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The design and layout of a new kitchen is a personal and complex process. Everybody is well aware of the pitfalls when building and extra costs that can arise.

To avoid disappointment, you should plan your kitchen step by step, following a logical schedule and taking considered decisions. From orientation to installation: here is a handy 10-step plan to help you in the process. Before becoming dazzled by showrooms and glossy magazines, write up a list of your expectations with regard to your kitchen. Include a few crucial questions: Exactly what you will be demanding from the space Wishes and preferences with regards to color and style The area in your home that you are allocating to the new kitchen Your budget

Step 1: Budget

Assess your financial situation. Will you require finance or can you pay for the renovations in cash? Are you flexible and are you prepared to compromise if the quotes are not within expectations? Remember to build in a contingency for extra costs and the appliances.

Step 2: Function and style

How will your family use the kitchen? Should it offer a living area or is it merely practical? How many people should you be able to seat and to what extend (will it be for all meals or simply a breakfast bar?). Will the kitchen need to handle extreme culinary prowess or comfort meals served up for a crowd?

Research your style. Do you like classic, modern, traditional, nostalgic, trendy, minimalist or purist? You can also go the eclectic route and enjoy mixing a few beloved styles. Decide on the materials you would prefer to tie in with your look: wood, granite, synthetics or glass and aluminum. Begin also to get a feel for which wall and floor coverings you would like.

Step 3: Floor plan

No action can be taken without a proper floor plan of the available space. Besides mentioning all the sizes (length, width and height), also note the possible obstructions such as doors and widows. Connections and applications for electricity and plumbing should be noted to discuss with potential installers.

Step 4: Design

Built in
The popular L-kitchen consists of a long and a short side. Research has proved that the L-shaped kitchen, where the cooking and rinsing units are placed diagonally from each other, are work savers.

The U-shaped kitchen, divided over three walls, is very practical and comfortable as far as shape is concerned.

The G-kitchen, a sort of circular design and is a kitchen design only suitable for larger spaces. Classical living kitchens often feature this type of design.

New: kitchens in half-moon and circular design.

The Galley kitchen is elongated and consists of a parallel set of bench tops between them, allowing easy access from one side to the other.

Island

The trend of late is to have freestanding kitchen furniture in the middle of the room. The island design is especially popular due to its sociable atmosphere. Such a kitchen features a very professional look and is definitely recommended for chefs that have made cooking their hobby. This way you keep eye contact with your guests, assuming the dining table is close by. It acts as a large working area. Islands require more work and standing space but with a comfortable passageway all around and a row of storage elements against one or two walls, less energy may be consumed. The island also makes the ideal setup for seating to create easy serving to a family. In an existing situation the installation of an island requires the necessary hacking and breaking as connections and drains need to be moved to the middle of the room.

Tip: A working island on feet creates visual openness and space

Modular

If you don't like standard, but rather prefer a dynamic kitchen, then a modular kitchen design can be the solution. With such a concept, its not about standard built-in dimensions anymore, but about loose functional components. Loose working units that function as a cooking center, rinsing unit, storage or dishwasher module, can be combined to your own ideas: whether next to each other against the wall or freestanding in the room. The advantage of this concept is that the modules (at a later stage) can be expanded and they are easy to disassemble.

Step 5: Orientation

With all this detailed planning you will be equipped to approach the task of organizing the layout and finer detail in the relationships between your appliances and work space. Research at this point is helpful in answering a few dilemmas. What are the trends and which technical devices are an absolute must? Acquiring information via brochures, the Internet and specialized living and kitchens magazines is a good start.

With your floor plan and a general idea of what you would like, you can now visit the showrooms of specialist kitchen manufacturers or visit a show where the installers are exhibiting. Showrooms of specialized kitchen dealers feature complete fitted kitchens in different styles, designs and colors. Here you will often find a separate overview of the possibilities regarding work surfaces, sinks, taps etc. With the help of your detailed floor plan it will be clear very quickly whether a certain design is possible or not.

Tip: Some manufacturers offer cooking demonstrations. Handy to become acquainted with the possibilities of the appliances.

Step 6: Layout

With the layout, everything is about ease of use and ergonomics. How and where items will be placed, how often you will bend down or need to walk around? Analyze the current situation for a while. The kitchen has a couple of specific activity zones: storing, preparing, rinsing, cooking, washing up. To make life easy the working order should be as logical as possible. Most important as far as layout is concerned are the cooking area, the rinsing unit and the preparation area.

Preparation

Ergonomic ease of use is offered by a working surface that varies in height. With these the cooking area is fitted lower (better view in pots and pans) and the cutting board higher (better for your back) than the normal level. More often kitchens are adjustable in height, which makes adjusting the correct height when fitted rather simple. And for extremely tall and extremely short people, there are working units that are adjustable in height electronically.

Rinsing

The rinsing unit offers lots of choice. What to do: single or double washbasin or a complete rinsing center? Built-in, built-under or seamlessly integrated into the working surface? with or without waste disposer? A double unit or two loose washbasins is often ideal, especially for larger families with children. rinsing vegetables and washing your hands at the same time is not problem then. Applicable here as well is: the more working space available on both sides, the better.

Keep lines as short as possible. How often do you need to rinse something quickly in between? What is the distance between the washbasin and dishwasher? when unloading the dishwasher the walking lines between the dishwasher and your cupboards are important. A dishwasher also belongs within the rinsing unit. Small, compact dishwashers can be fitted a little higher, for instance above the drawer. That way you won't have to bend down so often.

Kitchen Sinks

Bar Sinks

Cooking

The rinsing center and the cooking area should be planned close to each other for practical reasons. The walking distance with hot pans is then minimal. It is also very pleasant to have sufficient workspace on the left and right hand sides of the cooking unit.

Tip: Bending forward is not often necessary in an ergonomic kitchen. Freestanding ovens/microwave ovens can be fitted just beneath eye level: safe, well organized and practical.

Step 7: Appliances

You need to take a hard and honest look at which appliances you will really require. Don't be over-ambitious with your choice if the kitchen is being designed for you and your family. On offer are the typical convenience appliances right up to high-tech gear for the home chef. Look at the aesthetic as well as the practical aspects of the mentions you consider.

Garbage Disposals

Liquid Soap Dispensers

Miscellaneous Accessories

Sink-Mount Cutting Boards

Sink Baskets & Bottom Racks

Step 8: Lighting

Proper lighting is an absolute must for a kitchen. The placement of functional lighting and soft lighting needs some forethought. Many connections are integrated, so a lighting plan featuring functional as well as aesthetic aspects should already be included in the design of the kitchen. there should be a balance between work light and light that creates a pleasant atmosphere. Most kitchens feature fluorescent tubes or integrated spotlights beneath top cupboards. Or you can fit adjustable or pendant lights to the ceiling above the most used work tops. LED's are good used on display shelves to illuminate favorite pieces.

Tip: The newest extractor hoods are often equipped with halogen spotlights that can be adjusted in brightness and thus offer functional as well as atmospheric lighting.

Step 9: From design to quotation

Once you reach this stage, you might want to use CAD programs to get an idea of the layout you now have in mind. Various software offers this type of program and with 3D techniques, the kitchen all of a sudden comes to life. It's even possible to take a peek in the cupboards. You can also have the design and layout done by an expert. Most kitchen specialists will also have their own designer software programs. With their expertise they'll probably come up with some surprising solutions and ideas. These professional programs can already tell you what the costs will be while the design is being done.

Always obtain more than one quotation from different suppliers. Look further than the end amount: Quite often the price difference will be in the materials used (solid wood or veneer), labor, unforeseeable costs and the date of completion. Don't be tempted too quickly by attractive discounts. Check whether the company will be overseeing the entire project and whether lighting will be included. Obtain a written payment schedule from the installers. It is standard for retailers to request payment in advance.

Step 10: Installation

Once you have accepted a quotation, you can then look forward to completing your dream kitchen. Breaking out and renovating the kitchen before the initial installation should be done by a craftsman. Only attempt doing it yourself if you are an experienced DIY-er. Doing it yourself might also have consequences for the guarantee. You will need to provide alternative arrangements for your family to prepare food while the work is in progress and also erect barriers to ward off potential dust.

Builders and installers also work with quotations and accurate contracts. Watch out for unforeseeable costs for extra work. It would work best if you determine a maximum amount up front for extra work. Often it is wise to choose one builder, who in turn will hire his preferred craftsman: plumbers, electricians and so on.

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