How to create a Future-Proof Kitchen

Ensure your kitchen lasts a lifetime with our top tips and expert advice. The kitchen is the focal point of the home, where we use our creative skills to cook and our sensory skills to enjoy the end result. It’s a place for taking time out, meeting up with friends and exchanging thoughts with the family. It is little wonder then that we spend so much money on getting the design and interior right.

With this in mind there is no doubt that a newly fitted kitchen is a big investment, so it is vital to get it spot on the first time round. And, if you are planning to stay in your home for many years to come, you need to ensure that your new kitchen will stand the test of time and not be dated in a matter of months or years. With so many factors to consider, it can be difficult to know where to begin, so here at Essex Property Maintenance we have compiled a handy quick guide to give you a head start.

Blow the budget?

It is very easy to get carried away with the idea of creating your dream kitchen, so it vital spending time working out what you can realistically afford to spend. Apportioning budget between all the elements including furniture, appliances, worktops, flooring and lighting for example, is an important process.
If you are lucky enough to be able to open up the kitchen area by removing a wall to create more space, or even adding an extension, you are able to redefine the entire room and take full control, starting from scratch. If this is not an option, splashing out in some areas may mean you need to compromise on others so bear this in mind when deciding on what should be in your kitchen and the quality of certain elements.

Future Plans
It can be difficult to think too far into the future, but it is important to consider how your lifestyle may change in the next few years.
Will you be starting a family and having children? Have your children grown up and left home? Or will you be retiring and having more time on your hands to entertain? Could you be taking in an elderly relative or lodger who will be using the kitchen too?
All of these factors need to addressed and thought through thoroughly before your new kitchen is designed and installed. Forward thinking will ensure you make right the decisions and choose things that will last.

It’s a Material World
What trends should you aim for in your new kitchen?

The best advice is to try not to be influenced too much by current kitchen trends as these tend to come and go and become dated quite easily.
When it comes to cabinetry, you should buy the best cabinets and units you can afford as they will be well used and need to last as long as possible. The same applies for things such as work surfaces and flooring, and materials such as real wood, granite and stone may cost more initially, but they will last and are a much better option than the false economy of buying cheap materials and having to replace them much more often.

Choosing a kitchen style which reflects your personal taste is a great decision but you need to opt for a kitchen that is also simple, functional and up to date with technology. The endless advances in technology in recent years has meant that the kitchen has moved into the twenty-first century with a bang; soft close options for cabinets add luxury, roll out bases on cabinets make everything more accessible while new cooking options such as grills, woks and griddles help to accommodate a wide variety of cooking styles.

Storage solutions
Considered and accessible storage is crucial to an ergonomic design. It is important to create a well organised space that is not only a pleasure to use but also assists our lifestyles. The best advice is to take a walk around your current kitchen and think about what works and what doesn’t in regards to storage.

The aim is to create a better flow in the kitchen area so think about having the plates near the dishwasher for easy unloading, baking trays and casserole dishes close to the oven for cooking and condiments beside the hob with instant seasoning. These choices will pay off once you are using your kitchen everyday so don’t forget these essential factors when designing your new kitchen.

Flooring
The priority when deciding on kitchen flooring is that it looks good, is easy to maintain and will withstand people walking over it and all kinds of spills. Choose wisely and opt for investment flooring options where you can; stone tiles, luxury rigid vinyl or solid hardwood flooring, can literally last a lifetime and can outlive the kitchen cabinetry so take your time and think about the most suitable for your home.

A combination of materials will add texture as well as show off your kitchen design and a tendency towards the plain and simple always works well. A combination of natural stone for its earthiness and natural wood for its warmth and tactility means that tone and texture work in harmony to produce a beautiful yet workable space.

Lighting
It is often a factor which is overlooked in kitchen design but if you get the lighting correct, you will instantly benefit from a brighter, more efficient space that’s a pleasure to work in. Kitchen lighting needs to be considered in several stages as different types offer various options. For example, task lighting may include under cupboard lights, helping to ensure that work surfaces are well lit. Accent lighting may involve up-lighters on top of wall cabinets, while focal point lights can include a dramatic chandelier over the dining area, or perhaps a symmetrical row of industrial-style bulbs or aluminium shades above the breakfast bar, if you have one.
With all of these factors in mind, it is essential to consider your lifestyle and the way you really live, focus not only on function but aesthetics too and work hard to establish your budget. Once these elements have been covered, call Essex Property Maintenance on 07411 118936 or 01702 340197 for more details on how we can help you achieve your dream kitchen today.