Kitchens and architects

[Dancergirl]

We had a new kitchen put in 2 years ago and at the time we spent a lot of time making sure the layout etc was right.

2 years on and while I'm generally pleased with it, I think we made a mistake putting the tall units (fridge, larder and broom cupboard) under the new sky lights as we've lost light. Unfortunately we've lost some light anyway as we had to have a steel beam put in so there is a beam on the ceiling quite near the sky-lights which cuts out light, but there was nothing we could have done about that.

I've had this idea about possibly moving some of the units around but the thing is, from a practial point of view, the layout is perfect - everything is in easy reach, the fridge and larder are near where I cook and it all works well. If we moved them, it wouldn't be as convenient but we might get some more natural light in.

Dh thinks we should leave it, his theory is you have to compromise on something. He thinks maybe we should investigate the possibility of putting in another window or skylight etc but this is an architect's job.

So I have 2 questions - would you move the kitchen units around or not? And how do you go about finding an architect? I've had a quick look online but most seem to be involved in big jobs and increasing the light in the kitchen is quite a small job.

A builder might be able to sort out a skylight (although it might be wise to check with building regulations at the council)

Putting in a Velux window in an ordinary roof isn't a very big job, a builder could do that. Unless it faces the front of the property/conservation area or some issue like that. Or how about a sunpipe?

Moving the layout could be a bigger job because it might affect worktops, tiling, plumbing, although there would probably be more than one layout that works just as well.

What's a sunpipe?

like this

That sunpipe looks fantastic - thanks for the link.

Unfortunately I phoned the company yesterday and apparently they are meant more for upstairs rooms rather than downstairs. I was getting all excited about it too! He didn't think it would work for a downstairs kitchen.

There's no room to put in another sky-light as the extension is narrow with a steeply-pitched roof that already have sky-lights.

I think I really need an architect's opinion on if there is any way of increasing the natural light in the room.