At Cloisters, we pride ourselves on creating one off unique spaces that are affordable, sensibly priced and designed to be just right for you. We know that there is an overwhelming amount of choice and styles out there and sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. Read on for our top tips on choosing and planning your perfect kitchen!
No. 1 - Start Early
The first (and probably the most important) tip is to start as soon as you can! Whether you’re extending your home or renovating an existing space, having the time and energy to fully immerse yourself into the process is essential. Kitchens today have an overwhelming number of decisions and choices that need to be made, from the style of the furniture right down to where your cutlery will be stored. Our made to order kitchens add another layer of complexity as the possibilities are endless – but don’t worry, we are here to guide you through the process. We like to see our clients as early as we can so don’t worry if you don’t have planning permission or a builder yet – we are always keen to sit down and start the conversation!
No. 2 - Visit More Than One
We know we aren’t for everyone! Most of our clients will visit more than one kitchen showroom – we highly recommend this! Kitchen companies will have different priorities and ways of working. Most of our clients will sit down with at least two, and sometimes three, different kitchen companies. We think this is important as it helps determine who is best suited for you and your needs. We pride ourselves on creating one off unique spaces that are affordable and sensibly priced.
No. 3 - Discuss Budget
Honesty is the best policy. People are often apprehensive to share budgets. Sometimes, this is because clients don’t know how much things cost – and why would you if this is your first kitchen project or maybe it's been a while. We always make sure we spend some time in our first consultation giving you an idea of how much things cost. We also have a price guide on our website. As designers, it's far too easy to get carried away with the many niceties that you can spend your money on. Both the designer and you certainly don’t want to be wasting each other’s time. So, if you can, give your kitchen company a rough budget.
No. 4 - Prioritise
What is most important to you in your kitchen? Our next tip is to think about how your kitchen is used. Most of us aren’t Michelin Star chefs! Do you like cooking, for instance? It's okay if you don’t! Do you host large parties and require lots of seating? Does your kitchen need to be dog and child friendly? These key questions will help determine where your priorities lie and help allocate your budget across a kitchen's main three areas: furniture, appliances, and worktops. At Cloisters we will always make sure we get these key questions answered.
No. 5 - Design & Style
Time for the fun bit! There is an overwhelming amount of choice and styles out there these days and sometimes it’s hard to know where to start. The first thing we recommend doing is looking at lots of kitchen images to start determining what you do and don’t like. Sometimes it’s easier to start with things you don’t like! Our inspiration page on our website has a huge selection of projects you can study too – we ask clients to look through these and tell us their likes and dislikes. Our Instagram is also a great place to look. The determining factor for choosing your style should be your house! If you live in a barn conversion or in a country setting, then there’s the answer you need - a country kitchen. Alternatively, you may live in a sleek and modern new build – perhaps a handle less kitchen will suit you best.
If you are interested in planning a new kitchen, please do not hesitate to contact us at Cloisters Design. We currently cover Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas, we look forward to hearing from you.