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Original poster

Help with getting started on a kitchen redesign

20 replies

Catsnotrats · 31/12/2013 10:06

I feel a bit stupid for asking this as I've actually completely redone 2 kitchens in previous properties but I'm feeling completely stumped with my new house!

We're going to combine two rooms into one (the original kitchen at the back of a Victorian terrace which is now a sort of dining room and a small extension on the back which is the current kitchen) but the layout of the room is making it very tricky for me to think about how the actual kitchen will look. There's a bay window on the side, a chimney breast, a double doorway for the hallway and cellar + I want to move the back door from the side to the back (possibly with folding/patio doors but I'm also thinking glass door and window to give more space for cabinets). Also the room is 11ft wide which is too wide for a galley style, but there isn't an obvious place for an L shape either. The whole thing is just driving me mental!

In terms of type of kitchen I was thinking of going down the route of buying ikea cabinet carcasses and then getting a carpenter to make fronts for them, but I'm also open to other mid-range options.

Basically I'm asking for help as to where to start with the planning and designing. Who can I get to help me design a decent space? How am I going to decide what kitchen company/range to use? If I go down the carpenter route, what's the best way of finding someone decent? Any help very much gratefully received!

OP posts:

BobPatSamandIgglePiggle · 31/12/2013 10:17

Do you have a 'Wren' nearby? We popped into one yesterday at a retail park and was really impressed. Fabulous selection, lots of designers. All the different bits sectioned - so a whole area for handles, one for all the amazing drawers that pull put with shelving attached etc.

Their units come built up, not flat packed. The Linda barker range is fab - gloss navy doors, amazing!

Original poster

Catsnotrats · 31/12/2013 10:41

It is an option, but tbh I want the kitchen designed by someone who is actually a designer rather than a salesperson. I've done it myself in the past but I really need help with this one. Plus the reviews about wren online are not complementary.

OP posts:

kmdesign · 31/12/2013 14:28

I am sorry but Wren quality is absolutely awful. A Wren has opened recently in our town and I went to have a look yesterday. Quite frankly, I haven't seen anything quite as bad as Wren. Its just shocking that anyone would build and sell something that bad.

I would recommend that you seek some independent kitchen studios in your area (seek recommendations) and find out what you like. Find kitchen designers you think you can work with and then work with them to get your kitchen designed.

toomuchtooyoung · 31/12/2013 14:32

can't you just go to a diy shed and get them to put together a plan. you don't have to buy from them, just use it as a first draft

redshoespurplehat · 31/12/2013 18:13

sounds like you need to chat with someone who's an independent designer ( ie makes a living by designing NOT sales)

why don't you PM OnePlanOnHouzz

kmdesign · 01/01/2014 12:58

A DIY shed is going to offer you a free 'design' with a real eye on a sale that is as profitable as possible for them. The 'designer' is on a commission linked to profit and your interests comes in quite low on the agenda. DIY sheds are after volume and not about design, value for money or service.

An independent may not charge for the design service but will (usually) have access to a better product range and will work to make the best possible use of your budget and space. They care about the sale but they will usually care about doing a good job and building a good reputation.

DontCallMeDaughter · 01/01/2014 13:03

IKEA have a pretty good online kitchen design tool which let's you play around with the room and the layout, it's quite useful just to get an idea of what the space could look like.

You can pay an architect to design it for you. We recently got quoted £400+vat for a kitchen design (in London) so it's not cheap.

We've not decided what to do about it yet because, like you, we don't want it designed by a sales person. It's an awkward space and I want to make sure it's done properly.

Watching with interest!!

toomuchtooyoung · 01/01/2014 14:49

aye, a free 'design' which might possibly spark an idea in your head and you can do it yourself.

or pay for a design service. seems daft asking for advise if all you really want/need is a designer

Original poster

Catsnotrats · 01/01/2014 15:36

Thanks for the helpful thoughts. I think writing it down and having a bit of feedback has helped clarify that what I want is an independent designer/architect rather than an off the shelf sales-pitch job. We are also going to probably need building regs to take down the wall and move the back door so an architect or technician is probably a good idea.

Anyone got any recommendations for people who work in East London/Essex/Kent borders?

OP posts:

annalouiseh · 01/01/2014 18:15

You should the architect and kitchen design different.
Kitchen design will all depend on the supplier they have in mind, or yourself.
Each and every range comes with different little additions (finishing touches) that are not offered in every kitchen range.
The chances of the architect knowing these will be slim unless they work close with someone they have in mind for your project

annalouiseh · 01/01/2014 18:15

you should keep..even

MmeLindor · 01/01/2014 23:25

We have a friend who is a kitchen designer and he came up with a basic plan - which we could change slightly depending on which manufacturer we chose.

We then picked the kitchen and he was able to redesign the kitchen according to the units available. For odd shaped kitchen I'd suggest going for a company who will build bespoke, or look at German kitchens. They tend to have a larger range of units.

dontcallmemam · 02/01/2014 06:31

Did you contact Oneplan? She's often on here or has a page on houzz. Definitely worth a look, she's really helped me in the past.

MoonlightandRoses · 02/01/2014 21:35

I'd second dont in relation to contacting OnePlan - she was very helpful and had some really good suggestions on resolving our kitchen's slightly challenging layout (we have a 21'x10' space with 'interesting' window placement that we couldn't change) last year.

OnePlanOnHouzz · 07/01/2014 09:41

Hi ! Thanks Redshoespurplehat thanks Dontcallmemam and thanks Moonlightandroses for the mentions !
I've not been on here much lately ! So sorry for slow response !
Designing on an ikea carcase will be a good start - as most companies also do the same width sizes for cost comparisons .... There's also companies out there who will make bespoke doors to fit onto ikea carcasses too ! So you can still end up with something unique looking !
You can have a go yourself, using the ikea design tool. But it needs to be safe - and there are loads of guidelines and do's and dont's and of course that's a lot to take onboard ! PM me if it's too daunting, or if you'd like me to cast an eye over it, to safely check it ! :-)

Lioninthesun · 07/01/2014 09:50

Yes I'd second that architects aren't the right people to design your kitchen (mine forgot we needed a boiler and didn't leave space for a cupboard until I reminded him!). You can find all sorts of free room planners on line. I think I would go to Homebase or similar to start and get a free plan drawn up 'off the peg' and then you at least have a basis and it should give you ideas on what you do and don't want. You have no obligation to go with them but they will do all of the groundwork to give you an idea of how best to use the space. I'd then come back and look on line for bespoke pieces, perhaps Jali.co.uk for any odd corner cupboards and try to do something a bit more to your personal style. I would recommend the kitchen company I am using, as they are cheap and all handmade but they don't even do a basic plan, so until you are at that stage they can't really help!

OnePlanOnHouzz · 07/01/2014 10:08

Lion in the sun - can you maybe PM me their details ?! I might be able to help them with the design side of the business ?! I freelance for studios as well as individual clients ! Be a shame for them to miss business opportunities just because they don't design ?!

Lioninthesun · 07/01/2014 10:21

I think the reason they are so much cheaper is because they don't do that side of the service, but yes, I will PM you. I can't really see how it can cost £6k to provide a planning service (which is roughly what I am saving!) :)

OnePlanOnHouzz · 07/01/2014 10:34

Good on you for shopping around ! I must admit I often see savings like this - it's the best part of doing what I do ! Helps people save heaps !

toastedteacake · 07/01/2014 10:41

When thinking about and planning our new kitchen I bought this book.

Kitchen Design with Cooking in Mind

Yes, it is American and yes, some things in it just aren't applicable here but it was an interesting and inspiring read.
It also gave us the confidence to take down a wall and restructure in order to get what we needed/ wanted, rather than just working with what we had and ending up with a compromise that didn't work for us.

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