The biggest design flaws I have seen when working on my client's dream kitchen design

The kitchen is the heart of the home, where the family gathers around food and spends time together, away from screens and other distraction. If you ask me, food really is what brings people together!

I especially feel it around Christmas time. I would spend hours with my mom in the kitchen preparing the 100 dishes we were going to put on the table for the Christmas Eve dinner. Chances are, most of us a some point in the coming days will be gathered around a table, an island, eating all sorts of delicious treats whilst enjoying each other’s company.

Throughout the years, I have designed many kitchens and more often than not, clients would come to me with a very specific idea of what they want (or think they want).

Kitchens are one of my favourite spaces to design because it is such an important part of the home for people. I get to learn a lot about how someone lives based on their use of the space, and everyone is so different! So it’s always a challenge to read between the lines of the brief and create their perfect dream kitchen.

Here are the top 10 design mistakes most people make when designing their kitchen and most importantly: how to avoid them.

1. Designing for looks more than function

If you only need to remember one, it is this one! I get it, there is a lot going on in the kitchen, it is probably one of the most complex room in the house as it needs to be equally beautiful and practical.

Get inspiration from magazine and online tools such as Pinterest, but do not base your design on an image, because chances are your kitchen is not the same size, layout, or doesn’t get the same amount of natural light. You could end up with something that just doesn’t work.

Start your kitchen design by asking yourself the questions: What do I need in this kitchen? What does it need to do for me? Once you have that sorted, look for inspiration that matches what you want.

2. Jeopardising the triangle

A lot of things in life revolve around triangles, and there is a reason for this, it works!

The rule is simple: the cooktop, sink, and fridge have to form a triangle, with no obstruction in between. That’s the ideal scenario. No explanation needed.

3. Underestimating the bench top space

Islands are such a beautiful feature in a kitchen and is great for workflow, but what you gain in circulation space you lose in bench top space. Turning your island into a peninsula would give you at least 1sqm more of surface and storage below, which could be quite precious.

Secondly, the space on each side of the cooktop is also often underestimated. Allow for a minimum of 600mm on either side, that will leave room for chopping boards, plates, recipe book etc etc.

4. Overestimating the size of the island

Again, islands are everyone’s dream (mine too believe me!). I think all of my clients have asked me if I could make their island bigger. But making the island bigger means making something else smaller. Don’t compromise circulation space or the size of other elements to make the island bigger.

I would recommend 1200mm maximum, it gives you 600mm depth for a cupboard on the kitchen side, and 600mm leg space, stool storage or cupboards on the other side.

You need to be able to hand something over the someone on the other side, and clean it easily (Yes, I have seen massive islands where the centre couldn’t be reached to clean!)

5. Trying to squeeze in too much

As you work on your kitchen design, you’ll draw, think, re-draw, re-think, you’ll add things and eventually end up with a convoluted design. It happens to all of us. The trick is to not stop there.

Look at your design, evaluate your priorities, try to combine functions and simplify your design. If you are conscious about your budget, this step is even more important, the simpler the joinery, the better.

6. Not considering corners

Corners in kitchens are tricky, most of the time they end up being wasted and unusable storage space. Give some thoughts on how you want to use it. Can it be a full height pantry? Would you rather have the bench space to put a nice fruit bowl or some appliances?

Great cupboard systems exist now to make the most of the under-bench space, have a look at Hafele. The main thing is to make is easily accessible. If it’s not, you’ll end up filling it with junk.

7. Thinking there is enough storage

My design motto: get as much storage as you can. Think of the set of glass flute you got as a gift, the pop corn maker you use once in a blue moon, the ice cream maker you only use in summer. These all need a place and it shouldn’t be your main cupboards. These cupboards should be easily accessible, highly practical and full of things you use on a daily basis.

Design your kitchen elements to go all the way to your ceiling, this way the high cupboard can be accessible with a little stool or step ladder once in a while. I am also not a fan of cupboards stopped short, you end up putting things on there because you lack storage and it ends up covered with greasy dust. So avoid it if you can.

8. Forgetting about appliances

I am thinking microwave, coffee machine, toasters etc.

If you are re-designing your kitchen, you have the opportunity to have a dedicated space for the appliances, you don’t have to just put them on the bench top.

You can have the microwave under the bench or built in the wall with the oven.

As for the coffee machine, I always design a breakfast station: kettle, toaster and coffee machine all together with some storage for cups, sugar, tea bags etc. This way, you can make breakfast all in one place, even better if they are all in a cupboard that you can close and forget.

9. Forgetting about bins

We all need them! Under the sink is obviously the best spot. Have a look at bins systems when you design your kitchen. You have the opportunity to create the perfect little waste sorting station, to make your recycling and sorting (almost) enjoyable.

10. Lighting

Task lighting is the key here! General downlight are good, but keep in mind that every light that is located behind you will be casting a shadow over the bench top and what you are doing. So don’t forget lighting over the island/peninsula and over the bench top or below the overhead cupboard.

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If you go through this list while designing your kitchen, you are 10 steps closer to the kitchen of your dreams!

I'd be more than happy to help you if you need help with your design, just Get in Touch!

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