With the downturn in the housing market, the sensible thing to do as a homeowner is not to move but improve. So taking this in mind, redoing a room or 2 in your home can help you boost your home's value and staying put won't just make sense financially, it will be an absolute pleasure. Planning these types of improvements can be difficult, so here is some advice on planning a kitchen makeover.
Getting The Layout Right.
The single most important thing to do before starting is to assess your own space This means measuring up and making an accurate floor plan. The amount of space you have will determine the layout you choose for your kitchen. Don't decide on the appliances or fittings before assessing your space as things may not fit once you start. Nobody likes to waste time or money.
Changing The Current Layout.
If you are going to change the layout, you may want to consider ripping out all the existing units. This will give you a clean canvas to start with. If this is the way you plan to go, remember moving plumbing and electrical socket can become expensive. If the space you have is small you may be stuck with making the most of what you've got.
Where Should I Start?
- Note the position of existing power points, pipes in and out, windows and doors.
- Using the same measurements, make a rough sketch of how you would like the appliances, worktops, and doors to be, noting any changes in services that may be necessary.
- Bear in mind that changing the location of services or structural features will add to the overall cost.
- Play around with different combinations, until you have a design you're happy with that you can present to a kitchen planner.
All kitchen's have different functions, so figure out how you plan to use your kitchen. Is it for cooking only or for cooking and socializing? Decide on the zones and their functionality in your kitchen. There are 4 main jobs all kitchens need to fulfill, these are food preparation, cooking, serving and washing-up afterwards. Make sure each zone has sufficient worktop space, storage for its associated stuff and all the necessary appliances to hand.
Lastly use the 'work triangle'. This triangle dictates where the sink, cooker and fridge should be to and should form the 3 corners of a triangle in relation to each other. Traditionally the sink is installed under the window. This ensures that access to the plumbing is easier. It is also not every practical to have a wall unit above the sink, this will result in you banging your head every time you do the washing up. Planning your new kitchen is not that hard as long as you remember the tips provide above.
Have you done the planning and now need to have that plan put into action?
