1: What do you need?
The ideal kitchen is one that adapts to your lifestyle and cooking style, the size of your family, your personal tastes… In short, it’s up to you!
Before choosing your fitted kitchen , your first question should be: what are you looking for? A practical space dedicated solely to meal preparation? A living space where you can cook, dine, chat, or even work? This will determine your choice of furniture and appliances.
If you aspire to a family kitchen with a view to large daily gatherings and your space allows it, perhaps you could consider installing a central island extended by a convivial dining table. If you are a couple without children but who regularly invite friends over to spend pleasant moments, why not opt for a beautiful, welcoming snack bar?
The same goes for household appliances: they must correspond to your needs and culinary habits. If you like to cook like the great chefs, you will prefer a cooking range that will also bring real personality to your kitchen. Are you more into frozen meals? In this case, a combination microwave oven might be enough and will save you space. Finally, if you’re a fan of beautiful pieces, you can equip yourself with a decorative hood or a colorful, designer refrigerator.
2: How much space do you have?
You also need to choose your fitted kitchen based on the room dedicated to it. Open or closed, U-shaped, L-shaped, I-shaped, with two parallel walls… you need to adapt to the layout of the space . To ensure fluidity and comfort on a daily basis when cooking, the positioning of furniture and appliances must respect what is called the “activity triangle”.
Indeed, in order to minimize movement, the three essential kitchen stations, washing (sink, dishwasher), cold (refrigerator) and hot (hob), should ideally form a triangle.
Don’t forget to allow space between the furniture, appliances and the worktop to ensure good circulation: at least 70 cm, and 90 cm of clearance around cupboards, drawers and dishwasher. A worktop depth of 60 to 70 cm allows both a comfortable space for preparing meals and to slide standard-sized appliances and furniture underneath.
3: What kind of atmosphere do you feel good in?
The charm of a bucolic kitchen , country house spirit . The modernity of a designer kitchen . The purity of a Scandinavian kitchen . The freshness of a colorful kitchen… How to choose among all these trendy decors? It all depends on your personal tastes, the atmosphere in which you want to project yourself.
Once you have decided on the model and the atmosphere of your kitchen, selecting the colors, materials and finishes of your fronts, worktop and splashback will be much easier. Indeed, each style has its codes: black and raw materials are essential for industrial, natural wood is the basis of authentic country house style kitchens, white combined with blond wood is the signature of Scandinavian kitchens.
The same goes for small details and accessories such as handles, lighting, seats which immediately imprint their character.
About the Author
