16 Portage Road, New Lynn, Waitakere 0600, Auckland
Phone: (09) 827 3845    sales@essex-comshape.co.nz

Kitchen Design Points

 

The essence of good Kitchen design is moulding your chosen style within the space available, balancing form with functionality.

A large part of our job is to help step you through this process, drawing on past experiences, and sharing our knowledge of different materials and construction techniques to achieve your chosen design.

 

Things to consider when designing a new kitchen are:

-    The kitchen needs to fit the style / look of the home.

-    Think about the size and shape of the room in question, and the location of windows and doors. (Refer ‘How to measure’)

-    Where possible, start by locating the sink central to any window and work out from there.

-    Are there any site limitations?  For example, if the home has a concrete floor and the sink waste comes through that floor, can that be potentially moved to suit a new layout?

-    Does the introduction of a kitchen Island work in the space?

-    What materials are available?

-    How durable are those materials, and are there any long-term considerations with using that material?

-    Top thicknesses can change the look of a kitchen.

-    Handle type? Or no handles at all?

-    A colour, or a timber look?

-    Sink bowl size and quantity. Is a waste disposal required? Undermount or top mount?

-    Tapware?

-    What appliances do you want? Are they going to be integrated?

-    What design restrictions are imposed on you by ether local council, or the appliance manufacturer, or both?   For example, there are minimum clearances to consider when installing gas or induction hobs. There are also ventilation requirements to consider too.

-    Is getting electrical, gas, water or waste to a particular appliance an issue?

-    Splash back style?

-    Toe kick height and finish?

-    Floor finish?

-    Do you require an element of privacy in the kitchen when in an open plan environment?

-    Do you want an area to serve as a breakfast bar?

-    Location of drawers for functionality.

-    Lighting: Both task lighting, and mood lighting. Internal and external.