Planning a kitchen? KBBC has the expertise you need

The first step to planning your kitchen is to find out how much floor space is available for you to work with. In order to do this, you need to take accurate measurements of the length and width of your kitchen, in millimetres. Then on the scaled grid paper, draw up the outline of the area. Also, jot down the position of any objects that may affect the way in which you lay out the kitchen, e.g. doors, windows, plug points, piping, boilers etc.

In order to help you plan the layout of your kitchen, we provide an Online Kitchen Planning Tool. You can move items about and play around until you come up with the right arrangement suitable for you.

Remember to allow a small space in between walls so that everything can fit in comfortably. It is important that you note down the height of any windows and ceilings, sloping ones in particular.

When it comes to planning a kitchen, the possibilities are endless. The best way to come up with the perfect design is to take your time, play around with different ideas, and explore! Aesthetics are important, but think about practicality and comfort. Yes, everyone would like to have a kitchen that looks nice, but it would be even better to have one that is also easy to work around. Do take into consideration, the amount of space you may require around appliances, in order to perform tasks comfortably.

Once you have come up with a suitable layout, you can start looking at aesthetics. Think about door handles, drawers, glass units or feature linking units, or any other additional features you might add to give your kitchen that stylish look.

Get inspiration from magazines.

Explore different colours and materials.

Look at finishes for walls.

Look at types for flooring.

Take accurate measurements, and take into account where your pipes, gas, electrical supplies are.

Make sure you know the sizes of your appliances.

Position the sink and dishwasher close together in order to make the plumbing easier.

Have a drawer unit close to the hob so that you easy access to any utensils.

Read through the instructions of your appliances before you decide where to place them.

Do not situate your cooker below any windows.

Check which way doors and drawers open in order for them to open fully.

Any tall units should be placed next to each other; tall units usually go at the end of a line of cupboards.

Position cupboards so that they are easily accessible.

It is always best to use a qualified tradesman for installation of any gas or electrical objects.

Having an extractor fan requires access to an external wall, unless you wish to recycle.

Galley Kitchen

The Galley kitchen allows easy access to everything without having to move around much. You can make use of large units in order to get the most out of your space. Think carefully about where you place your oven and sink so that movement can be kept to a minimum.

L-Shaped Kitchen Kitchen

The L-shaped kitchen is excellent if you want maximum floor space. It usually allows you enough room to have space for a table. You can make the most of your space by having large corner units, for both the base and wall; this will allow you more storage space to store large items such as pots and pans, and other objects.

U-Shaped Kitchen Kitchen

The U-shaped kitchen lets you make use of 3 walls. You can achieve maximise storage space by making use of large corner units and wall units. It allows you enough floor space to move around comfortably.

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Do you need help with planning a kitchen?

Planning a kitchen can be an exciting task - but also a slightly daunting one if you don't know where to begin. If you're looking at new kitchens with a view towards installing one in your home, it's vital you get the layout and fittings absolutely right.

If you need help when it comes to planning kitchens, KBBC can help. Our experts can come to your home to help you draw up the perfect design for you based on our wide range of kitchens - and they will even walk you through the ordering process to make sure you have your dream kitchen.

What should you think about in kitchen planning?

There are several key elements you should consider in terms of planning kitchens.

The first is the layout - where do you want everything to go? Can you organise your kitchen so that the three main areas - the cooker, the fridge and the sink - are within easy access of each other?

Related to this is the issue of plumbing and electrics. If your kitchen layout is staying the same, you may not have to worry too much about this. However, if you plan on moving kitchen appliances such as the washing machine and fridge to another part of the room, you need to make sure there are adequate power and water points for this.

It also makes sense to have appliances that use water close together rather than at opposite ends of the room.

Another important factor is storage. Experts say Britons are cooking in their home kitchens more and more these days - and as a result, we need more storage space for our food, pans and small appliances in our kitchens.

The good news is you can buy a wide range of kitchen units to suit different needs - whether you want rows of cupboards at head height or floor level, specific racks and shelves for wine and produce or even a luxurious kitchen island in the middle of the room.

When it comes to the all-important cooker, there are again many options to choose from. You can select a conventional cooker with built-in grill and oven, or a hob that remains separate from the grill and oven, which can be installed in the adjoining wall.

Whatever you go for, your decision should focus on how often you cook and which appliances you're likely to use the most to make sure your new kitchen design is as practical as possible.

Just as important as the cooker is the kitchen sink. You may want to consider issues such as how much space - particularly in terms of the number of basins - you need for washing up if you don't buy a dishwasher, as well as how the sink fits in with the overall look of the new kitchens on your shortlist.

When it comes to worktops for kitchens, you will again need to think about the way you cook and how much space you need to whip up a meal both after work and on the weekends, when you might need extra room to cater for a dinner party.

These are just a few of the things you will have to bear in mind when planning kitchens - make sure you think about all of these before you actually get to the point where you're choosing colours and picking out specific units so you know exactly what you want from your dream kitchen.

Of course, selecting a style for new kitchens brings up a whole host of new questions - do you prefer traditional kitchens or contemporary kitchens? Classic colours or bold shades? Straight lines or curves? Recessed grips or standard handles for your cupboards? It's a good idea to come up with firm answers to these before you buy your new kitchen.

Plan a kitchen with KBBC

If you need a little extra help with planning kitchens, the experts at KBBC can give you the assistance you need.

You can use our online kitchen planner tool or get in touch with us to arrange for our designers to visit you at your home so we can get a firm idea of what you're looking for when it comes to new kitchens.

We offer a wide range of kitchens, appliances and accessories to help you create your dream kitchen, so don't hesitate to get in touch with us to see how we can aid the process of planning a kitchen.