renovation & building
SPACE PLANNING: kitchens & bathrooms
Self building from scratch offers the perfect opportunity to ensure these functional rooms are designed to respond to your lifestyle and be a pleasure to use,
says Jane Crittenden
Top: A V-shape island has the wow factor, as well as providing ample space for cooking and socialising together. Zeluso cupboards in grey and aqua white, from £10,000, Crown Kitchens.
Inset: A clever U-shaped drawer slots around the sink in this cabinet from Blum, making use of every inch
One of the best places to begin with space planning your bathrooms and kitchen is to look at how you live now. Are there some lessons to be learned? Perhaps the basin is squeezed too close to the loo, or there isn’t enough worktop either side of the hob. Make a list of your gripes and use this as a stepping off point.
KITCHEN PLANNING Layouts and zoning
The three typical layouts here are galley, L-shape and U-shape. Galley kitchens suit narrow spaces but can feel closed-in, so consider using wall cupboards with open shelves. A U-shape in a larger room can incorporate a central island or table, but zone carefully so you’re not always criss-crossing the room. The L-shape allows two people to work comfortably together.