most of the available space and keep everything well organised, with the most regularly used items to hand. But it’s not all about storage. Flow is an important consideration. Especially in an open-plan space or where there are several doorways or an island to work around. Using the layout to steer traffic away from dangerous hotspots and towards user-friendly areas instead. A drinks fridge or seating area, will ensure that your kitchen is a practical, safe and sociable space for all its users, including guests and children. In most cases, the size and shape of your room will determine the most suitable design, and it’s always helpful to consider the classic ‘working triangle’.
This concept is designed to minimise effort and walking distance between the sink, fridge and cooker by placing them on three points of a triangle. However, nothing is set in stone. ‘If the triangle works in your kitchen that’s great, but don’t feel you have to be a slave to it,’ says kitchen designer Agnes Zmijewska. ‘If you have to walk a few extra steps, it will be worth it if it means you’re able to include an extra element you really like that wouldn’t otherwise fit into the design.’
Visit us for advice and more ideas at: www.kitchenrevolutions.co.uk
Kitchen Revolutions
580 Kingston Road
Raynes Park
SW20 8DR
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