Evaluating your kitchen needs

The kitchen of your dreams is not meant to suit your best friend, your neighbours or anyone else who does not live with you. Taking advice is key while building a new modular kitchen. However the end result must be of a kitchen that best suits you and your personality. Hiring a professional to asses you with your needs is a must. A professional will have clear opinions and will ask you ample questions to deliver to your needs.

Few questions that need to be answered before you start designing and building a kitchen from scratch includes:     

·        How many people live in your household? What are their ages and do any of them have any special physical needs?

·        Do you have any personal interests that need to be accommodated in the kitchen area such as serious wine storage, laundry, window gardening, etc.?

·        Would you like a cooking space meant for two people at a time and do you have to watch over children while cooking?

·        What is your budget?

·         What's on your must-have list, and what's on your nice-to-have list?

With all these questions answered one can go ahead into the complete design of a kitchen. Have fun thinking things through, take opinions from family members as well, as they may remember significant aspects that you might not recall at the time.

To get the kitchen that really fits and pleases you a few pointers must be considered. Take a note of these suggestions for starters:

·        Be a savvy spender – Ask the hired professional about the kitchen that you can afford as per your pre-determined budget. Your starting wish should be kitchen that doesn’t break the bank. Modular kitchen designs come in a varied range of rates, choose one that best caters to your budget.

·        Nail the essentials down first – if you do not plan to move anywhere in the next few years you must purchase the best products your budget can afford. If you need to choose it is better to spend your money on the top end design services instead of upgraded materials. Once you have made an investment in a design that gets the floor plan and essential elements right, you may always upgrade to luxurious surfacing materials in the future. For example, make sure the kitchen island with outlets is in the right place now. You can change that laminate countertop to a different material later, as you can afford it. It is a much costlier challenge to relocate the island and change the wiring later than it is to merely resurface.

·        Look at how you really live - The best kitchen is a functional kitchen. Make sure yours fits how you really live. If you and your partner love to cook and entertain, don't settle for one oven, one sink, and no place to sit. If your home doesn’t involve elaborate cooking, don't bother with two ovens and a six-burner restaurant stove. If your kids are at the do-it-yourself age, go for a roomy, top-of-the-line microwave installed near the fridge. If you come home from work late but still like to cook seriously, you may want to have a microwave installed near the stove for quick defrosting before cooking.