We may be unable to visit kitchen retailers and showrooms in person at the moment but that doesn’t mean you need to put that dream kitchen project on hold. Far from it! In fact, there are many benefits to planning it all from the comfort of your own home and here at Symphony, we are always on hand to help.
With plenty of ideas and inspiration on our website as well as downloadable brochures, a how-to guide on buying your dream kitchen, a kitchen visualiser tool and even an online competition that you can enter, there is so much fun to be had. So sit back, put the kettle on and start your kitchen journey here…
Look at the layout
A good starting point is to take a long, hard look at your current kitchen layout and design then make a note of what does and doesn’t work. Think in terms of where everything is, how much workspace you have, is there enough storage for food as well as crockery and cookware; are the appliances up to the job or could they do with an upgrade; what about the overall style, colour, finish, texture. Are worktops hardwearing and durable?
There are various layouts to choose from too and you don’t necessarily have to stick with the existing one. There is the L shape, U shape, single or double galley, a single run of cabinets with an island in front, a breakfast bar… so think about your lifestyle and cooking habits as well as the size and shape of the room. Ask yourself questions such as, do you want a sociable space that allows for sitting and chatting with guests (once guests are permitted again)? Do you need somewhere for children to sit and do their homework? Is it an open or broken-plan space that requires different zones to be defined with changes in furniture style? what colour, finish or material do you want? Is there room for an area for relaxing and watching the TV? By taking time to think about how you will want to use the new space, it allows you to work out which layout would be most practical as well as stylish.
For extra help, check out our 4 Steps For Bringing Your Dream Kitchen To Life here.
Make plans
Next, create your wish list of items that you would like included within the new kitchen design. This could include a certain type of handle (or a handleless design), under-cabinet or plinth lighting, pop-up plug sockets to charge mobiles, tablets and laptops, a breakfast cupboard where you can hide the kettle, toaster and coffee machine after the morning rush. Perhaps you like the idea of a mix of open and closed storage, a multifunctional island complete with integrated hob and downdraft extractor, a breakfast bar with stools for weekend coffee catch-ups or simply just more worktop space so you can indulge your passion for baking.
Once you have a list of things you want to change with the new design as well as any elements you definitely don’t want, the next step is to draw a floor plan with details of the position of doors and windows, light switches, sockets, any structural elements such as a chimney breast, beams, pillars, a boiler and so on. Write down measurements such as room dimensions as well as the space between the floor and window sill and window and ceiling then take some photos on your phone or tablet of the space. Head over to our YouTube channel to find hints and tips for measuring your own kitchen space. Most retailers will be taking appointments for a virtual consultation so by having a few good photos in natural light, as well as a floor plan and a list of things to be included, you’re off to a great start. And don’t forget to set the budget!
Choose a style
To decide on the style you want for your new dream kitchen, as well as looking at magazines, browsing our designs here on this website and downloading our brochures, you can also make use of other online platforms such as Pinterest and Houzz as well as Instagram to source an infinite variety of inspirational ideas. Search for key terms such as ‘classic,’ ‘contemporary’ or ‘industrial’ as well as colours – the latest colour trends include strong colours like Anthracite, Bottle Green, Dusky Pink and Indigo, while a softer palette of Cashmere, Cobble Grey or Pebble offer popular kitchen designs. Print off or save to your computer desktop any images of kitchens or products that you like and create your own mood board – either online or by sticking cut-outs to a pinboard or similar. Consider the overall look as well as different colours, finishes, textures and materials for everything from the kitchen cabinets to worktops, tiles, splashbacks, sink, tap, flooring, paint, lighting, appliances, accessories and finishing touches. This will all help you to hone in on what you really love and will also give your kitchen retailer a really good overview of what you are looking for.
Visualise your dream kitchen
Now you have a good idea of what you’re after, have a go at our handy Symphony kitchen visualiser. Simply select a style that catches your eye then change the kitchen with different colour finishes for the cabinets, worktops and handles to create something really unique to suit your space and lifestyle perfectly. It’s great fun to play around with and may even throw up some looks you’d never thought of before.
Once you’re happy with your initial design ideas, it’s time to get in touch with your nearest Symphony retailer.
Give them a call to arrange a virtual consultation and you can also ask about viewing door and worktop samples too.
Enter our competition
Once your dream Symphony kitchen has been installed, we’d love to see it. Simply take a photo of the new space and share it with us on Instagram with the hashtag #MySymphonyStyle, telling us what makes it so special, and you might just win an Amazon Echo Plus smart speaker! Our team will pick a winner each month so don’t miss out. Start planning your dream kitchen today and you may just be dancing around it in a few months listening to your favourite tunes on your prize win. For further info head to our competition webpage.
