Before You Buy a Kitchen

Advice from Oran Duke

A new kitchen is one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your home. It can also feel overwhelming, with decisions about layouts, colours, appliances, storage and budgets all competing for your attention.

Dukes Kitchens has been designing kitchens in Donegal for more than 25 years. We spoke to owner Oran Duke about where homeowners should begin, the mistakes to avoid and how to make the whole process much less daunting.

Where should homeowners start when planning a new kitchen?

The best place to start is not with a door colour or an Instagram photograph. Start by thinking about how you use your kitchen every day and what isn’t working.

Ask yourself some simple questions. Is there enough storage? Do people constantly cross paths while cooking? Is the kitchen too dark? Is there somewhere for children to sit, do homework or have breakfast? Do you entertain regularly? Are the bins, dishwasher and food storage positioned conveniently?

The best kitchens are designed around the people who use them every day, not simply the shape of the room.

Inspiration photographs are useful, but they should be treated as a starting point rather than something that has to be copied exactly. A kitchen that looks beautiful in a large open-plan home may not work in a smaller space or for a family with completely different needs.

How early should someone speak to a kitchen designer?

Generally, the earlier the better, particularly if you’re building a new home, extending or carrying out a major renovation.

Some of the most important kitchen decisions affect plumbing, electrics, windows, doors, lighting and even the overall shape of the room. When those decisions are made before the kitchen has been properly considered, homeowners often end up compromising the design later.

For example, a window may be positioned where tall cabinetry would have worked better, sockets may be installed in the wrong place or a doorway may interrupt the most practical layout.

Speaking to a kitchen designer early doesn’t mean every handle and colour has to be chosen immediately. It simply means the room can be planned properly before the more permanent building decisions are made.

What are the biggest mistakes people make before buying a kitchen?

One of the biggest mistakes is choosing a kitchen based almost entirely on appearance. The colour and door style are important, but they won’t compensate for a poor layout, inadequate storage or badly positioned appliances.

Another mistake is comparing quotations based only on the final figure. Two kitchens may look similar on paper but include completely different specifications. The quality of the drawers, hinges, cabinetry, worktops, installation and aftercare can vary considerably.

Always check exactly what’s included. Appliances, plumbing, electrics, worktops and installation can sometimes appear as additional costs later.

We also see people trying to fit too much into a room. More cupboards don’t automatically create a better kitchen. Sometimes removing an unnecessary unit creates better movement, more usable worktop space and a room that simply feels more comfortable.

How does the Dukes Kitchens design process ensure every kitchen works for the family using it?

Every project starts with a conversation. Before we begin designing, we want to understand who lives in the home, how they cook and what they want the room to feel like.

A kitchen for a busy family with young children will have very different requirements from one designed for a couple who love entertaining. Some customers need a large pantry, while others would benefit more from additional worktop space, integrated seating or a well-planned utility room.

We look at movement through the room, appliance positions, storage, lighting and how the kitchen connects with adjoining living spaces. We also think about the everyday details that make a real difference, such as where the bins go, where small appliances will be stored and whether the dishwasher can be emptied without blocking a walkway.

How do you help customers turn their ideas into a practical layout?

Most customers arrive with a mixture of ideas. They may have saved photographs, seen a particular island they love or decided on a certain colour, but they’re not always sure how everything should come together.

Our job is to work out what they’re really drawn to. It might be the warmth of the materials, the clean layout, the amount of storage or simply the atmosphere the room creates.

From there, we apply those ideas to the customer’s own space, taking into account the room dimensions, windows, natural light and how people move around the room.

Sometimes the strongest design isn’t what the customer first imagined. Moving an appliance, changing the shape of an island or removing a bank of units can completely transform how a kitchen works.

A good designer shouldn’t simply agree with every initial idea. They should explain what will work, what may cause problems and suggest better solutions where needed.

What should people bring to their first kitchen appointment?

Customers don’t need to arrive with everything decided. In fact, it’s often better to remain open-minded during the early stages.

Bring approximate room dimensions or architectural drawings if you have them. Inspiration photographs also help communicate the styles, colours and atmosphere you like.

It’s also important to have a realistic budget in mind. Knowing the budget allows the designer to recommend suitable products and avoid creating a design that can’t realistically be delivered.

Finally, bring a list of priorities. Decide what is essential and what would simply be nice to have, whether that’s a large island, extra storage, integrated appliances or seating.

What should people prioritise when setting their kitchen budget?

The first priority should always be the parts of the kitchen that are difficult or expensive to change later.

A strong layout, quality cabinetry, dependable drawers and good installation should come before decorative extras. Handles, paint colours and accessories can all be updated in the future, but changing the fundamental layout is much more disruptive.

Worktops and appliances also have a significant impact on the budget. Think honestly about how you use your kitchen rather than automatically choosing the most expensive appliance package.

It’s also sensible to keep a contingency fund. Once an old kitchen is removed, unexpected plumbing, electrical or flooring issues can sometimes appear.

How long does the kitchen design and installation process usually take?

The timeframe depends on the size of the project, how quickly decisions are made and whether the kitchen is part of a renovation or a new build.

The design stage should never be rushed. The manufacturing and preparation period will depend on the chosen kitchen collection and the company’s schedule. Customers should always ask for a realistic timeline rather than assuming a kitchen can be designed, built and installed within a few weeks.

The installation itself may only take a matter of days, but specialist worktops, decorating, plumbing, electrical work and finishing touches often continue afterwards.

For most projects, homeowners should think in terms of months rather than weeks. Starting early removes pressure and allows better decisions to be made.

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Originally featured in Local Women.