The ultimate goal of kitchen design is being able to plan an efficient, safe, functional and aesthetically pleasing layout. How this is achieved can be quite confusing for those with little idea of the complexities of design. In order to make sense of kitchen design, one must first be able to grasp both the tangible and intangible considerations of space planning.
Tangible considerations are in essence, factual data such as existing space constraints of your kitchen, lifestyle requirements, appliances, building regulations, kitchen standards and your budget.
Intangible aspects of kitchen design relate to the physical ambience of the space such as mood and character as well as look and feel. Other intangible aspects to consider is basic design theory which include Elements Of Design (colour and light, form and space, shape and texture) and Design Principles (scale, proportion, balance, unity, emphasis and rhythm).
Of course you will have your own predetermined ideas on how your kitchen will look, feel and function. The way in which you envisage your kitchen will directly relate to your personality, tastes and lifestyle. But how do you create your perfect kitchen when you have little to no idea about kitchen design? Engage the services of a kitchen designer.
A good kitchen designer will have certain characteristics such as skill, style, flair and empathy. Skill is learnt by study and practice. The designer will have a thorough grounding in Principles and Elements of design. Style is developed through observation and practice. It is an ability to determine the best materials from a variety of choices coupled with the ability to use fashion as a tool (but not be a slave to it). A well styled kitchen will have timeless appeal. Flair is an imaginative expression that can make a kitchen distinctive. Empathy and sensitivity is the mark of a good designer. In order to determine and truly express the clients tastes and lifestyle, the designer must listen intently to the client and observe at all times.
A standard is an official document issued by a professional or governmental regulatory authority. Australian kitchen standards provide specific guidelines, rules and technical specifications regarding how kitchen cabinetry is to be built, used or installed in either domestic or commercial applications. Standards play a very important role in the kitchen industry. They provide an approved…
The shape or layout of the kitchen is often determined by the existing structural elements within the home. If your budget permits, you can alter these structural elements to suit your lifestyle and needs. If however, your budget is is limited, then some careful thought and planning is required because some kitchen layouts are not…
This guide on how to design a kitchen will show you how to properly plan, design and equip your new kitchen by understanding some of the established concepts, rules and principles of good kitchen design. By gaining an understanding of these concepts you will be better able to look at your existing kitchen space and…
Texture Texture relates to the physical properties of a particular form and it is often what the material is made from. Texture is a tactile and visual phenomenon. Smooth textures appear to be formal while textured surfaces appear to be more casual. Smooth surfaces will reflect light at the same angle of incidence. Textured surfaces…
The kitchen work triangle is used by kitchen designers and residential architects to find out the most efficient kitchen layout for any given space. History The work triangle was an idea developed in the 1940′s by university researchers studying time and motion. They were trying to decide the best way to maximise efficiency between the…
When starting any kitchen renovation, one of the first things that needs to be checked is to see whether the walls in the room containing the new kitchen are actually square (at right angles to each other). Walls at the right angle? More often than not, there will never be two walls that are at…