CLOSER LOOK GETTING YOUR KITCHEN DINER EXTENSION RIGHT
Think about the primary aim for the room. If you’re going to be hosting a lot of dinner parties, you may want to arrange your scheme around an island or a peninsula in the culinary zone, so people can pull up a stool and socialise while you’re cooking.
Frame views. If you can, try to plan the glazing arrangement to make the most of any pleasant vistas, such as outlooks over the garden or scenic countryside.
Consider the magic triangle. This is a term often used in kitchen design to define the arrangement of the hob, the sink and the fridge. If your kitchen comprises just one long run, you’ll find yourself travelling up and down the room needlessly. An L-shaped or U-shaped set up, or having an island unit, is a better solution. Get the illumination right. Natural light flooding into a space always lifts a room, so consider installing sliding glass doors to maximise daylight. Equally, or if this isn’t possible, rooflights can also help bring in more sun.
Work out your budget. New kitchen cabinets and fittings can vary from a few thousand to hundreds of thousands of pounds – so be realistic about what works for you. If you consider yourself a more professional cook, then opting for top of the range may be a worthier spend than if you prefer to eat out frequently.
Drill down into the practical details. Sometimes with open-plan set ups, people can worry about lingering kitchen smells. Make sure that you have a proper extraction system installed to keep the space fresh.