In everything you do, the devil is often in the detail, so when it comes to designing a kitchen, you should never forget the finer details. Strangely, it’s often the most obvious things that are forgotten or overlooked when designing a kitchen. Simple things like where the bins go or making sure there is enough space for the chopping board can slip the mind, but these are new kitchen mistakes to avoid. A kitchen can be and is much more… but never forget its primary function is to prepare and cook food, so a kitchen has to be practical and functional above all else. This means that the design process should really begin with careful consideration of how you intend to use the kitchen when cooking and preparing meals. Functional doesn’t have to mean boring, and there are so many ingenious design solutions you can use in the kitchen without losing sight of the fact that the kitchen is a working space.
Think Long Term –
Sometimes you might need a short-term fix in the home. However, designing a new kitchen is not the time for short-term thinking. A good quality kitchen should see you through for at least ten years, so it’s vital that you get things right. Choosing the cheapest option in terms of materials and products is false economy, as these items are rarely built to last. At the same time, this doesn’t mean that your new kitchen can’t be affordable., but the chances are that this will be one of the biggest investments you make in the home. Think about its re-sale value. Even if the moving home isn’t on the agenda right now, things can change.
Workspace Area –
A very common mistake in kitchen design is not planning enough counter space to work with. It’s easy to make the mistake of only thinking about how much space you need to prepare meals, but there are several other things that need to be factored in too. For example, you need to have enough counter space to put all your appliances out, wash up, and possibly even to eat or socialise. Not having enough countertop space is a major new kitchen mistake, one you are sure to regret for a long time.
The Dangers of DIY –
DIY is great and if you are that way inclined there is absolutely no reason why many aspects of new kitchen installation can’t be taken on as a DIY project. However, sometimes the temptation to do it yourself can cloud your judgement, and it’s easy to forget the level of expertise that is necessary in the planning of a major home improvement, such as designing a new kitchen. There is a reason that tradespeople are professionals and you should always seek advice and guidance on any project from the experts.
Finally, Murphy’s law says ‘what can go wrong will go wrong’. Now that isn’t designed to be a pessimistic statement, it is to help you to understand that things don’t always go in a straight line, so it is important to plan but with contingency in mind.
Have a great week,
Clinton and Fiona