Getting your kitchen extended can feel like a never-ending task which is why planning is key. Surprisingly, kitchen extensions don’t require much of your outdoor space to be sacrificed to create a space that meets all your needs. Instead, you can get the space you’ve always wanted by simply expanding your home slightly at the back, moving into a side return, or perhaps choosing a combination of the two.
The key to cleverly maximising your space is to plan a kitchen with a functional cooking and eating area where the entire family can congregate. To do this, here are some kitchen extension tips:
Set a Budget
Consider the amount of work you anticipate required and whether you can make do with the current layout or if you plan to move the kitchen and its plumbing. Don’t forget to allocate funds for building permits and planning permission. Depending on the level of finish, a single-story extension will typically cost between £1200 and £3000 per square metre. You should also always budget for a 10% contingency.
Of course, you’ll also need to account for the cost of the kitchen itself. If you can’t afford your ideal design, consider purchasing a used or former display kitchen from suppliers. Also, remember that finishes like parquet flooring or marble countertops will require a sizable investment; it is, therefore, best to account for them at the beginning of your planning.
See If You Require Planning Permission
Find out if you will need planning permission from your local council for any project affecting your home’s exterior. If you need to know if your plans will be approved, check to see what construction has been done on your street.
If someone nearby has a kitchen extension , this may indicate that you can do the same. Maybe give them a knock and ask them about their project and how the application process for their planning permission went.
Choose a Type of Kitchen Extension
This is largely determined by the size and shape of the available outdoor space and by what the council has approved. The most common type of kitchen extension is a side-return extension-+, popular on Victorian terraced houses and fills in the small space that projects from the back of the house.
Always consider your ideal kitchen style, your wish list, whether you want an island, etc., when planning a kitchen extension. These considerations should affect both the extension design and the kitchen design. Therefore, consider the kitchen and the extension together.
Design Your Kitchen
Surveyors take careful measurements that leave nothing to chance because each of our new kitchens is exquisitely designed for a millimetre-perfect fit. With clever cabinetry, even the smallest alcoves and corners can be fully utilised, ensuring that no space goes to waste. Before you begin construction, design your kitchen on paper so you can experiment with different layouts, giving you the flexibility to find the most efficient and aesthetic arrangement. It’s also important to plan the location of the water and electricity supplies early in the process. Working closely with a drainage company can be invaluable at this stage, as they ensure that plumbing and drainage systems are properly installed, preventing costly errors down the line. Proper placement of these utilities is key to creating a functional kitchen, so don’t overlook this crucial step.
How Are You Going to Access the Extension?
The main hallway should lead to your kitchen since it is one of the main rooms in your house. The best scenario would be for this to be as seamless as possible, which can be accomplished with a well-thought-out floor plan and complementary interior decoration.
How Do You Plan to Enter the Garden?
If you want an outdoor dining area, adding doors that open directly onto a patio or deck will help strengthen the indoor-outdoor connection.
Also, consider how the two spaces relate aesthetically. It’s important to make sure you can appreciate the views of your garden, regardless of whether you have patio doors, sliding doors, or fixed glazing.
Make A Ventilation Plan
One issue that occasionally comes up when people think about an open-plan kitchen is the smell of cooking. This shouldn’t be an issue if there is adequate ventilation. You won’t regret not adding an opening roof light or other additional ventilation to the extension if you take the time to plan ahead.
When cooking, adding an opening roof light would also aid in distributing steam and heat, keeping the space cosy and the air clean.
Smart Space Planning
It’s simple to get caught up in designing your extension in terms of square metres rather than considering the overall value it will add to the house. The truth is that there are various clever ways to give the impression of more space without expanding your extension’s floor space.
A kitchen extension usually includes a kitchen, diner, social area, and daytime sitting room. Ensure your space works with the room’s practical and aspirational uses. Because a kitchen extension requires a sizeable budget, you want to be sure your new space will be useful. You can’t just focus on what’s necessary right now for it to accomplish that.
Think about how your family’s dynamics may change and how you can future-proof your kitchen so that it continues to provide long-term value.
Combining the Old and the New
Finally, take some time to evaluate how your new extension will look next to your original property and whether it will blend in with or stand out from it.
This might significantly impact the materials you select and the project’s overall design. Long-term, you want something to complement your house and way of life. No matter how nice your new extension looks, it must first and foremost be livable!
*This is a collaborative post
