Let’s face it, this lock down means that by now you’ve probably watched more Netflix than you ever dreamed possible, your kids aren’t at school and this whole ‘home school’ situation most likely isn’t working. Of course, if you’re working from home, we can bet you’re taking plenty of snack breaks and are periodically gazing out the window in a dazed state. All in all, it’s a bit of a confusing time. Unfortunately, this turn of events doesn’t seem to be changing any time soon.
So, while you are loading up stockpiled food into your cabinets, and can’t fit in all those tins of tomatoes, or, you are staring into the depths of your cobwebbed lined larder, cursing at the aforementioned stockpilers, now is the time to consider whether your cabinets are working for you. While you’re homebound, this is the perfect opportunity to reflect on whether the layout of your home is complimenting you and your family, or alternatively, if it needs some tweaking.
Even though the Exeter Kitchen Store showroom is physically closed, this doesn’t mean you are being abandoned by the EKS team. We are here to support you and your project, as well as hopefully provide a welcome distraction. We have plenty of channels available for you to communicate with our staff, over email, phone, Skype, Teams - you name it, we use it! This allows you to have a normal design experience, where you can talk through your ideas and what you want. Book an appointment today!
To help you out, we’ve made a list of things you can do to get started in preparation for a new kitchen:
1. Get your Google on.
Research is the start of any project, where you can have a look online for inspiration and ideas. It’s a good idea to figure out for yourself what it is that you do like, or what you really don’t like. The team will be able to create a kitchen design and make suggestions in line with the look you’ve got in mind from this information. A good place to start is checking out our Kitchen Design Trends page. Aside from looking at the kitchen style you’d like, remember to pay attention to the costs you are being initially presented with when you’re looking around at kitchen suppliers, and what the REAL price you’ll eventually be given is. You can help find out where these extra costs are found by reading our Hidden Kitchen Costs blog. Don’t worry, our design team will always provide you with a transparent cost, so you know what price you’re looking at from the beginning. Would you like a quote? Email your requirements to info@exeterkitchenstore.co.uk today.
2. Browse our brochure.
We may not currently be able to send out a hard copy of our brochure, but you will always have access to a PDF version - so make sure you download one here. If you want to find out even more about these door styles, make sure you check them out on our Kitchen Styles page. Once you’ve got an idea for which style of door style you’d like, make sure you look at our Kitchen Accessories page for worktop ideas and other accessory inspo.
3. Start measuring up.
By providing our designers with your rooms measurements this will help them create a kitchen design that is spot on for your home. We recommend you check out our How to Use our Kitchen Planner blog for a step-by-step guide on how to accurately gather all the details of your space. Don't worry - when we're able to, we can visit you to check your measurements before your order goes into production. Need any help right now? Give us a call on 01392 285949.
4. Balance your budget.
Money is an eternally awkward subject, however when it comes to us meeting your needs and providing you with a realistic design, it is very helpful for us to know what your budget is. If you’d like to make the most of what you’ve got, make sure you check out our Eight Ingredients for a Budget Kitchen blog, for ideas on where you can save money in your kitchen.
5. Trusty timelines.
Do you have any plans as to when you’d like to go ahead with physically receiving the kitchen? Is this something you are flexible with, or do you want to tie it in with other work you’re planning on having done on your home? For example, your kitchen installation could be pending on a house extension, or it could be something that you’d like installed in your home before a certain event you have planned.
6. Effort and Upkeep.
The amount of upkeep required for materials in your kitchen may be a factor that helps to determine some design choices. For example real wood worktops may seem like a great option, however this style of worktop requires a lot of maintenance. This is especially true when compared to options such as stone and laminate surfaces.
7. Managing your project.
One of the brilliant aspects of an EKS kitchen lies in the fact they are supplied pre-assembled and ready to go. This makes the installation much less of a faff than if you had to put together a flat packed kitchen, which is handy if you fancy taking on a bit of DIY. However, if DIY doesn’t speak to you, then you can either take on a fitter that EKS recommended or one you’ve found yourself. These are all things you need to bear in mind when it comes to organising your time, managing costs and deciding how much input you’d personally like to contribute to the project.
We hope this guide provides you with lots of areas to think over when it comes to creating a new kitchen design. Of course, while this list is here to provide structure to your planning process, it is nothing compared to our knowledgeable and super friendly team who you can chat with over email, phone calls or Skype appointments! Get in touch with the team at any point to discuss your ideas by emailing info@exeterkitchenstore.co.uk or calling 01392 285949!
