We all take for granted the work it takes to design and construct a kitchen, as we expect everything to just fit into the space. It actually takes hours of design work to make sure you are getting the best use of your space as we all know how limited floor space is especially in a smaller home. When designing a new kitchen, the main thing that is going to take up space will be your kitchen units, as they will be holding loose object so you aren’t left with a cluttered mess with your new kitchen. These will also contain your appliances as well if you choose to go for a built in kitchen if you desire the sleek flush aesthetic a built in kitchen can give you.
When considering your kitchen design, the main thing you want is to not have any wasted space. You also can’t have too many units crammed into one space as this is going to cause walkway issues, as well as obstructing units that might block each other when they are open. You might think this process of designing might leave gaps in-between cabinets but there are smaller cabinets that can be installed that ensure you get the maximum use of the space.
Below we go through the different units you are going to consider when designing your kitchen.
Single and Double Kitchen Wall Units
The majority of your kitchen units are going to be your single and double wall units as these are going to make up the general units of your kitchen. Single and double units mean just that, singles having one door and doubles have two, giving you more space and a different aesthetic as you are going to have two handles in the middle rather than just on one side.
Kitchen Units Top Boxes
Top boxes can be described as one of the filler units we mentioned earlier, as they are often used above induction hoods to fill the space so you are still getting more storage space than you would without it. This can also complete the join between two units which you usually have since the cooker hoods are always in-between two units to stop any fire hazards against a wall. The size of the top box will depend on the size of the space left above the hood, as it the height of the cooker hood will dictate the size of the box you need.
End Of Kitchen Run Units
End of kitchen units are used for just that, the end of an island or aisle of units if you don’t want an abrupt end to your units. These can be tailored to your liking as you can have a mix of designs, either having a door or even a pull out unit for storage. You could also opt for curved shelving on the end of the units but a corner unit is most recommended for the aesthetic values it brings to your kitchen. This again can also act a “filler” unit as you may not be able to fit another normal sized single or double unit so you can opt for a smaller corner unit which is going to hit two tick boxes in one, making extra storage space where there wouldn’t be, and giving your kitchen a more refined look.
Corner Angled and Curved Kitchen Units
Corner and angled units are great if you want to introduce something new to your kitchen. These will give you some functionality in the form of more storage as well as some interesting mechanism that make corner units open. There are a variety of options you can go for, including inward corner doors, sliding doors or your traditional curved doors for your corner units.
Straight Corner Wall Kitchen Units
Straight corner wall units are meant for the meeting of two aisles of units that leave a corner open. If this is the case in your kitchen then you’ll be able to make use of this unit, giving you more value as well as an interesting aesthetic. This unit will be a bi fold door or a single door opening either direction.
Bi-Folding Wall Kitchen Units
Bi-folding wall units are something you might want to consider if you want something a bit different as these work like garage doors where the door lifts up to reveal the compartment inside. There are also horizontal folding doors, which can give your kitchen great visuals as these can be made of mostly glass.
Open and Microwave Wall Kitchen Units
Whilst units with doors are the norm, you can find some units that are open. If used sparingly it can create a nice aesthetically pleasing kitchen as it can create nice accent units that you can use effectively as some open space can be nice in the right layout. Being creative with these units are the best tip as you could place a nice display piece in the unit like some decorative plates, perhaps a plant or two to act as an accent feature in the kitchen space.
Full Height Pull Out Kitchen Units
Full height units are great if you really want to add a touch of futuristic influence in your design. These units run from the ceiling to the floor give or take a few centimetres for ground clearance and pull out towards you, giving you a side access style of unit that can also be used as a rack for spices, wine and anything else you can put in there. This really does alter the appearance of your kitchen, but some special work may be required to make your space compatible with the styling and overall design of your kitchen, so please speak to a kitchen designer for further advice.