Read top tips for choosing stone for your kitchen work surface.
The most popular room for improvement is the kitchen, the heart of most homes. Changes here will make a big difference to the overall living space and should enhance your quality of life.
Hoever, kitchens are among the most expensive alterations that can be made to a home. So think carefully about how much you want to spend and how much longer you are likely to live there.
It is important to first consider your lifestyle and priorities. For example, a couple without children may prefer to include a wine cooler for parties instead of a large freezer to keep a family home well stocked. And there's no point in adding extra storage space when really you would rather have somewhere to sit. You can also save space by putting the washing machine in the garage or cellar to make way for a dishwasher in the kitchen, for example.
Most kitchen specialists offer a free design service but many of them such as Magnet (www.magnet.co.uk), Moben (www.moben.co.uk) and Ikea (www.ikea.com) have software you can download so you can design your own.
Measuring
Measure in millimetres the exact length and width of your kitchen to calculate the floor area. Draw the dimensions directly on to graph paper and mark down the position of doors, the direction they open, windows, radiators and plumbing, gas and electric points and waste outlets.
Cut out scale shapes for the sink, cooker, fridge, washing machine and other appliances which you can move around on your basic floor plan. This will save you time redrawing the basic pattern and indicate how much unit space there is.
It will also give you some idea about how best to position your "working triangle". Kitchens need three "work areas" for preparation, cooking and washing-up. The ideal kitchen is designed so that there isn't too much distance between the three. Around 1200mm is considered optimum. Think about the most efficient working triangle for your kitchen and then add the other appliances you would like after these are in place. A few basic tips are to position the cooker away from the door, keep the sink as near to the window as possible and put your fridge near the door so family and dinner guests don't interrupt the "work triangle" at crucial times.
Layout
Galley Kitchen
Galley kitchen layout
A galley kitchen is the most challenging design of all. Movement can be kept to a minimum by careful placement of your oven and sink but remember that you will need a workspace between the two. Make the most of the space with a big larder unit - with three adjustable shelves to store everything from tins to a vacuum cleaner. If you have a two-way galley option, make sure there is enough room for units either side, 1200mm is the recommended minimum.
The L-shaped Kitchen
L-shaped kitchen layout
A bit of extra room? Go for an L-shaped corner unit for optimum storage - they're great for housing large items like pots and pans or kitchen gadgets. This arrangement could also leave room for a narrow table or a butcher's block to bring the "working triangle" a bit closer together. L-shaped kitchens can be fitted with a carousel unit for extra storage space in the corner.
The U-shaped Kitchen
U-shaped kitchen layout
Use 3 sides of the room to position your units, making use of the L-shape corner unit with wall units to make pactical use of the space above. The storage space at the corners should have units installed with a carousel. Small gaps can be used for open shelving for cookery books or a wine rack. You might want to include open shelving or a glass cabinet as wall cupboards on three walls can give a feeling of enclosure. You could even replace a section of cupboard with a breakfast table.
The G-Shaped Kitchen
G-shaped kitchen layout
Only large open spaces can accommodation a G-shaped kitchen which can be achieved by adding an island or a peninsula to a U-shaped kitchen. Its advantage is that it can create more room for food preparation, storage or dining. It's an ideal shape for two cooks working together.
The Island Kitchen
Island kitchen layout
An "island" in a central position in an L-shaped or U-shaped kitchen can provide a relaxed seating area or convenient preparation area close to the cooker. Try to allow a minimum of 1200mm between the island and any other appliance or work surface. A very fashionable choice for luxury kitchen is to have the cooker and hob on an island. However, the installation of a extractor hood and power in the centre of the room will add to the cost of the kitchen considerably. A variation on this style of kitchen is to have a peninsula which can be used as a breakfast bar or to separate the cooking and dining areas. The advantage of large surface areas is that you would add push down power sockets or have access to the bin cut into the worktop so that waste from food preparation can be cleanly swept into a bin.
Other things to consider
Colour
Unless your kitchen is large, it's better to keep the walls neutral to give a feeling of spaciousness. Wood looks great, but can be harder to clean than laminate. White is a good clean kitchen colour and gives a good spacious feeling. But it can fade unevenly over time.
Lighting
Badly lit areas and shadows are a nuisance in the kitchen. You may want to boost light levels from a pendant light in the centre of the room, or a rail of halogen bulbs, with task lighting focused on the areas of work, ie over your sink, cooker and preparation areas.
Storage
Storage design has become so intelligent that you will be surprised at how much you can fit into drawers with smart dividers and sliding cupboards with wire trays. In some instances these can be added to existing units.
You are likely to want at least one unit to be made of drawers to store cutlery and cooking utensils. Position these drawers close to the dishwasher or sink for quick storage after washing up.
