How to improve functionality in your new kitchen
Functional kitchen design is about more than having the right appliances on hand. It’s about the whole space working effectively to meet your family’s needs. Poorly designed kitchens leave functionality as an afterthought and often feel disconnected from the rest of the home.
Whether you’re cooking, entertaining, or catching up on some work, your kitchen should be easy and enjoyable to work in. When designing your new kitchen with us, it’s important to consider how to make your kitchen function for you.
Backed by our trusted partner The Maker Designer Kitchens – Australias’ largest kitchen and bathroom manufacturer with over 20 years of industry experience, when you build with us you can take advantage of their custom kitchen designs that are manufactured locally in their state of the art factory in Bassendean.
To help you design your dream kitchen we met with the team at The Maker Designer Kitchens to discuss the top things to consider to improve functionality in your Dale Alcock Homes kitchen.
Optimise Your Layout
The layout of your custom kitchen is one of the first things you need to establish in your design. It’s the blueprint for functionality in your kitchen. A well-planned floor plan is essential to an efficient workspace. Your kitchen work triangle should be a key consideration in your kitchen layout, based on the concept that there should be equal distance between the cooktop, sink and fridge.
Your layout should reflect the desired kitchen style. Kitchen islands can facilitate a central hub for entertainment or even regular family meals. Your layout should also reflect the type and amount of storage you need to make your kitchen as functional as possible. If you’re considering a scullery or butler’s pantry in your kitchen, your initial layout and floor plan needs to reflect that.
Invest In Appropriate Appliances
When designing your kitchen the team at The Maker Designer Kitchens advise you to think ahead about what appliances you’ll need to make the space as functional as possible.
If you entertain regularly, a larger oven, or even two 600mm ovens side by side would increase your baking capacity for larger groups. For big families, a double fridge can be a practical choice.
Remember that functional kitchen design looks different for everyone. While some people like the look of appliances on show in the kitchen, others find too many appliances cause clutter which makes the kitchen a stressful and unproductive space to be in. In that case, you might opt for a fully integrated fridge/freezer and dishwasher that hide behind custom cabinetry and allow you to really focus on the design elements in your kitchen.
These days kitchen functionality stretches well beyond traditional appliances. Access to power outlets, charging stations, and USB ports improve your kitchen’s functionality as a hybrid working station and entertainment hub. If technology is an essential component of your kitchen, you might want to consider whether you prefer open or concealed smart tech options like a Point Pod and docking drawers.
Maximise Storage Options
Without the right storage solutions for your kitchen, it’s hard to achieve functionality. Planning for storage in the initial design phase is essential to ensure it’s not an afterthought in your design. That’s why it’s important to consider how you want to use your kitchen so we can fit the right storage options in the design phase.
Innovative corner storage solutions like the Hafele Le Man’s corner storage unit pictured here are great to maximise space in small kitchens but cannot be retrofitted once your design is finalised.
The team at The Maker Designer Kitchens love drawers for your kitchen to help maximise storage and are great for lower sections of cabinetry for heavier items. Likewise, pantries and pull-out storage need to be the right size to match your cooking style. You can also think about utilising overhead space with cabinets that extend to the ceiling, or open shelving to create a beautiful feature in your design.
Consider Lighting Options
Gone are the days when you installed a single fluorescent light in the kitchen to meet your lighting needs. There is a range of functional lighting options available to increase the useability and aesthetics of your space. When designing your home, glass window splashbacks are a brilliant way to bring lots of natural light into your kitchen, a strong design choice particularly if you’re choosing dark cabinetry.
Ambient light will help set the overall mood, and dimmers are a great way to adjust the brightness. You can also incorporate task lighting beneath cabinetry or over benchtops to make food preparation easier. Integrated lighting options in your cabinetry, pantry or fridge allow you to see what’s stored without having to open the door.
Remember that functional lighting needn’t come at the cost of your design vision and desired aesthetics. Luxury additions like chandeliers, plinth lights or feature panel lighting can elevate your space beyond the mainstream and accent certain areas of your space. It’s good to start thinking about your custom lighting options during the design phase as the appropriate electrical plans will need to be integrated into the architectural plans.
Create A Mood Board
When deciding on the finer details and selections for your kitchen renovation Perth, a mood board is the perfect tool to bring all your ideas together in one place.
In preparation for your Prestart meeting, it’s worth spending some time walking through the kitchens of our display home in Home Collective Leederville or Bunbury. Speaking with our Kitchen Design Specialists and taking stock of these designs will help you hone in on your vision.
Bringing all your ideas together with online tools such as Pinterest will help your Selection Consultant design your kitchen based on your preferences. Remember, the more prepared you are, the more your kitchen will reflect your individual needs.
Scale Up With A Custom Kitchen Design
Get exceptional value on a Dale Alcock Home and take advantage of our partnership with the team of Perth kitchen designers at The Maker Designer Kitchens. If you want to see for yourself how functional kitchen design can elevate your home follow them on Instagram for design tips or check out their website here for more inspiration.
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