Your Fitted Kitchen Questions Answered

Here at Kreativ, we’ve devoted decades to designing and installing the most innovative, high-quality fitted kitchens. And whether it’s your first or third time renovating your kitchen, we trust you’ll have plenty of questions about ensuring your new interior lives up to expectations. In this article, we’re aiming to answer some of these questions, helping you learn more about fitted kitchens and the kitchen design journey. Below you will find a wealth of information to help you take a step closer towards bringing your beautiful new space to life.

What Are Fitted Kitchens?

A fitted kitchen refers to any kitchen that’s built-in rather than freestanding. They commonly feature base units, tall units, and sometimes wall units. Until the 1920s, most kitchens were made up of a series of freestanding pieces of furniture like dressers, washstands, and tables. Nowadays, most kitchens are fitted. Fitted kitchens were created with practicality and efficiency in mind, making them very popular with homeowners. Since they can be tailored to the dimensions of your room and individual needs, they offer an excellent way to maximise space and achieve a cohesive and stylish aesthetic.

What’s Included In A Fitted Kitchen?

A fitted kitchen typically includes all the components required to create a functional and efficient space, such as cabinets, storage solutions, worktops, appliances, and a sink and tap. Aside from the basic elements needed to achieve a working kitchen, most retailers provide some level of design and installation service. Some also offer additional support. For example, they might supply finishing touches like lighting, flooring, and furniture, or offer to manage your project, including coordinating preparatory building work and installing your new kitchen. You’ll need to read your quote thoroughly to understand exactly what your fitted kitchen includes.

Here at Kreativ Kitchens, we pride ourselves on our outstanding service. Our experienced, professional specialists will work closely with you to understand your individual requirements, providing all the support needed to bring your vision to life. As a trusted independent company, we go above and beyond to maintain the highest standards from design to installation. As well as supplying the finest quality German kitchens, we provide unrivalled technical expertise and guidance to ensure your project surpasses your expectations.

How Much Do Fitted Kitchens Cost?

A range of factors can influence the cost of a fitted kitchen. One of the main considerations is the size of your space. A larger room will require more materials and labour to transform, increasing the overall cost. The quality of the products you are using will also impact the price of your kitchen. For example, an off-the-shelf mass-produced cabinet will be much cheaper than a precision-engineered bespoke German product. You will also need to factor in any installation costs. A complex remodel will be more expensive than simply replacing your existing cabinets and appliances.

As a rough guide, fitted kitchens can cost anywhere from £5000 for cheap supply-only flatpack furniture to £30,000 and upwards for a high quality, custom designed and installed interior. It’s important to note that these are only rough estimates. The final cost of your kitchen will depend on your individual brief.

How Do I Find The Best Kitchen Layout?

The layout of your fitted kitchen will directly affect the storage and workspace you have available. It will dictate your workflow and dramatically impact how easy your kitchen is to use. So, finding a layout that works for you is very important. Everyone’s home and lifestyle are different; thus, your kitchen layout should be equally unique.

Before you begin thinking about the size and shape of your space and the best way to utilise it, you should outline your specific requirements. For example, you might need space for multiple people to cook, somewhere to entertain guests or a spot for the kids to do their homework. Next, you can start considering different layouts and how to position key appliances like your fridge, hob, and sink. For more advice on planning a successful kitchen layout, please click here to read our dedicated article.

How Can I Maximise Storage Space In My Fitted Kitchen?

From organising your spices to finding somewhere to stow special occasion crockery, storage is a crucial element of any kitchen. Fortunately, fitted kitchens offer numerous solutions to maximise space and enhance your design. Cabinets with pull-out shelves and wide drawers provide easy access to cookware, ingredients, and small appliances. Vertical storage options, such as tall cabinets and open shelving, can help you utilise wall space. Fitted kitchens also offer plenty of clever corner storage solutions like carousels, pull-out racks, and tambour units. To learn more about how to make the most of every inch of space, please click here.

How Do I Design A Fitted Kitchen That Looks Great?

The kitchen is often considered the heart of the home, and as such, your new fitted kitchen should reflect your personality and capture your individual style. It should leave you feeling excited to cook and entertain, creating a beautiful gathering place for you, your family, and your friends to enjoy. However, with so many different styles, colours, finishes, and features available, knowing where to start can be tricky. Browsing online and exploring your local kitchen showroom is a great way to find inspiration. It should help you refine your ideas before discussing your plans with a professional designer. Click here to view our fantastic kitchen gallery.

Where Is The Best Place To Buy A Fitted Kitchen?

When it comes to purchasing a fitted kitchen, there are typically two options. You can either work with an independent kitchen specialist or buy an off-the-shelf kitchen from a big national retailer. While going with a smaller independent company should give you access to personalised expert advice, exceptional quality, carefully sourced products, and professionally managed installations and aftercare, you will need to ensure you choose a reputable company. You can start by checking whether the retailer in question is a member of the KBSA. Big-name brands like Wren and Howdens are very competitively priced. However, they are unlikely to offer the same level of bespoke service and exceptional quality products as a dedicated, independently run team. Ultimately, your decision depends on your individual needs and priorities.

If you have any other questions about how to achieve the perfect fitted kitchen, our expert team would love to hear from you. You can call us on 0113 269 2784 or email [email protected].