Measure your room

To begin, very carefully measure the space where you are going to install your kitchen, remembering that walls are not always square and floors are not always level. You should take the measurements in millimeters. Remember also to record the position and size of all doors and locations of windows (including their height from the floor). Also note the position of other “fixed” items such as radiators, sockets and switches, gas supply and waste location, unless of course, you plan to completely remodel your kitchen or fit it into a new extension to your home.

Planning your kitchen

Naturally, this depends upon the amount of space you have, how you want to use the kitchen and how much money you want to spend, so by speaking to your local NUVO Cabinets and Stones branch they can advise and guide you through the vast range of products that is available in the marketplace today. There is no piece of kitchen computer software anywhere that encompasses every single type of new kitchen unit, kitchen door, appliances and sinks so a quick chat to your local design team experts will help you through this process.

Location of services

Check the position of your services; electricity, gas, waste etc and that your new units will not obstruct them (for example, can you get to turn off a radiator or is the stop tap accessible). Check that the sink, waste disposal etc are within easy reach of the waste outlet, unless you plan to move it.

Designing your new kitchen

We begin by drawing your room and putting in windows, doors and locating service etc. At this stage don’t worry about the room finishes or the style or colour of the kitchen furniture you are going to use. You can do that in 3D when you have done the kitchen layout.

Next you should layout the units you want in your kitchen. Select the kitchen catalogue. This catalogue contains general types of kitchen units which are not specific to any manufacturer but are intended to give you an impression of how your new kitchen will look.

We recommend that you start by adding base units. If you are designing an L or U shaped layout you should start by positioning a corner base unit and working out from there. This gives you a better idea of how units will fit together. You can use some of our sample layouts Dream Doors have provided as guides. At any time in your  kitchen design process you can walk through your new kitchen in 3D then continue to make changes until you are happy.

Fitting things in

If it is practical and you have enough space to do it, fitting a kitchen made from straight runs is far easier than ones where you have to fit around corners to make L or U shaped kitchen constructions. Of course this is not always possible but it does avoid the problem of wasted space in corners (and corner units and their accessories often cost more) and the more costly exercise of making joints in worktops. You also need to bear in mind that corners are probably never at right angles, so when fitting units into a corner, take into account that the units next to the corner may have to be “adjusted” in order to make them fit. In particular if you are fitting units along a wall which lies between two other walls don’t fit the units in too tightly. Allow a tolerance at the ends so adjustments can be made and any gaps at the ends taken up with filler panels when everything is finally positioned.

Fitting Countertops

All Countertops can be installed by a NUVO Cabinets and Stones professional. Materials such as granite are very specialized and are always fitted by craftsman. Laminate work surfaces can be installed by the DIY enthusiast in most cases. Laminate benchtops can be cut with a fined toothed saw but for best results the cut ends should be finished with a router and sealed. Laminate worktops are usually supplied with a length of edging strip which you should glue (with contact adhesive) onto any cut edges which can be seen. All cut edges should be sealed with PVA adhesive or tape to prevent damp penetration.

Remember also that access for delivering worktops can be a problem. In some cases, for example, it may be physically impossible to manoeuver a long length of heavy material through a confined access to a kitchen, especially if stairs are involved! In this case it may be necessary to cut the long length into more manageable sizes and joint them when they are in place. When designing your kitchen you should bear this in mind when thinking about a long run of units.

Island Cabinets

Island units can be a great design idea providing that you have space to get around them. In practice you probably need at least 1 meter space on all sides. If you plan to include sinks or hobs in the island make sure that you have access for services and waste to get to the island which is probably not easy unless you plan an extensive renovation.

The new kitchen renovation design plan will be saved so If you need to make future changes to the kitchen design plan you can re-open the saved design and make any new alterations. This process can be repeated by you if you want to save a selection of designs until you feel it is right for you.