IF YOU DO ONE THING…
Top kitchen designers on their ultimate renovation rule
1
‘Suppliers that build your kitchen to order can respond better to individual requests if you have a specific look that you’d like to achieve. If your house is from a particular period, ask your designer to show you styles that might suit it best, as many kitchen companies now offer a selection of different ranges that will work in older properties.’ Melissa Klink, creative director at Harvey Jones
( harveyjones.com).
2
‘Give your designer a sense of your home life. We all have habits that can be hard to break, but a new layout that functions better can encourage you to improve the way you use it. I always advise clients to consider flooring in the early stages, as it will influence materials and colours in the rest of the space.’ Allison Lynch, senior design consultant at Roundhouse
( roundhousedesign.com)
3
‘I always love it when clients arrive at my studio armed with a moodboard. Collecting your thoughts, ideas and inspirations in one place is a fantastic starting point for planning a kitchen, and it’s a great resource to refer back to throughout the design process. A good designer will be honest with you and tell you when something won’t work.’ Charlie Smallbone, founder of Smallbone and Ledbury Studio
( smallbone.co.uk; ledburystudio.com)
4
‘It’s important to get to grips with lead times. If you opt for bespoke cabinetry, ensure you factor manufacturing time into your project. If you’re working with a kitchen provider or a designer, make sure to understand how long the design process will take, as this will need to be factored in. Appliances can depend on the availability of tradespeople. Look at all these aspects together, so you aren’t left storing items or waiting for your fitter.’ Katy Thompson, senior designer at Naked Kitchens
( nakedkitchens.com)
5
‘Thinking differently pays off. I like to start by considering eye contact, exploring how to make the kitchen a friendly place by ensuring core activities can be done facing into the room, whether that’s cooking, food preparation, making a cup of tea or using a laptop. Think about how visitors can be made welcome with somewhere to perch. The kitchen should be a fun place to spend time.’ Johnny Grey, founder of Johnny Grey Studios ( johnnygrey.com)