How to choose a custom kitchen
Is your kitchen set outdated and want a change? Don't like ready-made options? This means it’s time to consider purchasing a kitchen with individual measurements and options. Details in our article.
Kitchen set made from chipboard to order
The most comfortable and visited place in a house or apartment is the kitchen. There is a special atmosphere here - the family gets together, discusses pressing matters and problems, the owners greet guests and loved ones. Of course, the main task of the room is cooking. Therefore, it is necessary to combine two factors: convenience and functionality. Modern furniture manufacturers offer all kinds of ready-made sets, as well as separate furniture for the kitchen, but sometimes this solution is unacceptable due to many features: poor layout, small room area, inconsistency with expectations and style. Therefore, an option is offered to future owners - ordering a special project and manufacturing cabinet modules, shelves and other things according to real measurements.
Table of contents
Advantages of a design project over a ready-made set
Methods of modern visualization in the manufacture of custom kitchens
Sketch and drawings
Visualization of the kitchen in 3D services
What does the designer take into account?
Complete kitchen to order
Understanding the materials
Natural massif
Semi-synthetic boards - chipboard, laminated chipboard, MDF
Accessories materials
Facades
Tabletops
Features of the corner design
How to order a kitchen correctly - practical tips
Conclusion
Advantages of a design project over a ready-made set
Design project of the future headset
The main advantage of a special kitchen project based on individual measurements is that it fits exactly into the layout, even if it is unsuccessful. A professional knows how to use all surfaces rationally and can offer non-trivial solutions for narrow niches or limited space. Besides:
the design project takes into account all the needs for kitchen storage systems: the number of drawers, shelves, cabinets;
the specialist will select the ideal shape of the set for the existing room - straight, corner, island;
will take into account the color matching of the modules with the rest of the kitchen surfaces;
A custom project can be adapted to any interior style - classic, modern, loft and others.
A custom-made set also has disadvantages. The first is cost. It includes a kitchen design project and the services of a specialist in its preparation, an estimate for materials and fittings, and payment for the work of assemblers. The second is timing. You will have to wait for your dream for at least a month, or even more.
Methods of modern visualization in the manufacture of custom kitchens
Arranging a kitchen according to existing dimensions is far from a new service. It has been provided since the emergence of private furniture workshops, which grew into large-scale production. Their design departments use the following visualization methods:
Sketch and drawings
Kitchen sketch
This is the easiest way to show the customer what the finished result will approximately look like. The client himself can make a sketch by hand to explain what he wants, indicating the desired dimensions, shape and number of compartments in the cabinets, and the specialist will correctly arrange all the necessary modules, taking into account the ergonomics of the space, communications and household appliances according to actual dimensions.
Visualization of the kitchen in 3D services
3D visualization of a small kitchen
A more modern method that outlines the future kitchen in detail under existing conditions, taking into account color and style. Thanks to computer technology, the customer will be able to change the completeness of the cabinet set, materials, fittings, location and other details, even before sending the order to the workshop. You can virtually “touch” drawers, hang appropriate textiles, and “complete” household utensils and appliances. This is convenient and allows you to quickly see how the kitchen will look in different versions.
What does the designer take into account?
The average person has little idea what the job of a kitchen designer is. Meanwhile, she is very painstaking. The specialist, in addition to the design of cabinets and shelves, takes into account many points:
zoning - it is important to correctly determine the working and dining areas in relation to the layout, natural light, walls and household appliances;
the number of necessary modules - not always the room or the walls of the kitchen can be filled and hung with blank cabinets; to feel the space, other, open structures are also necessary, otherwise the place will be “clogged”;
location relative to power cables and household appliances - you cannot install the kitchen and sockets the way you want. There are strict regulations on this for safety reasons;
color and style of the set - in accordance with other surfaces and interior.
Also, a professional in the field of furniture design will help with the choice of accessories that are not obvious to the average person: holders, rods, brackets for dishes, etc. He will suggest the best materials and fittings.
Complete kitchen to order
The kitchen set includes many items. Their functionality and necessity are determined at the design stage of development
ta. The main ones:
Kitchen wall cabinet.
Wall kitchen cabinet
The quantity is determined by the dimensions of the room, the weight of the utensils and the need to hide a hood or instantaneous gas water heater in it.
Floor kitchen cabinet.
Floor cabinets
Similar to the wall-mounted one, it is designed for storing household and cutlery, food, and its walls also serve as support for the worktop.
Dresser.
Cupboard
It is usually equipped with nets for drying plates, hooks for mugs, drawers for small appliances and items - can openers, sharpeners, graters, etc.
Pencil case.
Corner penalty
A free-standing or hanging drawer containing kitchen pull-out storage systems. Depending on the depth of the compartments, large dishes are placed in them.
Kitchen countertop.
Acrylic table top
The main working surface, which is manufactured separately, can consist of several parts fastened together with steel parts, or be cut from a single piece of material. It is distinguished by its durability and beautiful appearance - natural raw materials or stylized like wood or stone.
In addition to the basic complete set, modern custom-made kitchens are complemented by dining tables and chairs, bar counters, an apron and other details agreed with the customer.
Understanding the materials
As a rule, kitchen cabinets are made from natural wood and more often from stabilized wood slabs, with the addition of resins and adhesives. Each material has advantages and disadvantages, especially evident in the kitchen atmosphere - a room with unstable temperature, humidity and steam. Let's consider in detail:
Natural massif
Kitchen made of natural wood
Such sets are incredibly beautiful - the pattern of the wood, its color, its uniqueness. Craftsmen use various processing technologies to emphasize the exclusivity of the wooden canvas. In addition, natural material:
durable;
environmentally friendly;
lightweight unlike slabs.
However, wood is capricious - it is very sensitive to too humid or dry climates, it swells from dampness and cracks. Wooden surfaces lose their attractiveness if they are not taken care of. Protected options made from durable valuable species also have a high cost.
Semi-synthetic boards - chipboard, laminated chipboard, MDF
Modern set of wood panels
They are canvases made from wood waste - small shavings, sawdust, veneer. They are carefully sorted, dried and mixed with binders, after which they are pressed and left to stabilize at a certain temperature. The output is smooth slabs, from which the necessary parts for assembling the frame are cut and covered with natural or artificial veneer in the stylization of various types of wood and colors. What are the advantages of the material:
inertness to climate changes - household humidity and dryness do not in any way affect the condition of kitchen cabinets;
strength - wood slabs are difficult to break by accidental pressure, falling, etc.;
affordable price - a set made of laminated chipboard costs significantly less than a similar one made of natural wood.
The disadvantages include heaviness (reliable fasteners for hanging cabinets are required), which can affect the condition of the walls and the non-environmental friendliness of adhesives and resins in the slab composition. The last drawback, rather a myth, is that the spread of formaldehyde into the atmosphere is possible only at a significant temperature, several times higher than home.
Accessories materials
Kitchen fittings
Alloy steel is used for sliding and swing mechanisms and fastenings. It is durable and, with known maintenance (lubrication, tightening of bolts), durable.
Decorative elements - non-load-bearing handles, brackets for dishes, hooks, etc. - are made of different alloys: stainless steel, carbon. There are also stylish options made from noble metals for a specific interior - copper, brass. They are the “face” of the headset, so the aesthetic component comes first.
Facades
Bright lime fronts for kitchen cabinets
For sets made from slabs, the front parts are covered with a special laminated veneer. The technology is associated with thermal effects - the synthetic film is evenly “welded” to the surface of the slab, repeating decorative curves, if any. Such facades are easy to keep clean - you just need to wipe them regularly with a rag and detergent.
Facades are often decorated with additional inserts of glass, mirrors or stained glass.
Glass fronts for kitchen cabinets
Usually these are display cabinets, bars, buffets, where the contents are visible. The manufacturing technologies for such facades are complex and multiple:
frame - glass is placed between two plates and fixed;
milling - grooves are cut into the thickness of the slab;
binding - glass is strengthened at the back of the facade with special glazing beads;
Full glass façade with aluminum frame.
The glass for kitchen sets is special - durable, tempered.
Tabletops
Natural table top
that
The usual materials for budget kitchens are wood panels with durable veneer and acrylic. These are durable surfaces, inert to moisture and dirt - water does not penetrate inside, dirt is easy to clean. For expensive sets, natural stone is used - granite, marble, travertine, agglomerate. Depending on the shape of the kitchen, the countertops may consist of several parts or a single-cut slab. The latter is naturally more expensive.
Features of the corner design
A set that fits into the corner of a room is a very popular model among buyers. It saves space in small kitchens, where there is not always room for other items. The wall-mounted corner kitchen cabinet has a concave or convex shape with radius shelves, while the floor cabinet has a special system of drawers.
Corner set for a small kitchen
Typically, a corner set is combined with water communications - a sink is installed in the center, and a instantaneous water heater or gas boiler is hidden in the cabinet. It is important to remember that not all appliances can be covered with cabinets, because some have special requirements. The relevant city service can advise on them.
How to order a kitchen correctly - practical tips
Kitchen measurements by a professional
The first question before purchasing or ordering any headset is whether the room is ready for its installation? The kitchen must be renovated, have all the necessary communications connected to the right places and sufficient lighting, and have no defects - finishing work with assembled furniture is very problematic. After this, you can invite a designer.
In order not to forget anything during the selection process, it is better to make your wishes in advance regarding the shape, number of modules, and storage systems. The designer will definitely have questions about materials, color and other features, so take note of the following tips:
if your kitchen does not have a split system or a good hood, then a set of natural wood will last less than the stated period - it will absorb moisture and swell or become cracked from excessive dryness;
natural stone for countertops (granite, tuff, marble) can be “phonic” or very porous, retaining dirt and stains. It is better to choose neutral rocks or mixtures - porcelain stoneware, cast marble, acrylic;
for a small kitchen it is better to prefer a light set, perhaps with glass or mirror inserts, otherwise dark colors will turn an already cramped room into a pantry. If you don’t like those types of things, you’ll have to think about additional lighting to the main one - spotlights, work area lighting, etc.;
Determining how many utensil boxes you need is not difficult. It is enough to divide all kitchen utensils into groups - cutlery, tools, cooking containers, small household appliances and determine the volume of each. But remember - for large families there are never too many boxes; over time, the number of things increases.
And the last, very important advice for future customers of kitchen sets - never take measurements yourself, without the participation of a workshop representative. Professionals have experience in this and always take into account the plane of the walls of the room, the location of windows, the height of ceilings, the thickness of the frame and other “little things” that can significantly change the finished result.
Conclusion
Modern kitchen
The modern range allows you to equip apartments and houses with the best furniture for the convenience and functionality of everyday life. But making custom-made models increases this comfort - even the little things are taken into account. Custom kitchens are the best way to make the most visited place in the house even more comfortable. Enjoy the shopping!
