A lot of my friends ask how I make decisions on home decor when it comes to renovating our house because you really do have complete free reign on everything when you're completely stripping back and starting again. Up to this point it's been hard to explain because I've always just known how I want things. However the kitchen was hard. When you've got a blank shell of a room it's kind of difficult to picture how you want your kitchen to be - never mind the style and colour, just the layout is a complete puzzle in itself.
We ripped down a wall and had a new one put up to change the layout of the room before we'd even decided what we wanted the kitchen to look like and had a pipe dream of having an island without having actually properly planning it out. Basically we had a vague idea we'd been working around for months but hadn't prepared for it. After getting the sharpie out to draw on the floor and throw around ideas we finally settled on a much more sensible layout and suddenly it all clicked into place. So really that is how not to plan a kitchen.
In terms of style, the best thing to do is go out and look at a lot of kitchens to rule out what you don't want. We looked at a lot of kitchens and early on I knew that a super modern one wouldn't suit our house so we had a vague idea more of a traditional/country style. Once we knew that choosing the kitchen wasn't actually too difficult. We knew we wanted it from IKEA because it would be reasonably priced and we wanted to fit it ourselves and figured that seeing as IKEA is flat pack central anyway it'd be reasonably straightforward (ha - I'll let you know) to put together. We also knew we wanted a wooden look worktop and thought white would go best with that so our minds were pretty much already made up before we even went.
The biggest headache was the little things that we hadn't thought about - did we want a cupboard with three shelves or four shelves? Did we want two big drawers or four small drawers? We got to IKEA and realised we actually didn't have a clue so sat in the cafe for two hours fuelled by coffee and muffins and properly planned it out. By the time we went to our appointment with the designer we were so prepared she said we were the most organised customers she'd ever had. Despite that we were still a whole hour with her so I'd recommend being as prepared as possible! Also be prepared to spend a lot longer actually buying your kitchen than you'd expect. I thought we'd be in and out of IKEA in a couple of hours...five hours later...
Basically what I've learnt by doing it the wrong way is:
- Plan your kitchen layout early on so you know how you can maximise the space and so you have a clear idea in your head of where everything will go so you can visualise your kitchen better.
- Get out and look at lots of kitchens. Use Pinterest religiously in your spare time.
- Know your budget. When it gets down to the nitty gritty, having drawers is more expensive than cupboards, laminate worktop is way cheaper than real wood etc etc so it's good to bear these things in mind.
- Price up before you buy. This is what we did in the IKEA cafe - worked out roughly how much we thought everything was going to be so we didn't cry when the kitchen designer told us.
- Get help if you need it. I don't know why we didn't do this, but we should have just got someone else to design our kitchen (places like Wren do this for free) because then you have a plan with measurements ready to use however you like.
When we've actually fitted the kitchen I will definitely be doing a kitchen transformation post because it may just be the most dramatic transformation in our house yet, but for now unfortunately the room is still a blank shell and the kitchen is sat in an IKEA warehouse somewhere waiting to be delivered.
Amy x
Such a good idea to grab a sharpie and plan everything out if the floor before you start, I hadn't thought of that but it's a fab way of deciding whether features such as an island will really work space-wise! Pinterest is the source of all interior design dreams hehe, I'd definitely look there for inspiration when I come to choosing my kitchen! Thanks so much for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAbbey 💗 www.abbeylouisarose.co.uk
Yeah it was such a big help because we wouldn't have been able to really visualise it otherwise I don't think! xx
DeleteLoving your tips. Can't wait to see the finished kitchen :)
ReplyDeleteSteph xx
Steph’s World | Lifestyle Blog | www.stephsworld.com
Thanks Steph, it might be a while but there will definitely be a post up when it's done :) xx
DeleteI can't wait to see the transformation post! I'm studying interior design at the moment so it's interesting to see from a home owner's perspective what the struggles are. Maximising space in the kitchen is so important- as well as having clever and versatile storage! :)
ReplyDeleteMetallic Paws
Ooooh that must be so interesting! Yes storage is so important! xx
DeleteI totally agree with this! Pricing up is always a good idea so you're not shocked or can't get what you want, great post x
ReplyDeleteYes exactly - better to know the damage beforehand! xx
DeleteHaving an idea of a budget it's always a good place to start! I can't wait to see your kitchen finished.
ReplyDeleteTania || www.taniaalexandraribeiro.com
Tania ||
Thank you Tania, I'm sure there'll be a post and lots of pictures when it's done! xx
DeleteOh I cannot wait to see your finished kitchen. I do love me a good furniture shop and dream of designing my own kitchen! SO looking forward to seeing your new one :)
ReplyDeleteLove, Kerstin
http://www.missgetaway.com/
Thank you, I can't wait for it to be finished! xx
DeleteLoved your video, can't wait to see the end result! Gemma x
ReplyDeletewww.jacquardflower.uk
Ah thanks Gemma so glad you enjoyed it! xx
DeleteCant wait to move into my own place and build it how I like.
ReplyDeleteCant wait to see your finished kitchen
ZEKALIN
It's the best being able to plan everything exactly how you want it! xx
DeleteOh this sounds so exciting, hopefully one day soon I'll get to decorate my own house/apartment as well, it's a total dream of mine! :) Can't wait to see your kitchen and read everything about it once it gets delivered to you! xx
ReplyDeleteoooh I'm sure you will! Thanks lovely :) xx
DeleteLove your tips, can't wait to see the end result xxx
ReplyDeleteThanks Tasha, there'll be a post when it's done :) xx
DeleteGreat tips!! I cannot wait to see the transformation, I love wondering around Ikea getting inspiration! I'm going to head over and check out your Vlog now :) xxxx
ReplyDeletewww.beauteagenes.com
Thanks lovely and thank you for watching the vlog! xx
DeleteThis is a really helpful post and if I ever buy a kitchen I'll come back to it. Going to IKEA to look at different kitchens sounds logical, I do that anyway whenever I go there (although I don't even have my own flat haha). For decor inspiration I'd probably go on tumblr or pinterest xx
ReplyDelete113thingstosay.com
I did it anyway before we even had a house haha! Just a great place to wander around! xx
DeleteSo many fab ideas for when I finally get my own place..and therefore my own kitchen! I'll definitely be coming back to this post when that happens!
ReplyDeletehttps://brightonbb.blogspot.co.uk
Hope you find it useful when the time comes! xx
DeleteThese are some great tips for when I have my own place and a kitchen of my own to worry about! Pricing things up and planning it out is so important to make it so nothing is a big shock and things work nicely. (:
ReplyDeleteSingle Vegas Girl
http://singlevegasgirl.blogspot.com
Yes, need to make sure we could actually afford it haha! xx
DeleteLove all your tips, loved your vlog too!' Can't wait to get my own house and kitchen! Xox
ReplyDeleteAw thank you and thank you for watching lovely :) xx
DeleteReally enjoyed watching the vlog Amy! And congratulations for the 5 hours in IKEA, you definitely deserve a medal!!
ReplyDeleteHave a lovely day :)
Rosanna x
Rose's Rooftop
Thanks Rosanna, so glad you enjoyed it! Haha I know right? xx
DeleteI like Ikea kitchens and I agree with you, checking Pinterest is good and prices, too. I think that the kitchen is a place that needs a lot of thought, since it's not like a sofa "I want to change it, or revamp it with a throw and cushions", no, it is something more permanent. I am more like a boho fan style, so mine turns to be a bit easier to renovate, but anyway, also with some thoughts! Eager to see how it turned! Hope you have a very nice week!
ReplyDeleteDenisesPlanet.com
Yes exactly - much more difficult than any other room to change up so you've got to like what you decide in the first place! xx
DeleteId love to design my own kitchen! I can't wait to see how yours will turn out.
ReplyDeleteCorinne x
www.skinnedcartree.com
It's so much fun! Thank you Corinne xx
DeleteGreat post and perfect timing as about to decide what to do with ours. Thanks for sharing xxxxxx
ReplyDeleteLucylovesbeautyxo.com
Oooh that is perfect timing, keep me updated with what you decide!xx
DeleteI'm sure it will look amazing, Amy! I LOVE Ikea; I could spend hours in there.
ReplyDeleteWho am I kidding..?
I DO spend hours in there, haha ;)
Blessings,
Edye | Gracefulcoffee.com
Haha I'm glad it's not just me that spends forever in there! xx
DeleteI was never that kid who had her wedding planned out; I was the kid who had her future home planned out! I absolutely love visiting DIY and interior design shops for inspiration. B&Q with my dad is one of my favourite past-times! I've actually never been to Ikea (shocking I know) but I know I'd spend hours in there! Kitchens are such a focus point of a house as most people spend a lot of time in them!
ReplyDeleteSian x
http://theenglisheverygirl.blogspot.co.uk/
Oh my, if you're into DIY and interiors then you 100% have to visit IKEA! Sometimes I go just for fun haha! xx
Deleteits so good that you can actually design your own!
ReplyDeleteIm pretty sure in a few years time we will want to rip our kitchen out and re-do!
Alex ox
http://www.champagneandlemonadeox.co.uk
Aw yours looks so lovely though! Ours definitely needed ripping out and we were lucky that it was just an odd shape so we could design it from scratch! Xx
Delete