How to design the kitchen for your new home build
By New Home Building Brokers|May 18, 2021
At NHBB, we consider your kitchen to be the most crucial and most personal space in your new home. When you're designing your kitchen, there are a lot of things to consider. What materials will you use? How much natural light does the area get? Do you have any specific storage needs or preferences? Is it an open-plan living space in your home and do you need to consider special lighting options for this space? Your lifestyle is also important when designing your ideal kitchen - how often do you cook, what appliances would be most useful to have on hand, what size island will suit the space best?
By considering all these factors during the kitchen planning and design process, you can end up with a kitchen that suits your personality and lifestyle perfectly! It also depends in a large way on your budget.
Design a kitchen you truly want to be in.
When designing your dream kitchen, there are so many factors to consider. Here are a few tips to get you started and help you to design the kitchen for your new home.
Your lifestyle
You want to design a perfect kitchen you really love to be in. Your new kitchen design needs to fit your lifestyle.
A new build home is a perfect opportunity to design your ideal kitchen. Think about what you need out of a kitchen, and don't forget that there are many different types of kitchens- open plan living, galley style or L shape for example.
How do you like to use your kitchen space? Is it the heart of the home, the hub of family life, or a place to prepare the occasional meal? Will you be eating in the kitchen, or will it be part of an open-plan layout? Are you a keen cook? Do you entertain often, or not at all? Do you own larger items like a Thermomix or air fryer that need bench space, or even a separate scullery space.
What size kitchen will suit your lifestyle and how much time are you in there every day and on the weekend. Do you even like cooking or do you cook like a professional?
If you want to eat in your new kitchen - does your kitchen island need bar stools so that your friends can keep you company while you cook, or do you want a dining table that works with the kitchen space layout (where your kids can do their homework) or both?
Does your kitchen need to link to the outside directly for all those parties you want (or don't want) to have?
What does the design of the rest of your home look like? The style will need to be used in the kitchen as well so that it all works together beautifully. Is it going to be a contemporary, classic, retro, luxury, chic, timeless, family, modern kitchen or anything else you can think of.
Your kitchen can become the focal point of your open plan living if you want it to be in your home design.
Kitchen colour, textures and finishes
The colours in your new kitchen can be the most important aspect of your kitchen design because they create a sense of mood and emotion. Do you want to create an airy feel or more intimate environment? Subtle tones will make it look larger than one with intense colours. Also, will the colours date?
What materials are going on walls and the floor: wood, stone, metal, tiles? And how do these all work together for different looks? Also consider the countertop or work surface, are they stainless steel, stone, wood, or something completely different?
What about the cabinetry? Are the doors a feature or not?
Do you like textures and patterns, or do you prefer a kitchen space that in monochromatic and serene? Maybe an exciting and colourful splashback is the perfect kitchen design feature that brings your dream kitchen space to life.
The style that you choose when you design a kitchen needs to be guided by the rest of your home and its floor plan so that it fits in seamlessly with the overall design you wish to achieve.
What about appliances in your kitchen design?
Do you like to see modern large and small appliances, or do you want your appliances hidden? One of the first things to consider when planning your new build kitchen appliance requirements is the amount of worktop surfaces needed and the space to fit them in.
From large appliances such as fridges to traditional ovens to induction cookers and small appliances like coffee machines, there's no limit on choice and variety. You can hide them all, or put them all on display. (especially if you have just bought a new Thermomix!)
Remember, you will need enough electrical points to be able to use all these great kitchen appliances.
Sinks and prep bowls in the kitchen
Who doesn't love a nice, big sink? A worktop-sized utility sink is ideal for those who have space; it's also great if you're planning to do plenty of prep work.
Some people will prefer a single bowl that can be used as both soap and rinsing station in one but usually, this comes with compromises on size and functionality. Backsplash tiles are often overlooked when designing new kitchens - they needn't be pretty or expensive but they should feel right for your home style.
A prep bowl is ideal for smaller jobs, but it can also be used as a rinse station.
Lighting in the house
Natural and task lighting options should be a key consideration while you are designing a kitchen.
Lighting design should be carefully considered - task lighting will light up an area and counter when it's needed (eg; if you're chopping vegetables) while ambient lighting may come from wall lights or overhead spots to illuminate the whole room at once. Recessed lighting is a popular choice for kitchens because it is both energy-efficient and provides a soft, even light.
Natural light is a great element to incorporate when you design a kitchen. Windows will provide different amounts of light depending on the time and season, while skylights offer a more consistent level.
If you want to keep your kitchen open plan then use lighter colours or reflective surfaces to help bounce light around. If not, darker shades can be used for contrast against windows but they make smaller rooms feel closed in due to lack of natural light.
Whether it is your forever home or you are considering resale, the kitchen is a key component of your home.
Kitchen design storage options
Kitchen cabinets can store all of your kitchen essentials. But do you want your kitchen showing off all your latest kitchen gadgets, or do you want storage to keep everything tucked away in a cabinet, a pull-out pantry, or even a Butlers pantry.
What even is a butler’s pantry?
A butler’s pantry (also often referred to as a scullery) is a space used in the kitchen to store supplies and can often be accessed from outside of the room, such as through a door or corridor.
In addition to shelves for most things you might need around your home like dish towels, plates, glasses - butlers pantries also have other storage options that are perfect for larger items like pots and pans.
They may include cabinets with doors where you can stack these large items up neatly (for easy access) so they don't clutter up the rest of your kitchen.
Design a kitchen layout with a triangle. What?
What is this triangle the interior designer and kitchen designer keep talking about for the kitchen design?
Kitchen planning uses the kitchen triangle theory as a guideline for the efficient use of space. What this means is that the three main kitchen elements - the stove, fridge and sink should be located in a triangle formation so that there is not too little (minimum 1.2m apart) or too much (no more than 2.7m) distance between them.
Kitchen flooring
Kitchen flooring needs to be practical and stylish, durable and easy-to-clean.
An open-plan home design usually means that the flooring will need to be the same as the rest of the living space, so it means that the choice of flooring for the living space needs to consider the flooring for the kitchen.
Ideally, the perfect kitchen design will be a balance between practicality and style. The layout when designing a modern kitchen space should take the required functionality into account while also considering what looks good to you, and how you and your family want to use it.
Here are a few thoughts from Tristan Kirkham, our Managing Director,
"Vicki is the cooking genius in our family so what would I know about a kitchen??"
Are you ready to learn more? Have a free discovery chat with us. Click here to book it today.
By considering all these factors during the kitchen planning and design process, you can end up with a kitchen that suits your personality and lifestyle perfectly! It also depends in a large way on your budget.
Design a kitchen you truly want to be in.
When designing your dream kitchen, there are so many factors to consider. Here are a few tips to get you started and help you to design the kitchen for your new home.
Your lifestyle
You want to design a perfect kitchen you really love to be in. Your new kitchen design needs to fit your lifestyle.
A new build home is a perfect opportunity to design your ideal kitchen. Think about what you need out of a kitchen, and don't forget that there are many different types of kitchens- open plan living, galley style or L shape for example.
How do you like to use your kitchen space? Is it the heart of the home, the hub of family life, or a place to prepare the occasional meal? Will you be eating in the kitchen, or will it be part of an open-plan layout? Are you a keen cook? Do you entertain often, or not at all? Do you own larger items like a Thermomix or air fryer that need bench space, or even a separate scullery space.
What size kitchen will suit your lifestyle and how much time are you in there every day and on the weekend. Do you even like cooking or do you cook like a professional?
If you want to eat in your new kitchen - does your kitchen island need bar stools so that your friends can keep you company while you cook, or do you want a dining table that works with the kitchen space layout (where your kids can do their homework) or both?
Does your kitchen need to link to the outside directly for all those parties you want (or don't want) to have?
What does the design of the rest of your home look like? The style will need to be used in the kitchen as well so that it all works together beautifully. Is it going to be a contemporary, classic, retro, luxury, chic, timeless, family, modern kitchen or anything else you can think of.
Your kitchen can become the focal point of your open plan living if you want it to be in your home design.
Kitchen colour, textures and finishes
The colours in your new kitchen can be the most important aspect of your kitchen design because they create a sense of mood and emotion. Do you want to create an airy feel or more intimate environment? Subtle tones will make it look larger than one with intense colours. Also, will the colours date?
What materials are going on walls and the floor: wood, stone, metal, tiles? And how do these all work together for different looks? Also consider the countertop or work surface, are they stainless steel, stone, wood, or something completely different?
What about the cabinetry? Are the doors a feature or not?
Do you like textures and patterns, or do you prefer a kitchen space that in monochromatic and serene? Maybe an exciting and colourful splashback is the perfect kitchen design feature that brings your dream kitchen space to life.
The style that you choose when you design a kitchen needs to be guided by the rest of your home and its floor plan so that it fits in seamlessly with the overall design you wish to achieve.
What about appliances in your kitchen design?
Do you like to see modern large and small appliances, or do you want your appliances hidden? One of the first things to consider when planning your new build kitchen appliance requirements is the amount of worktop surfaces needed and the space to fit them in.
From large appliances such as fridges to traditional ovens to induction cookers and small appliances like coffee machines, there's no limit on choice and variety. You can hide them all, or put them all on display. (especially if you have just bought a new Thermomix!)
Remember, you will need enough electrical points to be able to use all these great kitchen appliances.
Sinks and prep bowls in the kitchen
Who doesn't love a nice, big sink? A worktop-sized utility sink is ideal for those who have space; it's also great if you're planning to do plenty of prep work.
Some people will prefer a single bowl that can be used as both soap and rinsing station in one but usually, this comes with compromises on size and functionality. Backsplash tiles are often overlooked when designing new kitchens - they needn't be pretty or expensive but they should feel right for your home style.
A prep bowl is ideal for smaller jobs, but it can also be used as a rinse station.
Lighting in the house
Natural and task lighting options should be a key consideration while you are designing a kitchen.
Lighting design should be carefully considered - task lighting will light up an area and counter when it's needed (eg; if you're chopping vegetables) while ambient lighting may come from wall lights or overhead spots to illuminate the whole room at once. Recessed lighting is a popular choice for kitchens because it is both energy-efficient and provides a soft, even light.
Natural light is a great element to incorporate when you design a kitchen. Windows will provide different amounts of light depending on the time and season, while skylights offer a more consistent level.
If you want to keep your kitchen open plan then use lighter colours or reflective surfaces to help bounce light around. If not, darker shades can be used for contrast against windows but they make smaller rooms feel closed in due to lack of natural light.
Whether it is your forever home or you are considering resale, the kitchen is a key component of your home.
Kitchen design storage options
Kitchen cabinets can store all of your kitchen essentials. But do you want your kitchen showing off all your latest kitchen gadgets, or do you want storage to keep everything tucked away in a cabinet, a pull-out pantry, or even a Butlers pantry.
What even is a butler’s pantry?
A butler’s pantry (also often referred to as a scullery) is a space used in the kitchen to store supplies and can often be accessed from outside of the room, such as through a door or corridor.
In addition to shelves for most things you might need around your home like dish towels, plates, glasses - butlers pantries also have other storage options that are perfect for larger items like pots and pans.
They may include cabinets with doors where you can stack these large items up neatly (for easy access) so they don't clutter up the rest of your kitchen.
Design a kitchen layout with a triangle. What?
What is this triangle the interior designer and kitchen designer keep talking about for the kitchen design?
Kitchen planning uses the kitchen triangle theory as a guideline for the efficient use of space. What this means is that the three main kitchen elements - the stove, fridge and sink should be located in a triangle formation so that there is not too little (minimum 1.2m apart) or too much (no more than 2.7m) distance between them.
Kitchen flooring
Kitchen flooring needs to be practical and stylish, durable and easy-to-clean.
An open-plan home design usually means that the flooring will need to be the same as the rest of the living space, so it means that the choice of flooring for the living space needs to consider the flooring for the kitchen.
Ideally, the perfect kitchen design will be a balance between practicality and style. The layout when designing a modern kitchen space should take the required functionality into account while also considering what looks good to you, and how you and your family want to use it.
Here are a few thoughts from Tristan Kirkham, our Managing Director,
"Vicki is the cooking genius in our family so what would I know about a kitchen??"
Are you ready to learn more? Have a free discovery chat with us. Click here to book it today.
