When moving house or renovating an old home, everyone is faced with the installation of a kitchen. Depending on the size of the kitchen, everyone needs kitchen furniture. Often people get lost and don't realise how many cabinets they will need, so planning is one of the most important things. There are a number of things to think about before ordering furniture. Here are some key questions to help you decide what kind of kitchen you need:
- What is the size of your family and are there any changes in the near future?
- Are there young children in the family?
- How often will you cook in the kitchen?
- Are there several people cooking at the same time in the kitchen?
- How do you want to organise the cooking area?
- What is the height of the people cooking in the kitchen?
- Do you eat in the kitchen often?
- How many people will eat at the kitchen table at the same time?
- What do you do in the kitchen besides cooking (entertaining guests, watching TV, doing laundry, resting, ironing, feeding pets)?
- Is it possible to increase the kitchen space in your home?
- Do I need additional lighting in my kitchen?
- What appliances are you planning to buy and will all the planned appliances be integrated into the furniture?
- What additional appliances do you have or plan to buy for your kitchen?
- How much food do you plan to store in your kitchen cupboards?
- Where are the communications in the kitchen room (electrical outlets, water supply, sewerage, vents)?
- At what height are the windowsills?
- Do you have any non-standard corners, niches, columns in your kitchen and how do you want to use them?
- Which kitchen style do you prefer (classic or modern)?
- What colour do you want for your kitchen furniture?
Although there are a lot of questions, this is one of the most important things you can do to get the right kitchen for your needs. Some of the most difficult questions are about the number of cupboards and the items used for cooking. If you want to fit everything in and feel comfortable, you need to think more about your existing or future electrical appliances, utensils, pots and pans, etc.
Location of items in the kitchen
So, we've discussed that one of the most difficult questions is how to arrange the items you use in the kitchen. Without thinking about cooking utensils, appliances, you can get the amount of cupboards wrong.
We all have to deal with endless things in the kitchen. These include cutlery, crockery, cooking and preparation tools, electrical appliances, and many other miscellaneous items that are needed for cooking. It is very important to consider everyday needs and convenience. Imagine how unpleasant it would be to have to fumble on the floor every day for a fork or other utensils in the bottom drawer of the cupboard, or to have to stack the washed dishes in the drying rack in the farthest corner of the kitchen, each of which would eventually start to cause discomfort.
It's probably common for cutlery to be placed in the top drawers of built-in cupboards, and for dish racks to be placed above the sink or near the dishwasher. And less frequently used items are perfect for somewhere downstairs, in harder-to-reach places. Of course, this is where the individuality of planning comes into play. For example, one family might keep the juicer away because they juice once or twice a month, while another enjoys a fresh drink every morning.
By the way, when thinking about the best place for an item, it's worth considering which items you won't need for quite some time. Then you wonder whether you'll need them later or whether they'll remain covered in a layer of dust. Perhaps sometimes it's wiser to get rid of the Soviet-era stereotype of hoarding everything. And if you do have something you need, but only rarely, another room (a storage room, etc.) is a good option.
Open shelves
Open shelving is a big focus of kitchen furniture. On the one hand, it's an association with beauty, but on the other hand, openness is not always practical. Why? Because open shelving can become a magnet for dust and grease. And that makes you think about the increased time it takes to tidy up. However, it's a relatively good idea to store everyday items on such shelves. However, open shelving should be avoided to avoid lengthy tidying up and the accumulation of open dust.
Another space is between the built-in and hanging cabinets. This is the perfect place for spices, spatulas or paper towels. The structure is simple: a tube with all sorts of holders and hangers. In fact, this solution is both very practical and aesthetically pleasing, as everything you need is within easy reach, and this way of arranging the tools complements the kitchen design.
Built-in cabinets - space for heavier and larger items: grating machines, pots, cans, or larger foodstuffs (cereals, flour, pasta, etc.). Hanging cabinets usually hold lighter items, tools, glasses, cups, plates or spices. So, to organise your kitchen utensils conveniently, plan how much kitchen furniture (cupboards, drawers) you will need based on the items you use in the kitchen.
Vitmedis Komanda - Furniture Manufacturing Experts
There's an art to designing the right cabinets and the kitchen space in general. And we can help you create that art, Vitmedis team. She is happy to adapt to the whims of each host, advise and suggest the best solutions for your kitchen.