You know it’s time for a new kitchen; perhaps you are renovating a house, building a new home, or it’s simply time to replace your old, worn-out kitchen with something of quality that is going to last. This time you want something that suits you perfectly and respects the planet, so that every time you walk in, it makes you smile and reminds you of what you value in life. So how do you start visioning it?

Whether you choose to work with us or not, we’d love to help.

So we’ve put together this list of things to consider before you dive into actually designing your kitchen, that we think will make a big difference.

As ever, our focus is on sustainability, functionality and aesthetics (put simply, good design).

1. INTENTION SETTING

We always start by exploring the ‘Intention’ for this important new space.   What difference do you want this kitchen to make to your life and how do you want it to make you feel?  Your perfect design starts from knowing how you want to use your kitchen. Think about your passions, favourite habits and lifestyle. 

• Is your kitchen about your love of food and cooking?

• Conjuring delicacies from your foraging or garden’s harvest?

• Or is the kitchen’s focus on making friends comfortable and relaxed? Creating good memories and nurturing your relationships?

• Perhaps it's a cosy, comfortable space to grow your family, around good food and supportive conversations?

• A space to work in that gives you confidence, nourishment and inspiration?

• Or is it a serene, sun-filled oasis to relax in with your morning coffee?

This may feel an explicitly emotive place to start, but given how much you will interact with this space, compared with any other part of the house, and considering the resources you are investing - thought, time and money - you will be keen to get the foundations of your Vision, fully expressed and rock solid. Not least so you can communicate this to your designer, and establish it as a touchstone in your brief. 

If you only have two things in mind when you meet your designer for the first time, having a clear Intention and knowing your Budget will help ensure the perfect start to your sustainable kitchen project.  

2. BUDGET 

Some of our clients recognise a responsibility to invest their savings ethically and in line with their hopes for a sustainable future. They view the commissioning of a kitchen in the very same way. A sustainable, bespoke kitchen fulfils their immediate dreams but invests in the future; both as an asset that will last for generations and a commitment to respect the Earth, for those yet to be born. They want to walk the talk.

In life, knowing how much money we have to spend informs the decisions we make.  In the context of a kitchen project, a budget enables us to prioritise what we value, and sometimes to rule out certain options.  We recognise that discussions of finances can be sensitive. To that end, we make it clear from the outset that our kitchens typically cost from £30,000, excluding appliances.  

We are lucky and grateful that our clients tend to be transparent and clear about their budget. This helps us to ensure that they get the best result for their investment.

3. FUNCTIONALITY

You may already have clear ideas of how you’d like your kitchen laid out or you may just know there are certain things you need to accommodate and are open to suggestions.  The beauty of the bespoke kitchen is that the cabinetry can be completely tailored to fit those needs. And to fit your preferences too; if you prefer lower worktops or want cabinets against uneven, heritage walls, we’ll take it all in our stride. 

Think about your must-haves.  Are there items that are essential to you - eg a double sink, a boiling water tap, a range cooker or a breakfast island?  Are there favourite items you want to accommodate or even display? 

If you have room, there might be facilities you’d prefer elsewhere, to free up the main kitchen to be more spacious. A ‘back kitchen’ or scullery is great for a freezer and dishwasher, utility rooms and boot/cloak rooms can often double up, or perhaps you need a pantry for family stores or lots of home made produce. 

You want your kitchen to bring joy and satisfaction, so it has to be easy and a pleasure to use.

To achieve a kitchen that’s designed to function superbly, and built to last, here are some points to consider:

• What do I need to accommodate and how frequently do I use those items?

• How important is it to see, reach and clean everything easily?

• How durable are the materials and components?

• Will surfaces mellow and even improve with age?

• Can elements be readily maintained/repaired/replaced?

By giving due thought to all these considerations, you can ensure that your kitchen has a long lasting legacy.

4. AESTHETICS

Perhaps you already know the mood, materials and colours that reflect your ‘intention’ for the kitchen -  how you envision using the space and how you want it to make you feel.  

Some clients collect images of kitchen styles or components that inspire them, while others start with a connection to a particular material, like a local wood or stone.  

Or perhaps there is something already in the house that you love, like an old staircase or panelling that you would like to sensitively reference and evoke in the kitchen. And of course sometimes the architectural period of the home inspires a response in the kitchen design.

5. COMFORT AND HEALTH

We take a holistic view of life, and our aim is to promote health and well-being within both your home and the wider environment.  Products, materials and finishes have varying impacts in the world and on our own health, so choices are important. 

You may be concerned about issues regarding off-gassing, chemical sensitivities, electromagnetic radiation, or ease of access. We have wide and varied practical experience of design, specification, and materials that support good health.

 It's also worth remembering that when commissioning a new kitchen, this can be a perfect time to integrate building work: to re-model your space, improve thermal comfort and energy efficiency or introduce more natural light.

 We’re familiar with and sympathetic to traditional and historic buildings, and work with leading experts in low-energy retrofit, ecological design, and building conservation.

Making notes of your needs, principles and ideas, for your bespoke kitchen and keeping a scrapbook (physical or digital) of inspiring images is a great place to start.   Whatever stage you’re at and whoever you choose to work with, this will enable your designer to assist you in formulating a clear brief - the basis of success for all projects!