Current at: 06 August 2008
Planning A Kitchen For Purpose And Pleasure
A reader asks about kitchen extensions. Are they worth the effort and will the additional investment be recouped if and when the property is sold?
Kitchens and bathrooms, once dismissed as the necessary but purely utilitarian parts of the home, are now often the jewels in its crown. Bathrooms had a head start as more people decided they wanted a place to relax and pamper themselves rather that just get clean, but kitchens, riding on the popularity of celebrity chefs and cooking programs, have caught up.
So a good, modern and roomy kitchen will certainly add value to the home, but the more important question is what do you want your kitchen to do for you?
For instance, if you are planning to get into gourmet cooking, providing new and exotic meals for the family and for dinner parties, then you will want a highly functional kitchen with plenty of storage space and up-to-date appliances.
If several members of the family are going to be using the kitchen at the same time then space becomes a priority. One of the most important things in kitchen design is the ‘work triangle’, with the sink, the cook-top and the refrigerator at the three points. The total walking distance on a round of the points should be between seven and 10 metres, depending on the number of people you expect to be working in the kitchen at any one time.
Once you have assembled your ideas, find an HIA architect who can prepare a plan for you or look for an HIA specialist kitchens and bathrooms designer. A lot of people like to go straight to the Yellow Pages, but that’s a lottery and remember, cheapness and availability do not necessarily add up to best.
Work with your architect or designer on just how big an extension you plan, its effect on other parts of the home, and your ideal materials. Try to get these decisions made early and stick to them. People who change their minds half-way through a project often face delays and extra costs.
A carefully planned and thought-out kitchen renovation or extension will be a pleasure for the enthusiastic cook, make life more convenient for the family and add value to the home.
Need a tradesperson? Find an HIA professional convenient to you at tradebuild.com.au
