The kitchen is one of the most customisable features of the home, making it an excellent starting point for your home renovations. When designing a bespoke kitchen, every element of the room can be completely tailored to your style and requirements, making it exceptionally easy to create a stunning and functional space. Not only can you create a bespoke kitchen with our specialist designers, but you can also choose to include state-of-the-art and leading products, including brands such as Neff, Bosch and Quooker. To help you begin the process of designing your kitchen, we have created a comprehensive kitchen renovation guide, so you know exactly what to expect when working with the Build My Kitchen team.
A Comprehensive Kitchen Renovation Guide
When it comes to renovating your kitchen, your first thought is the way that it looks, which is the perfect starting point. Whether you know that you have a contemporary style, for example, or have a mood board with an array of colour options, our team can help you to find products that piece together a design that suits you, going off as little or as many ideas that you have in mind. With collections such as the 1909 range, you can take full advantage of stylish designs using durable and quality materials to ensure that your kitchen withstands the test of time.
As there is a lot for you to think about when designing your kitchen, we thought it would be best to create a guide that can help you to find the perfect inspiration, and gather ideas for your new kitchen. Here is everything you need to start planning your kitchen renovation:
Understand Your Needs
The first step to creating a design is to understand what you actually need in and from your kitchen. For example, if you find that storage is an issue, then the team can provide you with a selection of exceptional storage solutions that can fit in every kitchen size and layout. By understanding what your needs are, the team can help you to find products that offer the perfect stylish and luxury solution. The best way to understand these needs is to think about why you have decided to have a kitchen renovation, as this can help you to create a design that resolves these issues. If your kitchen is outdated, then you’re in luck; with an extensive array of leading brands and products, you can easily put your own stamp on your new kitchen design.
Making a list of things that you wish to change can help the team when designing your kitchen, ensuring that every box has been ticked and nothing is left out. Some things to consider adding to your list include the following:
- Lack of storage
- Not enough worktop space
- Outdated appliances
- Poor quality products and furnishings
- Dislike the design
- Wish to modernise
- No seating areas for the family
- Not a sociable area
Gather Design Ideas
If you haven’t already, then taking a look at some other design ideas can help you to gather a better idea of what you are looking for. While you may not want the exact same kitchen, it can help you to understand what colours you like, design styles and more. With our wide selection of products to choose from, replicating aspects of the kitchen you love couldn’t be easier, and the team are always excited to try something completely different, whether it’s through vibrant colour or adding an eye-catching feature. Some of our favourite design ideas include the following:
- Same colour, different tone – creating a kitchen in the same colour, but changing the tone of the colour throughout the kitchen creates a stunning effect. For example, using grey across the kitchen but incorporating both dark and light grey on units, worktops and splashbacks.
- Multiple textures – much like changing the tone of the kitchen, by using multiple textures it can help to create a coherent look whereby the whole kitchen becomes the centrepiece rather than having a focal point. For example, use stone on the worktops, such as marble, and then both matte and gloss finishes on other features.
- Tiled backsplash – tiles are a great way to add some definition into your kitchen, and they don’t just have to be used on the floor. For example, using tiles on the splashback helps to create a stunning modern or traditional kitchen. A trend that is extremely popular at the moment is having white tiles and black grout, matching this with black taps and additional kitchen features and appliances.
- Kitchen island – you have likely seen it before, and it is a breathtaking feature to add into your kitchen. A kitchen island can enhance your kitchen and is perfect for those with additional floor space to incorporate further storage. You can find a host of kitchen island ideas over on Country Living.
- Glossy cabinets – a contemporary style that many of our clients love is to have glossy, handless cabinets that look seamless in a crisp white, grey or darker toned kitchen.
You can find further inspiration on sites such as House Beautiful and Good Housekeeping, and be sure to head over to our recent projects for some ideas.
Consult Our Designers
Regardless of if you have a design in mind or have no idea what you are looking for, our team can help you to create a stunning design based around your requirements and style preferences. If you are unsure what you are looking for, then all you will need to do is inform our designers of the style that you prefer, whether that is contemporary, modern, traditional or eclectic. From here, we are able to create a design using our wide collection of kitchens and products, incorporating aspects such as storage into the design to ensure that your kitchen looks elegant while also providing you with ample functionality. You can adjust and add features as you go until the design epitomises your style and incorporates appliances to elevate your experience. Feel free to contact our team about our kitchens in Milton Keynes, or book an appointment to visit our kitchen showroom in Milton Keynes to help inspire your design.
Piece Together Your Design
As mentioned previously, there is a lot that goes into your kitchen design, including aspects that will not be visible but are extremely beneficial. These will be incorporated into the design of your kitchen when speaking to our team. As all bespoke kitchens are made to measure, it means that you can exclude or include as many features as you like, including some of the following:
Storage
One of the main reasons, along with outdated design, that many of our clients decide to update their kitchen, is that the current storage facilities no longer function for their needs. This can cause the kitchen to become cluttered and stressful, so ensuring that you include excellent storage solutions into your design is vital. There are an abundance of ways you can achieve this, such as adding more drawers or even drawer organisers into your design. Additional features such as our Le Mans and Carousel internal storage help you to reach every crevice of your kitchen, ensuring that no space is wasted in the corner sections. If you have a smaller kitchen, then storage is of great importance, and in some cases, it can be how your cabinets are organised. Drawer organisers are beneficial for cutlery and other kitchen tools, and we suggest taking a look at Real Homes for further kitchen storage idea.
Worktops
Your worktop can have a significant impact on how the kitchen looks, and it is always important to make sure that you have a good quality and durable worktop. The worktop that you choose can help to make a statement in your kitchen, either contrasting the colours of your cabinets or enhancing them. Stone and Quartz are the most popular materials for worksurfaces, providing you with a reliable and long-lasting solution with exceptional style and luxury. Quartz worktops add a touch of shimmer to the surface so that the worktop glistens and stands out when lights hit the material. Other popular worktop ideas include marble, such as white and black or white and pink. If you choose white and black marble, then a wonderful feature to add is black accessories such as handles and taps, and if you choose the white and pink marble, then gold finishing touches are stunning.
Units
The units are the main aspect of the kitchen that can help to transform it into the style you prefer. For example, contemporary cabinets usually include lighter colours with a hint of vibrancy and glossy finishes. Whereas, modern kitchens tend to include matte textures and dark colours such as purple and navy. When designing this aspect of your kitchen, you can choose from a range of styles with detailed designs or go simplistic with a seamless finish. You can also choose from an extensive array of colour options, making it perfect for adding your own personal touch.
Accessories
Finishing touches can bring your design together, making it essential to find the perfect touches that elevate your design. Everything from the handles on your cabinets to the stunning lights hanging from the ceiling can help enhance your design choices, all of which can be added to your design when working with the team. Much like the units themselves, the handles that you choose can have an impact on the style, and that’s why we supply a range of different door handles, such as the classic 1909 bar handle and the modern touch to a traditional style with the 1909 cup handle.
Appliances
After creating the perfect design, the last thing you want are outdated or poorly functioning appliances that make cooking an even harder experience. Instead, why not consider installing leading products from some of the most renowned brands? Choose built-in microwaves, coffee machines and fridges, as well as vented hobs and much more. Through these appliances, you can improve your cooking experience, making cooking easy and enjoyable for the whole family.
A Kitchen Designed By You
The design of your kitchen can say a lot about your personal style, and it couldn’t be easier to make sure that it represents you and your family, with a personal touch as well as exceptional functionality. If you feel that your kitchen needs a revamp, and you’re not sure where to start or what things can be incorporated into your design, then please feel free to speak with our team. Through years of experience in providing a range of stylish designs, from traditional to contemporary kitchens in Milton Keynes, our team are well equipped with the expertise and products to elevate your kitchen renovation.