How to Choose a Kitchen

A Step-by-Step Guide for Your Renovation

The kitchen is the heart of your home, whether you’re preparing family meals, entertaining friends or enjoying a quiet morning coffee.

But with so many decisions to make, from layout to lighting, choosing the right kitchen can feel overwhelming.

If you're planning a kitchen renovation - especially in a period property - this guide will help you navigate the key decisions.

And to make it even easier, you can download a copy of our free kitchen planning checklist by signing up to our free monthly newsletter here.

1. Think About How You Live

Before choosing a kitchen style or layout, reflect on how you use the space:

Do you cook daily or just occasionally?
Is the kitchen purely functional, or a hub for socialising?
Will you eat in the kitchen or dine elsewhere?
Do you need room for children, pets or working from home?
What’s currently frustrating about your existing kitchen?

This will shape every design decision, helping you prioritise practicality as well as aesthetics.

2. Respect the Character of Your Home

When designing a kitchen for a period home, it’s important to create a space that feels harmonious with the rest of your property. Whether you're working with Georgian, Victorian or Edwardian architecture consider:

Traditional details like shaker cabinets or tongue-and-groove panelling
Natural materials such as wood, stone or aged brass
Soft, heritage-inspired colour palettes
The balance between original features and modern functionality
Making the most of the architecture you have so you're not fighting against it. Highlight the quirks.

A thoughtful design will feel timeless, not trendy, and sit comfortably in its setting.

3. Prioritise the Right Layout

The best kitchen layouts support how you move through the space. Start with the classic kitchen triangle—the relationship between the sink, hob and fridge, but adapt it to your lifestyle.

Modern layouts may also include:

A kitchen island or peninsula for prep, dining or socialising
Dedicated zones for baking, coffee-making or kids’ homework
Open-plan designs that flow into living or dining areas

Need help zoning an open-plan kitchen? Feel free to get in touch.

4. Choose Durable, Beautiful Materials

The best kitchens combine beauty with long-term durability. Think beyond surface looks and consider materials that will stand up to daily use:

Cabinetry: Solid wood or high-quality painted MDF
Worktops: Quartz, composite or natural stone
Flooring: Stone or tiles with underfloor heating
Splashbacks: Tiles, glass, steel sheets

Opt for finishes that are easy to clean, family-friendly and cohesive with your home’s style. Avoid materials that are difficult to look after or stain easily.

5. Don’t Underestimate the Details

Finishing touches give your kitchen personality and polish. These include:

Handles and hardware – antique brass, matte black or ceramic, or go without handles
Taps and sinks – filtered and boiling water taps, Belfast sinks or contemporary mixers
Lighting – statement pendants, under-cabinet lighting and task lighting
Colours – do you want your kitchen to feel calm, bold, cosy or energising?

Using colour psychology can help you choose tones that make your kitchen feel just right. The Georgians started painting their dining rooms in earthy reds, yellows and oranges as they had worked out these colours make you feel hungry.

6. Use a Checklist to Stay on Track

There’s a lot to think about when choosing a kitchen, and it’s easy to miss something. That’s why we’ve created a free Kitchen Planning Checklist, available for download when you sign up to our monthly newsletter.

It covers everything from layout and storage to style choices and lighting, so you're organised and ready to move forward.

Or if you prefer to chat through options and need some ideas book a consultation to get you started.

Find out more

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