Bespoke kitchens, in Solihull.

Keep the social space outside the working route

An open-plan kitchen should let someone make a drink or sit at the island without repeatedly crossing the main cooking area. Position everyday crockery and the fridge with those movements in mind. A separate coffee or drinks point may be useful if it genuinely takes traffic away from preparation.

Look at the route to the garden too. A clear path on the plan can disappear when stools are pulled out. Furniture, dining chairs and doors need to be considered in their occupied positions, not just tucked away for a drawing.

Give an island one clear priority

Before deciding its length or finish, agree the island’s main purpose. A preparation island benefits from an uninterrupted surface. A seating island needs a comfortable relationship to the room. Adding a sink or hob changes the technical requirements and what is visible from the dining area.

The perimeter must support that choice. If the island carries less storage, the tall or wall cabinetry may need to do more. The useful design is the complete arrangement, rather than the island considered alone.

Explore materials, seating and storage in our Statement Island collection.

Decide what belongs in the kitchen and utility

If you have a separate utility, draw the boundary between the two rooms. Laundry, bulk storage and cleaning equipment may be better placed there, leaving the kitchen for cooking and daily food storage. If there is no utility, those needs still require a deliberate place in the kitchen brief.

A pantry can be a walk-in room, a cupboard or a carefully arranged section of tall cabinetry. Choose it for the storage and access it provides. A large enclosed space is not automatically more useful than visible, reachable shelves.

See the different storage roles explored in Hidden Pantry.

Plan a Solihull design visit around your project

Include your postcode, the current room plan and any extension drawings when you enquire. Tell us how many people use the room together and what you would like to keep clear of the worktop. A spending range and intended building programme help us discuss sensible priorities.

The showroom is in Kings Norton, Birmingham. You can compare the cabinetry and finishes there as part of developing the design for your Solihull home.