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How To Decide Which Kitchen Layout Is The Right One For You

By on September 14, 2022 in Kitchen Design, New Kitchens

One of the most significant benefits that kitchen renovations give to homeowners is the opportunity to have their kitchen layout exactly how they would like it, notwithstanding any constraints created by the size of their kitchen or their budget. Having a kitchen layout in a certain way may not be something that some people give much thought to,  especially if they liked the existing kitchen when they moved into that house.

However, with a kitchen renovation, you have a chance to completely reconfigure how your kitchen is laid out and have it done so it suits how you like to work in the kitchen, what you find the most convenient, as well as having your preference of a specific style. Alternatively, it might be that you have never considered how you might alter the layout of your kitchen, or that you were unaware of the most popular kitchen layouts that are used in millions of kitchens around the world.

If any of those scenarios ring true, then please read on as we are going to explore in some detail what the five most popular options are for a renovated kitchen’s layout, and highlight some of the reasons that they work so that you can consider them.

Kitchen Layout #1: U-Shaped

As the name suggests, a U-shaped kitchen layout has three sides, with each side ideally being of equal length, although it can also be the case that each side is a different length. U-shaped layouts usually have the kitchen area separate from others such as the dining area, and they can either be open plan or enclosed with a wall on each side. One major benefit of U-shaped kitchens is that there is lots of worktop space and are therefore ideal for larger families.

Kitchen Layout #2: L-Shaped

This is another kitchen layout that uses a letter to identify its shape, with the major difference with this one being that it utilises two sides instead of three. In most scenarios, one side of this kitchen layout will be where the sink is located, and the second side where the cooker or oven and hob are located. Suited to smaller kitchens, and extremely versatile, the L-shaped kitchen layout also allows for freer movement around the kitchen.

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5 Ways To Have Optimal Light In Your New Kitchen Design

By on September 14, 2022 in Kitchen Renovations

There are several reasons why thousands of homeowners choose kitchen renovations to improve both the quality of their homes and their homes’ values. There are some obvious reasons, such as kitchens units showing their age, or them wishing to have a kitchen design that is more functional and aesthetically pleasing.

Another important reason is that the light levels within the kitchen are not conducive to working in that kitchen. It can be bad enough even for basic cooking if the light is insufficient, but if you are someone who loves getting a recipe book out or experimenting with ingredients, not having optimal light can be a huge drawback.

As such, when a homeowner is speaking about their new kitchen’s design with the kitchen renovation company they have chosen for the work, optimising light levels throughout the kitchen will be an important matter to be discussed. This will include where the maximum light levels need to be, how to ensure light is sufficient in all parts of the kitchen, and what the sources of light are going to be.

If you are reading this and wondering how all that can be achieved, then we are going to try and help you. To do so we have outlined for you below five ways in which light in a renovated kitchen can be maximised and optimised so that you never have to cook in poor light again.

Use Natural Light To Your Advantage

Some kitchen designs, unfortunately, fail to take account of or advantage of the natural light which exists just outside the walls of the kitchen being renovated. Apart from the fact it is a free source of light, during daylight hours it can take the illumination of your kitchen to another level. Whether you use existing or new windows, skylights, or replace existing walls with glass, you will benefit from the most readily available source of light there is.

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7 Types Of Kitchen Cabinet Finish You Can Choose For Your Kitchen Redesign

By on February 2, 2022 in Kitchen Design, Kitchen Renovations

As part of the process of planning and implementing kitchen renovations, it is cabinet makers who will mainly be focussing on the kitchen cabinets that will form part of those kitchens. This will include how many cabinets, what size they will be, the style of those cabinets, and even details such as the handles to be used.

One of the features that will require a lot of thought on the part of both the homeowners and the cabinet makers who are advising them, is the finish for the cabinets. When we use the term ‘finish’ it will primarily be the finish on the door of the kitchen cabinets rather than the main body of them, although, depending on the styling of the cabinets, the finish can, in some kitchens, extend to the body of the cabinets too.

The finish used for kitchen cabinets must be carefully considered as they will first need to fit in with the overall style of the kitchen as a whole. Matters such as the budget available, given that different finishes will attract different prices, will also need to be taken into account. As for what types of finishes are available for kitchen cabinets as part of kitchen renovations, here are seven of the most popular.

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Advantages And Disadvantages Of Black Kitchen Cabinets

By on November 2, 2021 in Kitchen Design, Kitchen Renovations

One of the popular requests that are made of cabinet makers when they are involved in kitchen renovations, is to create black kitchen cabinets. Whether the black colouring is to be on the outside, inside, on trimmings, or across the entirety of the cabinets, there is no denying that kitchens that contain these black cabinets are some of the most distinctive you will find.

There are many reasons why homeowners ask for black kitchen cabinets, although often it can simply be that black is their favourite colour. For others, they will want their cabinet makers to make their kitchen cabinets black having done some research into their advantages and disadvantages.

If you are considering renovating your kitchen, and black kitchen cabinets are on the list of possibilities, then you too should take time to weigh up the pros and cons of black cabinets in kitchens. To give you a starting point for that, we have highlighted several advantages and disadvantages of black kitchen cabinets below.

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7 Great Ideas For Creating A Colourful Kitchen

By on July 3, 2021 in New Kitchens, Kitchen Design

One of the biggest discussion points between companies who specialise in kitchen renovations and the homeowners who have hired them to design a kitchen is colour. For some, having their kitchen all white is what they choose to do, and there is nothing wrong with that if that is the kitchen that they want. Others, at the other end of the scale, want as much colour and as much variety of colour as possible. Again, if that is what pleases them, then so be it.

What most kitchen renovation companies normally find are homeowners somewhere between those two points of view. In other words, there is a desire for the kitchen to have some degree of colour, but it does not need to have every colour of the rainbow in it to satisfy the homeowner’s wishes.

What many people considering their new kitchen design struggle with is how they can add the colour they want. Obviously, there is the decor such as the wallpaper and paint, but beyond these, are there other options to add colours to your kitchen? The answer is absolutely, and better than that, we are going to highlight seven of them right now.

Backsplashes

Backsplashes have the practical use of preventing walls and wallpaper from being stained due to splashes from cookers and sinks. Beyond that, they provide an excellent way to add colour to your kitchen. Your backsplashes can be as large or as small as you wish, plus you are limited only by your imagination as to what shapes, designs, and colours you use within a backsplash, especially if it is created from individual, small, square tiles.

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15 Kitchen Design Trends That You Should Consider For Your New Kitchen

By on May 10, 2021 in Kitchen Design

One of the positive aspects of their work that cabinet makers refer to when working on kitchen renovations is that people’s likes and dislikes are constantly changing. This means kitchens that are designed and installed this year, will have many different features, colours, and traits, than those of last year due to the current trends.

It is also true that many popular features of kitchens seem to be ever-present, meaning that rather than being a ‘trend’ they could be regarded as evergreen. That is not to say they will remain so forever, but simply that they are popular for longer than a short period of time.

This brings us to the subject of this article and that is the trends that are popular at the moment with homeowners considering kitchen renovations. To discover them we spoke to several cabinet makers and kitchen designers to ascertain fifteen popular features and traits that they are being increasingly asked to include in the kitchens they are creating.Continue Reading..

5 Reasons Why Kitchen Renovations Are A Wise Investment

By on September 28, 2020 in Kitchen Design, New Kitchens

When it comes to renewing kitchens, there are several reasons why you might choose to employ cabinet makers to carry out kitchen renovations for you. It might be that you feel you need more storage space. It could also be the case that you have moved to a new property and the existing kitchen is not up to scratch. Or you may simply feel it is time that your kitchen was given a revamp.

Whatever the reason might be, there is no getting away from the fact that, when kitchens need to be renovated, there are going to be financial costs to purchase the kitchen cabinets, worktops, and possibly even new appliances, plus there will be the fee that you have to pay to have the kitchen installed professionally.

This brings us to a point that needs to be addressed, and that is the question of whether what people pay for kitchen renovations should be considered a cost or an investment. Many will insist it is a cost given that most new kitchen renovations will cost thousands of dollars. However, as with many things which you might pay for, it is also worth considering the benefits of that investment. We would go as far as to say it is a wise investment, and here are five reasons why.

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10 Ideas To Create More Space When Remodelling Your Small Kitchen

By on December 20, 2019 in Kitchen Renovations, Kitchen Design

If a kitchen is small and it requires remodelling, it presents challenges to the homeowners whose kitchen it is, as well as the cabinet makers they employ to remodel and build their new kitchen. Whilst most cabinet makers are happy to take on kitchen renovations for all sizes of kitchen space, it is the kitchens whose dimensions are the smallest that throw up the most hurdles, but they are not hurdles that cannot be overcome.

If you speak to cabinet makers and kitchen designers, many will tell you that they get the biggest sense of achievement when they can create amazing kitchens in spaces that many would consider not big enough for a decent kitchen. Part of the reason they are able to create kitchens in those small spaces is the ingenious ideas that they implement. Read on and you will discover ten of those ideas.

Idea #1 – Declutter From The Start: You will be amazed at how much additional space you can create by simply getting rid of some of the superfluous items you currently have in your kitchen such as plant pots, ornaments, old stools, and unused or broken appliances.

Idea #2 – Replace The Dining Table With An Island: A dining table has one function, and that is allowing you and your family to sit around and eat meals. However, replace it with an island, and you now have somewhere to eat, and it doubles up as a food preparation area too.

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