Guide to Designing a Bespoke Kitchen - Craigie Woodworks
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Guide to
Designing
a Bespoke
Kitchen
1 craigiewoodworks.co.uk
C O N T E N T S
Where to begin: 3
Cooking: 5
Cooker options 5
Cooker position 7
Extraction: 8
Extractor fan options 8
Mantle canopies 9
Washing up: 10
Sink options 10
Position of sink 11
Dishwashers 13
Bins and recycling: 14
Fridges: 15
Fridge options 15
Position of fridge 16
The look: 17
Door style 17
Wood and veneer 18
Paint 19
Handles and knobs 20
Storage: 22
Cupboards 22
Corners 23
Wine storage 24
Larder cupboards 25
Drawers 28
On the inside: 28
Inside drawers 29
Knife drawers 30
Worktops: 31
Quartz 31
Granite 32
Stainless Steel 33
Timber 34
Factory produced 35
Finally 36
2 craigiewoodworks.co.uk
Where To Begin
When you are planning a kitchen there are a number of decisions
to be made, and although the decisions aren’t complicated in
themselves, even minor details can have unexpected knock-on
effects. This guide aims to help you navigate the key decisions in a
logical order.
Sorting out the layout of a new kitchen is a good starting point.
First, decide where you want your sink, fridge and cooker to go.You
want to be able to move easily between these three critical items.
In particular, the hob should be quite close to your sink to make it
easier, for example, to drain a pan of boiling pasta water.
Once you have decided the positions of your core items, you can
assemble everything else around them.
Where to begin 3 craigiewoodworks.co.uk
It obviously makes sense
to cluster your cooking
utensils and core ingredients
around the cooker. In the
pale blue West London
kitchen above, the pans,
knives and wooden spoons
are in drawers around the
sink. These clients are keen
bakers, so salt and baking
equipment are close to hand
on the work surface.
Similarly, it is useful to have
a bin for food waste close to
the sink, and a dishwasher.
In this dark blue South
London kitchen, these are
hidden behind cupboard
doors.
Where to begin 4 craigiewoodworks.co.uk
Cooker Options
The choice of cooker is often a top priority. They
vary a lot in function, appearance, size, and cost.
Some people love range cookers which give out heat
such as Aga, Everhot and Esse. These iconic brands
provide the ultimate ‘hygge’ experience.
An Aga for many people is what ‘makes’ their kitchen
- their curved ruggedness and sense of comfort. The
old oil and gas models require regular servicing but
they now offer models with lower running costs and
far greater controllability.
Cooking: Cooker options 5 craigiewoodworks.co.uk
Everhot are a British company that
produces wonderful cookers that
require no servicing and run off ordinary
household 13 amp power. They combine
great simplicity with superb functionality.
The doors close with a soft, magnetized
- satisfying! - thud.
Esse are an old traditional French
company. Their owners love their
cookers, especially their round lids
which open diagonally in a beautiful
fashion.
There are also range cookers which do
not give out heat and come with varying
functions and levels of sophistication.
There are fabulous cookers made by
companies such as Smeg, Rangemaster
and La Cornue. For example, this
beautiful French Lacanche cooker sits
proudly in a Somerset kitchen in the
shadow of Glastonbury Tor.
Cooking: Cooker options 6 craigiewoodworks.co.uk
Cooker Position
The kind of cooker you choose will affect the decision about where it
should go. There are two main kinds of cooker that sit at low level:
firstly, there are freestanding cookers where the oven and hob are part
of the same appliance: for example in this maple veneered kitchen, the
customers chose a stainless steel Rangemaster cooker.
Secondly there are built-in ovens which can either go underneath a
worktop, with a hob above, or be built into a cupboard at eye level. In this
minimalist white kitchen, an unobtrusive hob sits on the island, whilst the
bank of four ovens reflects the surrounding countryside.
Cooking: Cooker Position 7 craigiewoodworks.co.uk
Extractor Fan Options
Building regulations require ventilation in
kitchens.
The position of the hob, whether it is part of a
freestanding cooker or it is a separate built-in
hob, is often governed by whether an extractor
fan can be placed above it. This may depend
upon whether it can connect to an extractor
ducting through the ceiling or sideways
through a wall. In this reclaimed teak kitchen,
the extractor fan is built discreetly into the
underside of a wall cupboard.
This Glastonbury kitchen has a wall-mounted
extractor fan.
If it is not possible to vent an extractor
externally, many models have a ‘recirculation’
mode where smells are filtered and the filtered
air returned to the room. The air passes
through charcoal filters which need to be
replaced regularly.
Extraction: Extractor fan options 8 craigiewoodworks.co.uk
Mantle Canopies
Mantle Canopies are perfect for
housing built in extractor fans. If
you love your cooker, a mantle
canopy also has the effect of making
it centre stage and provides an echo
of a traditional cooking hearth, set in
a chimney breast. A further benefit
is that a mantle canopy can provide
extra storage. In this Dorset kitchen,
we built a dramatic panelled canopy
around the cooker, with a heavily
moulded mantle shelf. The canopy
provides open storage on the inside
cheeks, with subtle downlighting.
Another option for creating a canopy
is to build a false chimney breast and
make it part of the architecture of the
room, as we did in this Wimbledon
kitchen.
Extraction: Mantle canopies 9 craigiewoodworks.co.uk
Sink Options
There are two basic
types of kitchen sinks:
undermounted sinks which
sit underneath a worktop;
and inset sinks, which sit
on top of the worktop.
Traditional white ceramic
Belfast and Butler sinks
are undermounted, though
usually the top front edge,
and front face, of a ceramic
sink are left exposed.
There are also many
type of stainless steel
undermounted sinks,
where the front of the sink
is built behind doors or
behind a fixed panel above
doors.
Inset sinks are very practical
if they come with a built-in
drainer as it keeps most of
the water off the worktop,
and enables a tap to be
mounted at the back of the
bowl rather than directly
onto a worktop. This can
be especially advantageous
if the worktops are timber
as these are vulnerable to
water damage.
Washing up: Sink options 10 craigiewoodworks.co.ukPosition of Sink
Washing up can be quite dull, so it’s good to
position your sink in front of a window so
that you can admire your garden, or watch
the world go by. In this old stone mullioned
Mendip farmhouse, we fitted a sink into the
window space, setting it in a honed ebony
worktop.
Alternatively, an island or peninsula sink allows
you to face out in to the room and chat. In
this family kitchen in Herefordshire we set
the double sink into a central island.
Washing up: Position of sink 11 craigiewoodworks.co.ukIf your sink needs to be against a wall,
deep worktops and good lighting can add a
sense of spaciousness. In this grey painted
kitchen, glass jars on shallow shelves reflect
light from a ceiling window.
Washing up: Position of sink 12 craigiewoodworks.co.ukDishwashers
When considering which side of the sink
you want to put your dishwasher, bear
in mind whether it will block access to
any cupboards when open. Positioning
a dishwasher at the end of a run often
works well. In this dark blue kitchen, the
dishwasher is positioned at the end of an
island, which makes it easily accessible.
Some customers find it more convenient
to have a high level dishwasher. We
fitted a high level integrated dishwasher
in this white lacquered kitchen in Pilton.
Washing up: Dishwashers 13 craigiewoodworks.co.ukBins and
Recycling
If you are short of space
and want a system for
sorting a range of different
kinds of recycling, you
might like an integrated
pull out bin system which
can have 2, 3 or 4 separate
bin containers. These will
take up little space and run
on soft-close runners. (See
image top left)
Sometimes we make a
drawer box, designed to fit
one or more bins that we
buy separately. This can
give greater choice about
the size and kinds of bin
you use.
In this dark blue kitchen,
we built a box on the back
of a cupboard door to
house a food waste bin.
This can be a good use of
a cupboard under the sink
– but might not suit a busy
family, where one person
could be washing up while
someone else is scraping
the plates.
Bins and recylcing 14 craigiewoodworks.co.ukFridge Options
There are two main distinct types of
fridges: freestanding models with their
own doors and integrated, built-in
models with matching furniture doors.
You could, for example, choose a
freestanding model like the stainless steel
American style fridge which takes centre
stage in a run of tall white cupboards.
Or, by opting for an integrated model,
you may want to ‘lose’ it in a run of
cupboard doors. For example, in this
Dorset kitchen we built a tall integrated
fridge into a bank of cupboards veneered
in pearwood.
Fridges: Fridge options 15 craigiewoodworks.co.ukPosition of Fridge
An undercounter fridge gives you
most flexibility about position, but
the storage that it offers is only
sufficient for one or two people.
Tall fridges not only provide more
storage, but minimize the need
to bend or crouch. However, you
are much more restricted about
where they will fit. In this oak
kitchen, the large stainless steel
fridge freezer is placed within a
group of tall cupboards.
Alternatively the fridge can go at
the end of a run of low cupboards,
or against a wall on its own.
Most, but not all fridges, come
with doors which can be hinged
on the left or right. This flexibility
can be useful in deciding their
position.
Fridges: Position of fridge 16 craigiewoodworks.co.ukDoor Style
What your kitchen will look like
will above all be determined by
the style of the doors – whether
they are of panel and frame
construction; whether they have a
recessed panel; and if so, whether
with or without a moulding. For
example the doors on this kitchen
bookcase we built in a Devon
farmhouse have traditional panel
mouldings.
Or the doors can be just plain flat
panels. As in this white minimalist
kitchen.
The Look: Door style 17 craigiewoodworks.co.ukWood and veneer
Another key question which will
make a big difference to the look
of your kitchen, is whether to
have painted doors or a natural
timber finish.
This Somerset kitchen combines
various paint finishes in some
areas of the kitchen and solid oak
in others.
Alternatively, doors and drawers
can be veneered with the grain
running through horizontally, as
in this teak kitchen in London.
The Look: Wood and veneer 18 craigiewoodworks.co.ukPaint
If you choose a painted
kitchen, you have a huge
choice of colours. We use
a paint made by a Finnish
manufacturer. This can be
matched to any colour of
any brand. It’s water-based,
tough and easy to touch up
in the future.
The Look: Paint 19 craigiewoodworks.co.ukHandles and Knobs
Your choice of handles and knobs will
also significantly affect the look of the
kitchen.
We offer a wide range of different kinds
of handle, including our own design of
wooden shaker knobs which are hand-
turned. They are often used to provide
a contrast to the paintwork.
Sometimes we pair oak shaker knobs
with satin chrome cup handles on
drawers.
The Look: Handles and knobs 20 craigiewoodworks.co.ukThe Look: Handles and knobs 21 craigiewoodworks.co.uk
Cupboards
Although the most accessible kitchen storage is
often provided by drawers, there are situations
where cupboards are the best storage solution.
Firstly, drawers are only accessible up to the
height you can see into them.
Secondly, shallow cupboards, whether tall or
low, are often very effective. Contents don’t
get lost behind one another and shelves can be
spaced quite tightly together as you don’t need
to reach over the top.
Wall hung cupboards are an example of
shallow cupboards. If there is a long run of wall
cupboards, it can be a good idea to break up a
run of wall cupboards with some glass doors.
This can work well if the cupboard is for storing
glass or china.
Storage: Cupboards 22 craigiewoodworks.co.ukCorners
Corners of kitchens are often awkward
but a corner cupboard doesn’t have to
be a nightmare.
‘L’ shape cupboards are a useful solution
for corner spaces, especially where there
is room for two wide doors. It’s a good
space for large kitchen items.
Or you can opt for a pull out carousel
on one side of the corner to access the
corner space.
Storage: Corners 23 craigiewoodworks.co.ukWine Storage
Open wine racks look
great and make good use
of narrow spaces. They can
be painted the same as the
rest of the cabinetry or be
made from oak, or other
timbers.
Storage: Wine storage 24 craigiewoodworks.co.ukLarder Cupboards
A larder cupboard is a wonderful way to store your
groceries. It keeps everything in the dark, ideal for
olive oil and other glass jar goods, and relatively cool.
At their simplest, these might be tall, deep cupboards
with adjustable shelves.
But one way to take advantage of their depth, without
losing items at the back, is to have shelf racks on the
backs of doors. In this cupboard, which we made for
a family home in Surrey, we built solid oak larder
compartments with stainless steel retaining rods.
Storage: Larder cupboards 25 craigiewoodworks.co.ukWe often fit strip lights inside
larder cupboards which we
conceal behind oak ‘baffles’. This
blue larder cupboard also includes
a marble worktop.
Another option, shown above in
the walnut interior of this larder
cupboard is to have internal
drawers hidden behind the
cupboard door.
Storage: Larder cupboards 26 craigiewoodworks.co.ukOther storage options inside a larder
cupboard include wicker baskets, vertical
storage for trays and boards and pullout
shelves.
Storage: Larder cupboards 27 craigiewoodworks.co.ukDrawers
In the past, kitchen drawers were used for a relatively
small number of items such as cutlery, utensils and tea
towels. Nowadays drawer runners are so strong, and
run so smoothly, that drawers can be used to store
pans, plates, cups – almost anything. And because they
glide out towards you, you don’t have to crouch down
and rootle around in the back of a cupboard. Once
you have pulled a drawer out you can see its contents
clearly from above. It provides the most visible storage.
Storage: Drawers 28 craigiewoodworks.co.ukInside
Drawers
We use Blumotion drawer
runners which are soft, self-
closing and very strong.There
is no need to have peg boards
to retain plates but you may
have a preference for having
dedicated space for different
stacks of plates.
We often fit solid oak drawer
dividers for cutlery.
And, similarly, dividers can
separate utensils into broad
categories (wooden spoons,
stainless steel spoons etc.)
and save the drawer from
chaos.
On the inside: Inside drawers 29 craigiewoodworks.co.ukKnife Drawers
If a customer wants a purpose-
built solution for storing knives
we can offer several options.
One is to make timber knife racks
which can have as many or as few
slots as required.The racks can be
made so that they fit in with any
other dividing compartments in a
drawer.
Or we can make a raised block
with a magnetic top surface onto
which knives can be laid flat.
On the inside: Knife drawers 30 craigiewoodworks.co.ukWorktops
Your choice of worktops will come down to a balance of aesthetics,
functionality and cost. There are other worktop materials available
such as Corian, glass, concrete, and zinc but the majority of the
kitchens we install have one of these four worktop materials: quartz,
granite, stainless steel or timber.
Quartz
Although a man-made stone, quartz has the durability of natural
stone. It is scratch-proof and very low maintenance. It is available in
a huge range of colours and patterns. For example, one type closely
resembles marble.
Worktops: Quartz 31 craigiewoodworks.co.ukGranite
Granite is a popular choice because it is so hardwearing. It
requires little maintenance. It is a natural stone and therefore
its colour and figuring are often irregular and one part of a
slab can look markedly different from another. There are often
spectacular markings.
Other granites, such as this attractive matt black Honed Ebony
worktop, that we fitted in a kitchen near Wells, have a more
consistent colour.
Worktops: Granite 32 craigiewoodworks.co.ukStainless Steel
Stainless steel worktops are favoured by restaurants for good
reason. They are highly heat resistant and durable, making them an
excellent kitchen worktop material.
There are companies that specialise in fabricating stainless steel
worktops. You can choose various edge details. Sink bowls can be
seamlessly welded into the worktops and water retaining areas can
be recessed to prevent water spilling over the front of the worktop.
People often have the idea of stainless steel being a bit clinical; but
in fact it can blend in well to a residential setting if there are other
design elements (eg. a timber floor or painted cabinetry) to offset it.
Worktops: Stainless Steel 33 craigiewoodworks.co.ukTimber
Wood is a material everyone loves and its warm, raw appeal is
evident on timber worktops. It is a softer, more vulnerable work
surface than quartz and granite but if you damage it, it is fairly
forgiving as you can sand back a scratch and re-oil it.
Timber worktops do need regular maintenance.This involves wiping
a fresh coat of oil on the surface every few months particularly
around a sink and hob. Hot pans should not be placed directly on a
timber worktop.
The most durable timber worktop is Iroko because it has natural
oils in it which protect it from water damage. It ages to a rich dark
teak-like colour. Oak is paler and the most popular choice for
the timber worktops that we install. It stays flat when milled in
a particular way (quarter-sawn) and therefore it is stable and not
prone to splitting.
Worktops: Timber 34 craigiewoodworks.co.ukFactory-produced
One of the more economical
worktops options is a factory-
produced timber worktop, which
we buy in as fabricated boards.
They are made up of narrow
strips of solid timber.
Pull-out Worktops
If you are short of worktop
space, you could consider a pull-
out. This Green Marinace granite
worktop pulls out from a burr
maple cupboard in this Dorset
kitchen.
Worktops: Factory produced 35 craigiewoodworks.co.ukFinally
These are the main elements to
think about when planning your
kitchen.
But you may have other special
requests. A space for your dog,
or a window seat; or a bookcase
door.
So if you are going to have a
purpose-built kitchen, make sure
it fits your purpose.
Finally 36 craigiewoodworks.co.ukYou can also read
