Design+build my kitchen.. where to start?
Discussion
I'm currently waiting while the cogs turn on my very first house. As soon as I have the keys it needs a Kitchen - this is the only 'big' thing that needs doing. I am not going to be able to spend a fortune, however I want to do it right and I want to do it quickly, so I can get settled.
I will be doing all the work myself. I can manage the tools fine, and I can manage any design work fine also. I've just never done anything 'home' based before so I want to make sure I consider everything.
Where do I look for inspiration? I will be needing the physical units, as well as an Oven, Hob, Fridge/Freezer. My thoughts are to do the basics right, and of reasonable quality, rather than having lots of chintzy gimmicks and spinny cupboard racks and suchlike. Any extras can be added later - it just needs to function enough to be put into use.
The layout is a basic small U-shape - First leg has Sink under window, base will have oven+hob in centre with hood over and units to sides. Final leg will have units over, with a tall larder cupboard and fridge/freezer on end. I'm hoping I may be able to buy the whole lot as a package if this is going to be cost effective.
The plumbing and gas is already in place and in good shape, so won't be getting fiddled with.
I'm going round soon for another checkup on other worksand will take detailed measurements. I am an engineer and can happily model up the space in Solidworks however I presume there are rather more suitable methods to be used to help with the design...?
I'm just after some hints and tips - I bet this has been done plenty of times on here - and any 'tricks' that might help to make a pretty regular, modest kitchen into something quite nice and also as functional as possible.
I will be doing all the work myself. I can manage the tools fine, and I can manage any design work fine also. I've just never done anything 'home' based before so I want to make sure I consider everything.
Where do I look for inspiration? I will be needing the physical units, as well as an Oven, Hob, Fridge/Freezer. My thoughts are to do the basics right, and of reasonable quality, rather than having lots of chintzy gimmicks and spinny cupboard racks and suchlike. Any extras can be added later - it just needs to function enough to be put into use.
The layout is a basic small U-shape - First leg has Sink under window, base will have oven+hob in centre with hood over and units to sides. Final leg will have units over, with a tall larder cupboard and fridge/freezer on end. I'm hoping I may be able to buy the whole lot as a package if this is going to be cost effective.
The plumbing and gas is already in place and in good shape, so won't be getting fiddled with.
I'm going round soon for another checkup on other worksand will take detailed measurements. I am an engineer and can happily model up the space in Solidworks however I presume there are rather more suitable methods to be used to help with the design...?
I'm just after some hints and tips - I bet this has been done plenty of times on here - and any 'tricks' that might help to make a pretty regular, modest kitchen into something quite nice and also as functional as possible.
miniman said:
Sounds almost precisely like my last kitchen. I refitted it in order to build in space for a (half width) dishwasher. The Ikea stuff is excellent.
The Ikea stuff is excellent of you have a new place with no pipes running along the wall as the units are constructed in such a way as to leave you no room for services behind the units.Be warned!!!
B&Q have a kitchen planner CAD system on their website.
Pump in your room dimensions, door openings & windows and you can then click and drag floor & wall units on as well as appliances etc.
Whilst you might not want to go down the road of buying their kit, you will get to know what size units can fit into where.
I did this with my utility room. Worked out what cabinets I required and then bought a used good quality kitchen off the bay.
Installation is relatively simple to a competent DIY'er. the only point I would make is get a professional chippy in to rout and join the worktops rather than use those horrid metal strips that allow worktops to join at 90 degrees.
Pump in your room dimensions, door openings & windows and you can then click and drag floor & wall units on as well as appliances etc.
Whilst you might not want to go down the road of buying their kit, you will get to know what size units can fit into where.
I did this with my utility room. Worked out what cabinets I required and then bought a used good quality kitchen off the bay.
Installation is relatively simple to a competent DIY'er. the only point I would make is get a professional chippy in to rout and join the worktops rather than use those horrid metal strips that allow worktops to join at 90 degrees.
ATEOTD a kitchen is a series of small boxes in a big box. Put appliances in some of the boxes, and a worktop across the top, and that's most of the battle IMHO.
Other people will have different opinions but this is my 4p:
Cabinets. I am not much bothered about whether the cabinets are 18mm or 22mm thick, or whether the gap at the back is 50mm or 100mm. They say it is for 'services' but to me it just makes for a smaller cupboard. And I don't mind if the MDF inside is cheap English MDF - because it's inside. All I really see is the doors. So save some money for more important things and get boggo cabinets. But nice doors and handles of course - because those are the bits you see and touch.
Appliances. Now you can take the money you saved by not buying Grumphenweiler cabinets and splash out on really nice appliances - because these are the things you actually use, so they should work well, be nice to use and nice to look at. The rest is just doors.
Sinks/Taps. Same as Appliances.
Worktop. Wood, laminate, granite, corian - up to you.
Tiles/glass - up to you
Floor - ditto.
Go round lots of showrooms with a camera and get ideas/inspiration. Make scale elevations/plans in whatever software you like to see how the ideas look. One thing to bear in mind is electrics - work out what you want first and run the wires before you do the rest.
Other people will have different opinions but this is my 4p:
Cabinets. I am not much bothered about whether the cabinets are 18mm or 22mm thick, or whether the gap at the back is 50mm or 100mm. They say it is for 'services' but to me it just makes for a smaller cupboard. And I don't mind if the MDF inside is cheap English MDF - because it's inside. All I really see is the doors. So save some money for more important things and get boggo cabinets. But nice doors and handles of course - because those are the bits you see and touch.
Appliances. Now you can take the money you saved by not buying Grumphenweiler cabinets and splash out on really nice appliances - because these are the things you actually use, so they should work well, be nice to use and nice to look at. The rest is just doors.
Sinks/Taps. Same as Appliances.
Worktop. Wood, laminate, granite, corian - up to you.
Tiles/glass - up to you
Floor - ditto.
Go round lots of showrooms with a camera and get ideas/inspiration. Make scale elevations/plans in whatever software you like to see how the ideas look. One thing to bear in mind is electrics - work out what you want first and run the wires before you do the rest.
Once you have a rough design (even scribbled on paper) do mental walk-throughs of common tasks:
a) making tea- is the kettle near the cups/tea/sugar/milk?
b) work surface- are the knives within reach?
c) hob cooking- are the pans and utensils within reach?
d) sink- how do dishes go from dirty->sink->drainer? can you drop dirty stuff in the sink without a long walk?
And any others that you think will slowly start to annoy you.
a) making tea- is the kettle near the cups/tea/sugar/milk?
b) work surface- are the knives within reach?
c) hob cooking- are the pans and utensils within reach?
d) sink- how do dishes go from dirty->sink->drainer? can you drop dirty stuff in the sink without a long walk?
And any others that you think will slowly start to annoy you.
A small U-shape is good; my first house had one - but the small space limits the possibilities. So be prepared to see lots of funky ideas in showrooms that simply won't fit your space. You might even find that an extra cupboard is more useful than a dishwasher, or water softener for example.
I guess another thing to decide is whether you want freestanding or integrated appliances.
I guess another thing to decide is whether you want freestanding or integrated appliances.
Wetwipe said:
Installation is relatively simple to a competent DIY'er. the only point I would make is get a professional chippy in to rout and join the worktops rather than use those horrid metal strips that allow worktops to join at 90 degrees.
Places like B&Q sell jigs for about £40. It's then simple enough to rout your own joints.DocJock said:
Wetwipe said:
Installation is relatively simple to a competent DIY'er. the only point I would make is get a professional chippy in to rout and join the worktops rather than use those horrid metal strips that allow worktops to join at 90 degrees.
Places like B&Q sell jigs for about £40. It's then simple enough to rout your own joints.
We just bought a kitchen from here- www.diy-kitchens.com - fantastic reputation on google, we got 'valais' they're really nice and great quality, getting granite worktops locally.
Homebase are so overpriced, these were much much cheaper as its direct. First kitchen for me too, gonna do a build thread when its done in hopefully a month (can't take time off work so doing it when i can, plus its big!)
Homebase are so overpriced, these were much much cheaper as its direct. First kitchen for me too, gonna do a build thread when its done in hopefully a month (can't take time off work so doing it when i can, plus its big!)
Wen you say build the kitchen, do you mean to actually make the units? If not, then you might as well use one of the kitchen planners available on various kitchen websites as you will be restricted to the standard sizes anyway.
As to the worktops, how big is your kitchen, and will you be able to get the tops down into the cellar, and onto the CNC machine. If not, I would suggest getting someone in to do it, it isn't just a matter of cutting the joint correctly, though even that is easier said than done notwithstanding the availability of suitable jigs.
As to the worktops, how big is your kitchen, and will you be able to get the tops down into the cellar, and onto the CNC machine. If not, I would suggest getting someone in to do it, it isn't just a matter of cutting the joint correctly, though even that is easier said than done notwithstanding the availability of suitable jigs.
When you plan your layout, make sure you think about leaving space for the bits that move - overhangs for saucepans on the cooker; room for oven and cupboard door handles when you open them; which way your kitchen and fridge doors open; where do your curtains hang. These little things can really spoil the functionality of a kitchen if they aren't quite right.......
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