Top tips for buying a bespoke kitchen

Last Updated on : 14th December 2016

Want a kitchen that works just the way you want it to – a bespoke solution may be just what you are looking for. Unlike ‘off the peg’, a bespoke kitchen will be designed around you rather than you fitting into what is available. Roundhouse, a multi-award-winning bespoke kitchen design and manufacturer offers advice when buying a bespoke kitchen to help you get underway.

Roundhouse photography by Ray Main

What can you expect?
Buying a bespoke kitchen means you’ll get a kitchen that is designed to suit you. To use a ‘tailoring’ analogy, a bespoke kitchen is just like a bespoke suit; the size and shape is cut to fit, it will be exactly what you want, and it should last a lifetime. Bespoke kitchen designers will really go the extra mile to understand your needs and ideas. Roundhouse bespoke kitchens are built by skilled craftsmen and have a practically limitless choice of materials, colours, fittings and styles.

Think about the space your kitchen will occupy
If you have an extension being built or walls demolished to create a large open space, by talking to kitchen designers early on, your kitchen can be designed as an integral part of that space rather than as an afterthought. Think about how you will use the space; for example will it be more than just a kitchen where food is prepared, but a social space for family and a place to entertain?

Speak to a designer early on in the process
The process of designing a bespoke kitchen is all about consultation and collaboration. At Roundhouse we’re open, down-to-earth people who’ll work closely with you (and with your architect or interior designer if you have one) to ensure the overall plan, and every specification and detail are spot-on. By getting to understand your needs, your designer will come up with creative ideas you may not even have considered. Bespoke kitchen designers are experts, with years of knowledge of not only creating beautiful kitchens but also of the latest appliances, fixtures and fittings and innovations in finishes.

Roundhouse photography by Darren Chung (left), Nick Kane (right)

Make a must-have list
Are there things you just can’t live without? It helps to list your priorities, for example; if you are a keen cook you might want acres of prep space or you may want an entirely clutter-free kitchen so lots of storage space will be critical. Are there specific appliances that you must have, or maybe you have a desire for a particular work surface?

Gather your inspiration
Collect as much reference material as you can, from a variety of sources, such as magazines, instagram, Pinterest, houzz or from the galleries on kitchen designers websites such as http://www.roundhousedesign.com. Focus on what really inspires you – the more reference material you can amass, the easier it will be for designers to really understand what it is you like. Images of kitchens, worksurfaces, splashbacks/tiles, islands, layouts, colours etc., all are really helpful.

Have a budget in mind
Have a plan of how much you want to spend – by being frank about this upfront your designer will be able to help you choose what you should invest in and where you may be able to save. For example having extra wide bi-fold doors can help save on cabinetry costs and some types of cabinetry and veneers are more expensive than others, and the same goes for work surfaces and of course appliances.

Roundhouse photography by Nick Kane

What you’ll get…
A beautiful kitchen in the finest materials, designed and built around you. Bespoke kitchens are totally adaptable, and although standard sized cabinetry can be supplied, pretty much any bespoke size is available, extra wide or extra shallow, for taller or shorter people, extra tall/short – almost any non–standard size. A bespoke kitchen is built to last and you should get many years of enjoyment from it.