How to Design Your Kitchen
This month’s blog post is written by Ger Cooney, a Cork-based interior architect and designer who has consulted on numerous kitchens I’ve painted. This month, Ger will look at practical considerations when designing your kitchen. Next month, he’ll give you advice on colour choices.
When dealing with clients I am often asked where is the best place to start with a new design scheme. So when Lee asked me to write a guest blog, I was delighted to get involved. I have known Lee for many years and he is excited about colour and design as I am!
Choosing a new scheme for a kitchen can be at first a daunting but ultimately exciting process. Possibly this may be the starting point for the rest of the house, a change in direction for the key room in your home. The kitchen really is the heartbeat, the engine room that serves the majority of our needs. Kitchens are multi-purpose spaces and while they need to be functional they should also be aesthetically pleasing.
There are a few points to consider when embarking on your design journey.
Where to Start? - Your High Cost Items
Flooring, furniture, worktops, tiles and window treatments, are crucial elements in any design scheme and especially for kitchens. Whether you are renovating or starting from scratch, making key decisions for flooring, for instance, will heavily influence the remainder of your scheme. Ideally these should be decided upon before selecting colours for walls and kitchen units.
Think long term and focus on style over trend. This will give you the versatility of changing colour schemes over time without the necessity of changing flooring or worktops, for example.
What style are you trying to create?
A good starting point is to think about the overall style you are aiming for. Be it traditional or contemporary there are so many options out there. Look at options that are easy on the eye and fit in with your personal style or that of your property.
Researching options online is a good start. You may find yourself drawn to similar options, which tells you you’re on the right track.
Choosing style over trends is a way to ensure your kitchen stays relevant and doesn’t date.
How will the space be used?
An important consideration when starting out on a new scheme is to look at how the space is currently being used.
Does it work for your lifestyle or family? If not, then it might be time to look at other options in terms of layout. Kitchens are now such multi-functional spaces.
Examining other activities such as reading, homework for the kids maybe even a space for an occasional home office is worthwhile to explore. When dealing with clients I always ask how they would like the space to be used, as in many cases there is scope for improvement.
NEXT TIME: GET THE RIGHT COLOUR
Ger Cooney is a Cork based Interior Architect and Designer. He is also the Chair of the Munster Chapter of the Interiors Association and tutor with the Interior Design Academy of Ireland
Tel: 0861718886
Web: www.gercooneydesign.com
Email: info@gercooneydesign.com
Instagram: @gercooneydesign
One of the kitchens I’ve painted based on colour consultancy by Ger