The kitchen is usually the busiest room in the house so it doesn’t come as a surprise that homeowners’ main priority is turning it into a highly-functional, as well as multifunctional, open, and family-friendly space.
Since families and homeowners are often faced with a limited amount of space in their homes, the best way to create this multifunctional space is to add a kitchen extension. It helps you gain more space without having to move or spend too much money.
Adding a kitchen extension allows you to adapt your home to your specific needs, to adapt to the changes in your family, such as new members, as well as to improve the overall quality of your life.
In order to make the most of your kitchen extension Dublin project, to maximize its value and the functionality it will bring you, we have put together a practical guide with some of the most important considerations for the planning process.
Read on and create the kitchen of your dreams.
Choosing the Best Location for Your Kitchen Extension
The first step in your kitchen extension project planning should be deciding where to physically place your kitchen extension.
You should think about it in terms of functionality, of the best use of your space, as well as in terms of accessibility, i.e. where it would fit best and be accessible the most. You should also think about it size-wise, i.e. where it is possible to fit your new kitchen.
For example, you can extend the side or the rear of your home to create your new kitchen if there is enough space. If you live in a terraced house, for example, a side kitchen extension might be the only possible solution.
If you have decided on a rear extension, then you should make sure the size of your kitchen does not compromise your entire garden. You should plan it out so that there is a balance between the size of the garden and the new extension.
Your contractor will be more than able to help you with this, advise you based on their experience, as well as draw out a functional design plan.
The Practicalities of Your New Extension
Your kitchen extension should be a practical and functional one, one that does not compromise other parts of your home and garden, as well as one that is easily accessible and one that covers all your needs.
Once you have decided on the perfect place for your extension, you need to figure out the practicalities of it. The first one being access to the kitchen.
Think about how you will be able to access it from inside your home. It should be a very seamless transition and ideally, you should be able to access it from your main hallway. Accessing it from other rooms would not be very convenient or natural, but if there is no other way, you can work out the details with your contractor for the best results.
Next, you should also think about the access to your kitchen from the garden. i.e. the transition from your kitchen extension to your garden.
If you are planning on installing a door to the garden, then they need to be placed in an ideal spot where they won’t stand out or get in the way of some other important elements. They need to be practical to open, so you can think about sliding or bi-fold doors.
These are usually the most common and functional solutions that will connect the indoor and outdoor space perfectly.
Exterior Design of the Kitchen
You should also consider how the exterior design of the kitchen extension will match your existing house exterior design and the garden layout.
Working with your building contractor, you should try to choose the materials that will closely match the existing materials on your house in order to create a seamless transition between the new addition and the existing structure.
There is, however, a different way you can go with your design. You can decide to create a contrast and choose some bolder colours and styles for your new addition or go with a glass-box style for more natural light.
Planning the Interior Layout
After all the practicalities and the exterior designs have been settled, you can move onto the interior design of your new kitchen extension.
Once you know the exact size that your kitchen will be, you can easily determine the layout of the entire kitchen. You can play with the space and place your cabinets and appliances wherever you want, but always with functionality in mind. Think about what you will need closer at hand, which parts and appliances will you need next to each other, etc.
You can create an open space kitchen with a big island in the middle, you can go for an L-shaped or a U-shaped design, whichever suits your needs best.
Talk with your contractor in detail throughout this process so that they can also advise you on what is possible, where you can put the plumbing, the electrical outlets, etc.
Once you have the layout figured out, you can move onto the finishing touches and think about the countertops, cabinet colours, sinks, taps, and similar details.
Applying for a Planning Permission
An important thing to keep in mind and to look into is the planning permission. Some home extensions require you to apply for one, while some don’t. Your building contractor will be able to advise you or even take care of this process for you. But always check with your local authorities whether you need one or not.
Smaller home extensions usually do not require you to apply for a planning permission if they fall under the permitted development rights.
If they don’t, on the other hand, you will need to apply for a permit to your local council, providing them with the necessary documentation on your home and the future extension. They will provide you with all the necessary details and your contractor can help you out during this process.
Once you have your planning permission in hand and your designs ready, you can finally start with the actual building process and make your dream kitchen a reality.
Conclusion
With careful planning and cooperation with your best kitchen extension contractors, you can have the kitchen you have always dreamed about, as well as more space and functionality in your home. By following the helpful advice from our practical guide, your new kitchen will be highly-functional and beautiful, breathing new life into your home.