Hello SV,

It might be a good idea to think about what you want to get out of the kitchen, how you use the kitchen and what you like,re appliances you think you'd need.. I personally don't really use that many books for design as I like to consider the space and the client and what their needs are... So I personally focus on the spatial and the collaborative aspect between my specification suggestions re procurement and the desires of the client.. Working closely with someone like a designer can give you more than just a plan. Some like me do many things from design, consulting to styling and procurement..

A few basics rule wise, people tend to want to have a triangular configuration between oven, sink and fridge. A galley goes against this idea but still you need to find it flows for maximum efficiency. Leave a meter between worktop and island especially if you have an oven door to consider too for example..

Another way of looking at the design of the kitchen is to think about what appliances you want and where you want to show them off.. Kitchens are so much more than functional and I look at everything.. the what and the where...

I believe they should be beautiful too whether they are a completely new or re purposed in some way.. Again there are many ways of dealing with your budget and how to get the most out of it.. So have a think about product, how you cook, space available or space you want to create. How much storage you need and how the kitchen flows into other areas of the home if at all.. I don't have a kitchen book I can recommend sadly.. but perhaps this gets you thinking about what and where and some practical elements.. Do you make pasta from scratch? and so would benefit from Granite worktop over wood? Do you need a sliding slimline larder over a double height double doors larder..

Can this be hidden from direct eye sight to enhance the aesthetic and view of the room...... Just a few things to start mulling over.. Magazines are also good sources of inspiration as to the latest must have.... Kohler pot filler for example or a quooker hot tap! : ))

Thanks AJ Interiors Styling. All really useful things to consider.
I have been playing around with whole of the ground floor layout of our proposed refurb and extension in easyplanner3d which has been very helpful and I'm pleased with my novice designs but I just wanted to find a reference book if there was one out there on tips etc.
Plan is to have a large open plan kitchen/dining/living area at the back of the house, with an island with a seating area and the induction hob on it, and then a long run of units on the wall behind it incorporating, two single ovens, integrated fridge/freezer, double sink, dishwasher, maybe the frankie 4 way,function tap? I think I pretty much know what I want in terms of functionality, style and aesthetics it more the layout that I wanted some guidance on, so far the kitchen companies I have spoken to have been a little uninspiring and I feel like I'm guiding them, which I know is important as I have to live with it, but no one seems to be able to guide me definitively in the layout, or advise on say for example "the size of the island...."hence why I was looking for a book. I have a tonne of magazines and brochures, as well as houzz for inspiration and ideas, I just wondered if there was something a bit more definitive to refer to. Thanks anyway for all your good points, will think about them all too!

Hello SV,

Most welcome and I must say I am not really surprised by what you said I think you need someone who really loves their job and can really visualise your space and hone in on what you like well.. Glad to hear you have got a good idea.. In terms of the island size, this depends on the overall size of the room and what's going in it..

If you're having the hob on the island then you need I would estimate roughly 2 to 3 meters at least if the hob is 600/900 wide so you have prep space either side and then at least 1.5 or more meters in depth if you're situating seating on the other side of this.. Consider downdraft extraction for the hob as an alternative to ceiling extraction.. Elica do some nice looking examples..

Then you may want to consider pan drawers either side of the hob so the island is all about food preparation and hob cooking.... Islands can be as big as you want if you have the space.. It may be a nice idea to also consider an island that morphs into dining and there are many ways to design this.. You could also consider an island that is not perhaps uniform in shape.. Is is boxed in entirely... Does a portion have a tabletop configuration so seating and legs can be situated underneath..

: ))

Thanks...again all good stuff. I had thought of down draft extractor and really like them, but they do seem quite pricey?!Also I'm glad you said about the island with legs (more like a table look) as this was my most recent suggestion to a high street kitchen company and the guy just stared at me as if I was mad! I really like the idea of the island seating being more intimate than sitting in a row and so was thinking of putting cooking/prep at one end of the island and seating at the other, I think with this set up discreet ceiling extractor would work ok?!
Anyway I think I've gleamed from our very useful chat that I would be better seeking design advise from someone like yourself than some of the kitchen companies..
Thanks again :o)

Most welcome SV,

Well I love kitchens and all rooms but thank you I'm glad to help. I think having a creative mind is very important and so I think you have good ideas. I also want to push the idea of average to outstanding.. So you're definitely not mad! A discreet ceiling extractor is of course another good way to filter the kitchen as a whole and may well be a better option for you budget wise.. By all means you know where to go if you need further help :))