Kitchens are integral parts of the home, essential to making a home life work. In these rooms, we comfort friends and family, make endless cups of tea, and make sure our family is well-fed. Whether you’ve lived in your house for 20 years or you’ve only just moved in, kitchen renovations are a brilliant way to make your home work for you.
So, if you’re considering a new kitchen design, read on to find out how to prepare for the renovation in this article from Bells The Dulwich Kitchen and Bathroom Company.
Reasons to Renovate
There are several reasons to renovate a kitchen, from addressing damage to updating the style. Whatever it may be, renovating can be a great way to give you and your home a new lease of life. Learn about some top reasons people choose to renovate their kitchens in this section.
Outdated Styles
In older homes, kitchens can become outdated in comparison to the rest of your interior design style. While retro styles can look great aesthetically, often they become faded and damaged. Instead, renovating your home can be a great way to make your house feel more like a home.
Functional Issues
Bothered by not being able to open a cupboard at the same time as your oven? Unfunctional kitchens can be frustrating, stopping you from fully feeling happy at home. Luckily, arranging to have a designer kitchen installed can save the day. The goal for a new kitchen is to make it work for you and your family, so getting the help of a professional business can help you get there.
Dealing with Damage
Mouldy kitchens can be a nightmare, causing bad smells and dampness throughout the room. Mould can happen in any type of home, but it is particularly common in older houses and those where ventilation is an issue. In some cases, the best thing to do is remove the kitchen entirely, to deal with the problems underneath.
Pest Problems
No one wants to find pests in their home. Unfortunately, these unwelcome guests can appear at any time, sneaking in from the outside. Pests like mice and rats love kitchens, in particular, finding food hidden away in the cupboard. In some cases, pests can cause irreparable damage to kitchen areas, gnawing holes in the walls.
Wanting Something New
While there are plenty of reasons to renovate, sometimes, a change is simply desired. You don’t need an excuse for wanting to renovate. Your home should make you happy and comfortable, and if it isn’t doing so, a change is fully warranted.
Creating a Mood Board
Mood boards are great ways to get an idea of how you would like to renovate your kitchen. We would recommend cutting images out from magazines and creating a collage of styles you like in particular. Learn about some types of things you should add to your mood board in this section.
Colour Swatches
Unsure what colours will go together in your new kitchen? Taking colour swatches is a great way to see if the shades you like will blend well together, and to find the perfect statement colour for your kitchen. Doing so early on can also help you find complementary decorations, such as furniture.
Potential Ideas
To get ideas for your new kitchen, consider doing research through magazines. Looking at magazines specifically tailored toward home design is a great way to find inspiration for your new kitchen, as well as helping you get to grips with modern kitchen trends. Working with a small space, for example, can be daunting, yet magazines should provide you with plenty of ideas on how to transform your kitchen design.
Sample Materials
The physical feeling of a material is often undervalued when designing, leading to surfaces that feel unpleasant. By sampling different materials early on, you can get a sense of what the materials will feel like, helping you decide whether those are the materials you want.
Creating Mock-Ups
Grand ideas for your kitchen design can be difficult to visualise, so creating a mock-up is a brilliant way to help realise your dream in action. In this section, we will cover some ways you can create a mock kitchen, as well as how these will benefit you particularly.
Sketching
While not for everyone, sketching is a great way to get the feel of something before it is built. You can fully get a sense of what it is you would like to get from your new kitchen, whether it’s multiple ovens or statement cupboard handles. Your sketches can be helpful when speaking to a professional too, displaying clearly what it is you’d like to achieve in your new room.
Online Models
One great way to visualise your new kitchen is to research or create an online mock-up. Online mock-ups will show you what your kitchen can look like in action, with the dimensions fully displayed. This is a great way to know if you’re truly happy with your new kitchen design before work fully begins, as well as realistically giving you an idea of what can be achieved in your space.
In-Person Taping
Sometimes, it’s best to see the dimension in action. We would recommend sectioning your room with brightly coloured tape, allowing you to get a sense of what your new kitchen will feel like. Leaving it down on the floor is a great way to get used to your new kitchen too, particularly if there will be large changes to its overall appearance. Islands, in particular, are additions to kitchens, however, they can take some getting used to!
Miniature Models
If you’re really looking to go that extra step, consider creating a miniature model of your kitchen. This will help you understand the functional aspects of your design ideas. Changes in lighting, for example, can make a huge difference to any room and are sometimes not noticeable before the installation occurs. Lighting is incredibly important to how a room feels, so try crafting a miniature version of your new kitchen design to ensure it fully works for you.
Showroom Visits
Before arranging a kitchen installation, it can be beneficial to explore a kitchen showroom. Seeing designs in person is a great way to get a full understanding of what your potential kitchen might look like. Read on to find out the benefits of arranging a showroom visit.
Understanding Your Budget
Often, it can be difficult to understand how much a renovation will realistically cost. Viewing a kitchen showroom, however, should give you a sense of how much you are likely to need to spend to achieve your dream kitchen. Make sure to note down the prices of your favourite items, helping you stay closer to your budget.
Walking Around
Seeing kitchen installations in person is a fantastic way to get a sense of the dimensions in person. Figures and numbers can be difficult to visualise without seeing them in person, so looking at the different designs around a kitchen showroom will give you an idea of how your space is likely to be used.
Getting Advice
Professionals who work in kitchen showrooms should happily provide you with advice, helping you understand more about what you might need. Try asking them for their favourite products and brands, giving you further insight into what the professionals are choosing for their own homes.
Our Services
Looking for a high-quality
kitchen installation company in or around London? At Bells The Dulwich Kitchen and Bathroom Company, we can help you find the right kitchen for you. For over 95 years, we have been providing our expertise to local customers, providing designer kitchen installations. So, whether you’re specifically looking for the perfect
appliance or looking to remodel entirely, our experts are happy to help.
If you’d like to see our range of products in person, please visit
our showroom, based in Dulwich, South London. Across two floors, you can see our example kitchens, as well as our
bathroom displays. If you can’t get to us in person just yet, don’t fret! Visit our
online gallery to get an idea of work.
Get In Touch
Visit our website to find out more
about us at Bells The Dulwich Kitchen and Bathroom Company. Alternatively, for quotes and further support,
get in touch with our team directly.
