At Evis Build, we undertake all manner of kitchen installations in Surrey, Kent and London, refurbishments and renovations. We know that a well fitted kitchen is important, so our kitchen fitters in Surrey, Kent and London never settle for anything but perfection and make sure that your kitchen is fitted to exactly the specification you require.
Key points to consider about kitchen installations – Surrey, Kent or London
Although we can help plan and design your proposed kitchen in Surrey, Kent or London to be an efficient space for you and your family, there are a couple of points we think you should first consider before you give us a call.
Layout
Don’t feel that you must keep the layout of your existing kitchen. Old layouts can often be improved upon to better suit your needs. Appliances can be moved onto other walls and doors can be moved to extend counters and increase the number of cupboards.
You should think about the ‘working triangle’ concept which positions the cooking area, refrigeration and sink to form a triangle to create optimal working space. You can extended this further to also include a food preparation space.
When deciding upon the layout of your new kitchen installation in Surrey, Kent or London, consider the following basic layouts which most kitchens tend to utilise:
- Linear kitchens are installed in a line against one wall. These are suitable for very compact rooms, yet still allow for a good amount of work surface and storage space if planned efficiently. Consider installing some floor to ceiling wall units to further help maximise your available storage space.
- Galley kitchen are installed on two parallel walls to form a ‘galley’ along the middle. These kitchens can suffer from a lack of storage as there is often limited space for both wall and base units. Again, you should consider installing some floor to ceiling wall units.
- L-shaped kitchen often provide plenty of wall and base storage, with space for a large cooking area. It is also common to have a large corner unit and sometimes an island unit in such designs, which further maximises on the available space. These tend to be the most common kitchen layouts and provide the best value for money.
- U-shaped kitchens offer a large amount of workspace and storage space. However, if too many wall units are used, it can feel quite enclosed. If you have this layout in mind, consider using wicker baskets and open wall units to make the storage become more of an open feature.
Style
Next, you should decide upon the style of kitchen you would like us to fit. There are hundreds of styles, with each manufacturer having their own subcategories. However, in general you have a choice between a modern or traditional style. You could also take elements out of both styles and mix modern handles with traditional cupboards, for example, to create your own stunning and personal design. Whichever style you opt for, try to make it in keeping with the remainder of your home. For example, if you have a ‘country’ or ‘craftsman’ home, you would be wise to select a kitchen with a traditional style.
Counter tops
It is important to consider the type of surface material for your counter top. It needs to be practical and keep looking good after a few years. If you are on a budget, a popular option is to choose inexpensive cabinets and combine them with an expensive counter top. The most common counter top materials are as follows:
- Natural stone counters such as granite and marble resist all forms of scratching and scorching from hot pans. Of the two, granite is the tougher material while marble is softer. Both stones do need to be sealed periodically to keep them protected from staining.
- Engineered stone counters such as quartz is more uniform in appearance to natural stone and is resistance to heat, abrasion and staining. It does not need any sealing. However, natural stone cannot withstand impacts.
- Wood or butcher block counters are made from hardwoods such as maple, red oak and teak. Although these counter tops scratch, burn and stain easily, they can be sanded and resealed periodically. Wood counters are not recommended around sinks and dishwashers as they are sensitive to humidity fluctuations.
- Laminate counters are popular due to their relative inexpensiveness and the large number of colours that are available. However, they can swell from moisture if the top laminate layer is damaged and their edges can chip over time.
- Concrete counters can be purchased in any colour and include stone chips with varying qualities. Concrete does need to be sealed to resist chipping and staining, but the sealers are prone to damage from heat so care must be taken. Despite this downside, concrete work tops are rather expensive.
- Stainless steel counters are ideal if you are looking for an industrial look for your kitchen. Stainless steel is resistant to heat and durable, however it can dent and scratch easily.
Floor finish
When deciding upon your floor finish, you generally have the following options:
- Tiles can be laid which compliment or contrast those on the walls.
- Vinyl flooring is inexpensive, durable and is available in an array of designs. Vinyl flooring can be purchased in sheets, tiles and even planks which mimic hardwood flooring.
- Engineered wood comprises several layers of wood stuck together under extremely high pressure. The top layer is always made from hardwood to provide a ‘real’ wood finish, whilst the remaining layers provide strength and durability which make the floor suitable for kitchen environments where spillages are likely.
Appliances
When choosing your appliances, that is your oven, hob, exractor, refrigerator, dishwasher and sink, you have a choice between freestanding and integrated. The choice is often governed by your budget as integrated appliances are usually more expensive. However, they do create much sleeker and minimalist looking kitchens.
Services
You should consider the location of any new sockets based on where you will be locating your kettle, toaster, blender, espresso machine, and so on. They will all need power and you will not want their wires draped across your counter top to reach a socket further along.
Lighting
Lighting, like in any room is an often overlooked but crucial element to consider. In a kitchen, ceiling spotlights and under-cupboard lighting are usually the most common form of installation. You may also want to consider installing feature lighting around the plinth of the floor cupboards to illuminate the floor at night when you are only walking through your kitchen or have come down for a glass of water.