Choosing the Right Kitchen

Kitchens are one of the largest home investments. No matter whether you are a regular cook or simply an 'armchair' chef with an appreciation for Nigella, this is the room where you will spend the most amount of time.

To coin a well-used cliché, the kitchen really is the heart of the home. And for good reason. Less formal than the dining room, a relaxed environment for guests, the kitchen is the main living space of the modern home. Isn't it worth investing the time into choosing the right one?

As with all costly purchases, your initial decision concerns budget as this will determine where - and what - you buy.

On the whole, kitchens can be grouped into three main categories. Starting with the least expensive, there is the flat-pack option. Next is rigid construction and the last and highest in the price stakes, is bespoke. As all kitchens (even the flat-pack models) are fitted to your kitchen's dimensions, the price tag will be dictated by your requirements, the quality of materials and construction.

Kitchen Planning

Bespoke designs can incorporate specialist features to suit your lifestyle. This hand-made modern kitchen by Indi in Bangor, Co. Down includes an island unit.

For the most hard-working room in the house, the kitchen's planning is critical to get right, in order to avoid costly mistakes. The shape of the room, the layout and practical considerations (such as storage and usage) all have their part to play.

Often, home owners find that examining the existing layout – and thereby highlighting the drawbacks – is the best way forward. By making a list of all the things that you do not like, you will be sure to create a fully-functioning new arrangement.

Common complaints often include: not enough storage, lack of seating, insufficient power points and bad lighting. Your kitchen designer will be happy to include these features in your new kitchen.

Kitchen shapes

There are four main kitchen shapes: l-shaped, u-shaped, galley, and two-way galley-shaped. No matter which category yours falls into, it will have to function well. Food preparation, cooking and storage must be not too far apart and, generally, there will be a length of worktop between each area. This may sound like common sense, but many home owners overlook these practical considerations for aesthetic reasons. A fantastic American-style larder fridge will look great, but it will only work well if there is enough space to site it close to the food preparation area.

The L-Shaped Kitchen: This is one of the most commonly used shapes for a family kitchen in a mid-sized home. Good storage space can be allocated below and above the worktops. The main zones of preparation, cooking and storage will be conveniently located for ease of use. The 'free' corner floor space remaining can be utilised for a dining area. A circular table provides the best access, especially if space is at a premium.

The U-Shaped Kitchen: Wrapping around the circumference of the room, the u-shaped arrangement works well for a busy household in which the kitchen is made use of on a full-time basis. Cupboards (both upper and lower level) can be fitted throughout. While this provides great storage, it may feel too enclosed. However, with creative planning, this does not have to be the case. Shelving, glass-fronted display and a breakfast bar will all effectively 'break up' the space, giving a bespoke look.

The Galley Kitchen: Typically used in the smaller home, this neat arrangement will be the most compact and the least effective style. Placed in succession, all of the main areas are placed next to each other: fridge follows sink follows oven. As such there will be little storage space and little access for more than one chef at a time. However, for the single person, this shape works adequately, especially if there is a floor-to-ceiling larder or fridge at one end of the room.

The Two-Way Galley Kitchen: Using two walls in the kitchen, this style offers great storage options and is often implemented when there are two points of access into the room. The main areas will be located either in front or behind you, making access easy and quick. The only important consideration to bear in mind is that there is enough floor space between the two galleys.

Shopping Time

Armed with your homework, you are now ready to go shopping. By analysing the essential features to be included and the shape (which dictates layout), you are now ready to match style to budget.

As with all home purchases, there are huge price variations for similar finishes. Solid wood will of course cost more than its laminate counterpart and marble worktops will be more expensive than their plastic look-a-likes. But no matter what the budget, you will be able to create a stylish environment that mirrors both your style preferences and practical considerations.