Why you should choose appliances before designing a new kitchen

Aesthetics are often the starting point for a kitchen renovation or a redesign project. Hours are spent brooding over images of inspiration to decide on style, color and other surfaces. The final consideration for many people is the devices.

But now, more than ever, these humble gadgets must be the first thing you choose. Here are four reasons why you should always choose your kitchen appliances before you start designing your kitchen.

Find out more about the latest innovations

There have been enormous innovations in devices in recent years. It’s the only area in kitchen design where the most advances have been made. The selection is different today than it was 10 years ago.

“Many people who buy devices today may not have bought any more devices in the last 10, 15 or 20 years,” says Cyril Mangan from KAL. “There are many new terms such as induction, drip protection hoods or downdraft extraction that many people do not understand. As a result, many people often require a training process when purchasing equipment, ”he explains.

It is important to allow enough time to familiarize yourself with the latest innovations. Without this type of planning, you run the risk of falling into the trap of plucking equipment that is similar to your own. “You don’t want to invest a lot of time in the design of your kitchen cabinets and you don’t want to make the devices future-proof,” says Mangan. “Just because you’ve always had a double oven doesn’t mean you should go for it now.”

You determine the design / influences / style of your kitchen

The choice of appliances affects the overall look and style of your kitchen. Appliances are probably the most important decision when starting out in kitchen design, says kitchen designer Ed Rhatigan of Rhatigan and Hick. He explains that one of the first questions he asks the customer at the beginning of the design process is their choice of equipment. Would you like a range cooker? Are you planning a large statement refrigerator or do you want to rely on fully integrated devices? These are some of the first questions a kitchen designer will ask themselves. So it’s worth considering all of this before your first meeting.

It is very helpful to have a good indication of the types of appliances you would like to have in your kitchen. It provides a strong starting point for your kitchen designer.

“When you choose an Aga or a Range Cooker, you are going in a very special direction with the design of your kitchen,” says Rhatigan. Other factors that influence the design of the kitchen are whether you want ovens at eye level or whether you have a particular preference for how your hob is equipped. Hence, it is important that you communicate these things to your kitchen designer as early as possible in the design process.

Choosing a hob with exhaust air, for example, has a significant impact on your kitchen design. An integrated extractor hood within the hob opens up many more options in terms of arrangement and positioning. The induction versions are very slim and streamlined in design, which makes them ideal for installation on an island device, as they are barely noticeable.

Help avoid cost overruns

By selecting your equipment early on, there are no surprises for the contractor during construction. Depending on the devices you choose, you may need additional lines or cables. For example, some steam ovens require a water connection, which means that you have to put a water supply and install a drain pipe. A hot water tap needs electricity to heat the water, which means additional wiring.

The contractor needs to know in advance what appliances you will be installing in your kitchen. Otherwise, after the work has started, additional costs may arise that you had not budgeted for.

Long lead times

The disruption of global supply chains has affected almost every industry. Kitchen appliances are also affected, with some appliances being very difficult to obtain. There’s no guarantee you’ll get exactly what you want, says Rhatigan. Devices that until recently had short or no lead time now have six to ten weeks lead time. Some range cookers can take up to 16 weeks to arrive.

“With a build time of around 10 weeks for a bespoke kitchen, a lead time of 16 weeks for a stove is impractical,” says Rhatigan.

The delays have become such an issue that some brands loan out makeshift equipment to keep projects going and keep people returning to their homes. Rhatigan stresses that planning ahead is vital and encourages people to place orders as soon as possible.

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