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INTERIORS INSIDER

 Creating the
 heart of the home  Louisa agrees: “Bringing in the kitchen     The bigger picture

        designer at the start of the planning allows
                                            “Work out your budget, solidify your ideas and
        them to help you turn your fantasies into
                                            determine who and how you will use the kitchen.
        a clear visualization. At this stage, the
        designer will spend time getting to know
                                            online or magazines, speak to a kitchen designer.”
        you, to understand how you use your kitchen   Armed with this, and plenty of research from
        currently, your lifestyle and your aspirations
        for the new space, alongside exploring     Make the choices
        what’s achievable for your space and budget.   “Once  you’ve  identified  the  company  and
 Thinking of renovating your kitchen? Here’s everything you need to know   Bringing in a designer early also makes the   designer you’d like to work with, share your ideas.
 to create a kitchen that’ll be the beating heart of your family home.  process a lot smoother, allowing you to enjoy   A good designer will create a brief based on how
        the creation of your dream kitchen that you’ll   you will use the kitchen, your style and wishes,
        love now and for many years to come.”   which will include different layouts. Even if you’re
                                            using  a builder  and/or  architects,  including  a
 hen we talk about our ‘dream   However, it’s fairly rare to find a home with a   Timescales can vary massively, but Carol tells   kitchen designer at the beginning is important,
 homes’, for so many of us, the appeal   dream kitchen already  in place,  which  is why   us to allow at least three months from the   as  much  of  the  hidden  services,  like  plumbing
 Wcentres around the kitchen. While we   kitchen renovations are  so popular. Their   start of the design process to the completion   and electrics, will need to be planned into the
 all have differing ideas of how an ideal kitchen   impact can transform the feeling of not just the   of the installation; however, this can differ   architect’s drawings.”
 should look, most of us would agree that we’d   kitchen, but the whole house itself, shifting how   depending on the specification of your dream
 love  something that feels inviting, sociable,   you and your family use the space.  kitchen and whether you’re completing a new
 welcoming – the real hub of the home. Whether   build at the same time, such as an extension.     The backbone
 you love whipping up a weekend feast or want   If you’re considering a kitchen renovation, we   “The vision of a magazine-style kitchen with
 a space for your Friday-night disco, the kitchen   know it’s an intensive prospect, with big financial   everything neatly in its place is often distanced
 is so often the place where memories are made.   commitments and the pressure to get it ‘right’.   Carol Cameron takes us through the step-by-  from the reality of busy family life. Opt for long
 We’ve spoken to Carol Cameron, Showroom   step process...  drawers rather than cupboards, as they can
 Manager  at  Kitchens  International  Dundas   house  more  things  efficiently  and  are  easy  to
 Street, and Louisa Forsyth, Showroom Manager   access. Walk-in pantries or larder cupboards are
 at Kitchens International Fort Kinnaird, to get   a popular choice, while for awkward corners, look
 the lowdown on everything you need to know   at circular cupboards or corner drawers. Never
 to make your kitchen renovation a real success.  underestimate  the  benefits  of  special  storage
                                            solutions for every item of kitchen paraphernalia.”
 If you’re at the beginning of your kitchen
 renovation journey, it might feel daunting,
 but both Carol and Louisa say that’s why you
 need to bring the experts in, ASAP. “Exploring
 your dream kitchen is an exciting journey,” says
 Carol. “It can be easy for homeowners to get
 caught up in the moment and overlook some of
 the finer details, which is why it’s so important
 that your kitchen designer and project manager
 visit your space as early as possible. This allows
 them to get a feel for the available space and
 how it relates to the rest of your home, as well
 as giving them the opportunity to survey the
 space and understand the more operational
 aspects of how your new kitchen will function.”

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