Design Tips: 7 + 1 Tips On Planning & Designing Your Dream Kitchen

1. When starting your kitchen design process, gathering ideas and inspiration from the moment you decide on a new kitchen is always a good idea! Instagram and Pinterest are a great way to find and save inspiring images that will give you a better idea of how you imagine your kitchen to look and the styles that appeal to you. Don’t limit this to pictures of kitchens, keep an open mind! You can find inspiration in colours, shapes and all kinds of places.

2. If you are planning an extension, visit your kitchen designer with your plans after you have had your planning permission accepted. This should avoid the need to compromise on your design later on and your designer will be able to provide your builder with drawings of your kitchen design.

3. When meeting with your designer, provide them with as much information as possible about the space and what you want to achieve with the design. Pinterest inspiration boards will help you to visualise the project better and communicate the overall mood you want to evoke with your scheme. If you are unsure of anything (or most of it!) don’t panic, communicate with your designer, they will help to guide you through the process and your options.

We cannot guarantee ice lollies will be available, but we can guarantee a great kitchen design!

4. When planning lighting for your kitchen, look at the space you have and think about how much light it gets throughout the day. If the space is lacking in natural light there are some lovely options for introducing light in the places you need it. LED light strips under your wall units are useful for lighting work surfaces when prepping food and can be used in the evening to create a cosy atmosphere. Pendant lights over an island or kitchen table will provide light where you need it and choosing the right style will accentuate your design.

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Our Bespoke Kitchen Ranges

The Westminster

Traditional Shaker style cabinetry with a hint of modernity, it is a simple take on the traditional shaker door, without the decorative cockbeading that the Rye range has. Comes as standard
with feet but can be taken off.

The Applegate

The Applegate kitchen (named after the first clients to choose this style) is a modern take on the traditional shaker style. With units flush to the floor, cut-out handles and flat contrasting drawers, this design certainly has more 21st century feel to it.

The Rye

The Rye range is our take on the traditional English kitchen. The Rye has a traditional shaker doors and a detailed frame called a cockbead. As with the Westminster this range, this range comes as standard with feet but can be changed to skirting if you wish.

The Westgate

A contemporary take on the traditional Shaker style kitchen, with a T- bar panel separating each unit and much thinner shaker panel. The Westgate is designed after Westgate Towers in Canterbury, and built to stand the test of time. Often used with brass and ripple glass, this kitchen range can look very art deco with specific styling.

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5. When planning your layout think about the time you spend in your kitchen and what you want to use the space for. Do you spend a lot of time cooking with your family? Are you always inviting friends over for dinner parties? Make sure the layout considers all of your needs and is functional for everyone using the space.

6. When choosing colours, handles and tiles, go with your instinct and choose something you love! When choosing paint colours or wallpaper, paint big samples and put them on the wall. You’ll be able to see how the colour changes through the day and you will get a better feel for it. There are many different finishes and styles of handles & decorative tiles out there, Instagram is one of the best places for finding something unique.

7. When you have narrowed your choices down and decided on a scheme, use your samples to make a mood board for your design. This can be used as a visual anchor throughout your project and will help when you need to communicate your ideas for the space. You can also use this as a reference point when you are choosing furniture or accessories to check if they will work with your colour scheme.

+Bonus Tip!

Above all, enjoy the creative process and focus on a creating a space that makes you feel good!