Buyer’s Guide to Kitchens
GLHÖSS' Buyer's Guide to Kitchens
What you need to know when buying a kitchen
Your kitchen holds many memories, from hosting your version of ‘Come Dine with Me’, to holiday dinners or consoling a loved one with a cuppa’. Many families consider their kitchen to be the centrepiece of their entire home, and getting your new kitchen just right and tailored to your taste is crucial.
At Glhöss Kitchens, we are passionate about keeping an open and honest dialogue with our customers. Therefore, this buyer’s guide to kitchens reveals our top tips to consider when planning a kitchen that you can be proud of and look forward to showing off to your family and friends.
You want your new kitchen to cause you as little hassle as possible. Still, with so much inspiration available across the world wide web and social media platforms, it can be easy to get lost in the sea of kitchen inspiration. Sit back, enjoy a cuppa, and start dreaming of your new kitchen while reading this guide…
Fundamental tips
- Grab a notebook to make notes of your ideas or sketches
- Ensure that you collect samples and jot down the colourways that take your fancy
- Collate your own collection of images of kitchen inspirations
- If not done so yet, set up a Pinterest account
1. Planning to your requirements
First and foremost, we would recommend that you consider your personal circumstances when it comes to kitchen planning. We are all different, with mismatched requirements and needs within our kitchen spaces, and it is vital that this is decided upon in the early stages.
Use of kitchen
What will be the use of your new kitchen?
Will you be utilising your kitchen as a social space or just for cooking only? Deciding on its usage in the early stages of planning can help shape what you are looking for and make decision-making easier when collating all your design ideas together. Whether you prefer a contemporary kitchen, a traditional kitchen, or a German kitchen then, you should ensure that you have given the usage of your new kitchen some consideration.
If you plan on eating in your kitchen, space needs to be contemplated if you don’t have a dining area.
What is your current family setup?
Your requirements for a new kitchen may vary if you have a young family or have family members who require additional support. Certain aspects of a kitchen may require an alternative option if this is the case.
Having a furry friend can also alter your kitchen planning depending on what styles and tastes that you’d like to be replicated in your new living space.
Consider your storage space
You inevitably need the storage space to hold your small domestic and large appliances, cutlery, condiments, dinner and tableware and so forth. A kitchen worktop may be able to store some kitchen items, but we do tend to store a whole range of kitchen accessories, and this requires proactive thinking from the beginning.
Storage may come in the format of pull-out pantries, carousel shelving, foldable furniture, doors and pegboards, open shelving, and many others.
2. Surf the internet for some great ideas
As we mentioned previously, it is easy to get lost on the internet when discovering ideas and inspirations for your dream kitchen. However, if you know where to look, then you can easily navigate the jungle of content that is readily available. Below we have displayed some key areas where you can generate many great ideas for your next kitchen design.
1. Head to Google or Bing and search the following queries
a) “Kitchen designs”
b) “Kitchen trends”
c) “Kitchen design inspiration”
d) “Kitchen design ideas”
2. Purchasing a leading interior design magazine
3. Log in to Pinterest and do a search for kitchen-related queries and pin your favourites
4. Check out industry blogs like UK Home Improvements
5. Quiz your friends and relatives about their likes and dislikes about their personal kitchens
3. Evaluate your current kitchen
You may be sitting in your kitchen right now reading this buyer’s guide, if not, go take a look after you’ve read every word in this article. Your task now is to note down what you enjoy and dislike about your kitchen in its current state. You may ask yourselves the following questions:
1. Do I like where my appliances are currently situated?
2. Is the dishwasher/oven at the right height for me?
3. Would I like an island to prepare food?
4. Could my family spend more time together if a breakfast bar was installed?
5. I don’t have a laundry room; where are the water taps allowing for a washing machine?
Once you have analysed your current kitchen, you’ll have more of an idea of what is needed for your new design.
4. Consider your budget
Deciding on what you can afford in the initial design stages will help you settle on your final design. The price of your new kitchen can vary based on numerous factors, from the area space to the choice of materials/worktops and brand of appliances.
Regardless, it is always good to remember that you shouldn’t spend any more than 15% of your property value on a kitchen remodel.
It always pays to budget for unexpected costs that may arise, and we advise you to leave 20% of your budget for such costs.
Other additional costs can come in the form of specific worktops, sinks & taps, appliances, and extractor and cooker hoods alongside others. Therefore, you need to factor these into your budgeting.
5. Survey your current kitchen layout
Kitchen layouts vary from household to household. Some kitchens may only be possible across one wall or even a gallery. However, other kitchen layouts may include a U-shape, L-shape or an island.
Either way, your kitchen layout will mainly decide on the size and shape of your kitchen design.
6. Which design takes your fancy?
At Glhöss, we only offer bespoke kitchens but specialise in three main designs, with them being contemporary kitchens, traditional kitchens, and German kitchens.
Whichever design takes your fancy, you will also need to consider other factors like your appliances and extractor hoods. At GLHÖSS Kitchens, we have an extensive range of cooker hoods to choose from whether it is a Luxair Kitchen Extractor or a Westin Cooker Hood Extractor and more.
7. Book to visit a showroom
Once you’ve got an idea of what you’d like from your new kitchen, you should visit a showroom to start seeing tangible kitchens so the excitement can accelerate.
At Glhöss, we have a new showroom that’ll help you to refine your requirements. Our friendly team will help you to begin your journey to start building that kitchen you always wanted.
If you’d like to drop by and give us a visit, then please, by all means, do so. We love to welcome customers through our doors and get to know you and your tastes.
A contact form and appointment booking form can be found here or you can reach us at the below contact details:
Email: info@glhoss.com
Telephone: 020 3621 2121
Book an appointment
It is never too late to get in touch with us. Arrange to meet one of our talented members. Please complete the form and attach any plans that you have.
