Getting Ready for Design - 1

Part 1 – What Should You Prepare Before You Start Designing?

Designing a new piece of furniture is an exciting process. Most of the time, images start forming in our minds right from the very beginning: what color should the front be, what kind of countertop would go well with it, should there be an island, hidden handles, a glass display cabinet, or a separate coffee corner? These are all important questions, as they greatly determine the atmosphere of our home.

Still, a well-functioning home doesn’t start primarily with the visual design, but with the preparation. The more precise the information at the start of the design process, the smoother the process will be, and the more likely it is that the result will be furniture that is not only beautiful but also comfortable to use in everyday life.

After all, a space is designed to last for many years. We use it every day, and it often serves multiple functions at once: we cook in it, tidy up, get ready, relax, chat, have breakfast, and entertain guests. That’s why, when designing, it’s not enough to simply know what style we want. It’s also important to consider the space where the furniture will go, how we’ll use it, what appliances we’ll need, and what habits the design must accommodate.

The floor plan is one of the most important starting points

The floor plan is one of the most useful tools for planning. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an architecturally precise, technical drawing. Even a hand-drawn, to-scale sketch can be very helpful, as long as it includes the most important dimensions and features.

It’s important to know where the walls, openings, doors, windows, radiators, utility outlets, electrical connections, and water and drain outlets are located. All of these factors influence where furniture pieces can be placed. The placement of the sink, dishwasher, or cooktop, for example, has a significant impact—it’s not just an aesthetic issue, but also requires careful consideration from a technical standpoint.

Overall dimensions help avoid misunderstandings

Overall dimensions are particularly important in kitchen design. These include the room’s width, length, and ceiling height, as well as the location and size of windows and doors, and how far they are from the corners or the floor.

These measurements are essential because kitchen cabinetry is designed down to the millimeter. A tall cabinet, a built-in refrigerator, an oven tower, or a corner solution can only be designed accurately if we know the available space. It’s also common for a detail that seems minor at first glance to significantly influence the possible layout. Examples include a window with a low sill, a protruding radiator, or an outlet in the wrong place

Precise measurements aren’t meant to turn the client into a technical designer. On the contrary: they’re meant to enable the designer to provide realistic, feasible proposals right from the start.

On-site photos often say more than a drawing

In addition to the floor plan and dimensions, on-site photos are also very useful. A well-prepared series of photos helps convey the atmosphere, lighting conditions, proportions, and characteristics of the space.

It’s a good idea to photograph the room from multiple angles: each wall separately, as well as the corners, windows, doors, plumbing fixtures, and electrical outlets. If you’re working with an existing kitchen, the current furniture, appliances, and usage habits can also reveal a lot. For example, you can see where storage space is lacking, which countertop is too small, or where everyday items tend to pile up.

A photo also reveals many details that may not necessarily appear on a floor plan. These might include a ceiling beam, a protruding section of wall, a ventilation unit, a low windowsill, or even the direction of natural light. All of these help ensure that the design works not only on paper but also in the actual space.

Inspirational Images: Not for Copying, but for Finding Direction

Before designing, many people collect inspirational images. This can be a great starting point, but it’s important to use them wisely. A kitchen seen on Pinterest or in a magazine can rarely be replicated exactly in another home. The size of the space, the ceiling height, the lighting, the placement of the windows, the family’s lifestyle, or the building’s mechanical systems may all be different.

The value of inspirational images lies more in showing what kind of atmosphere, use of materials, or details you like. Perhaps what’s important in a photo isn’t the entire kitchen, but just the combination of light wood and beige surfaces. Or the hidden lighting, the slim countertop, the glass-fronted upper cabinets, or perhaps the clean, handle-free cabinet fronts.

So it’s worth not only collecting images but also briefly noting what you like about them. This goes a long way toward helping the designer not only see the image, but also understand the client’s thinking.

The list of appliances fundamentally defines the kitchen

The location and type of kitchen appliances have a significant impact on the design of the cabinetry. A freestanding refrigerator requires a different design than a built-in refrigerator. Different dimensions must be taken into account for a compact oven, a standard oven, a built-in microwave, or a coffee machine. The dishwasher, cooktop, range hood, wine cooler, or steam oven are also issues that need to be clarified in advance.

It’s a good idea to make a list of the appliances you want in your kitchen right at the start of the planning process. You don’t necessarily have to choose specific model numbers right away, but it’s a good idea to make the basic decisions. Should you have a built-in refrigerator? Should the oven be part of an oven tower? Do you need a microwave? Will you have an induction cooktop? Are you considering a ceiling-mounted, countertop-mounted, or traditional range hood?

These questions affect not only the aesthetics but also the usability of the space. A well-placed oven is more convenient, a dishwasher designed for the right spot speeds up cleanup, and a good range hood can be particularly crucial in an open-concept kitchen.

Compiling your needs makes decision-making easier

Kitchen design involves many small decisions. If you have to make them all at once, they can easily seem overwhelming. That’s why it’s a good idea to write down your basic needs before the first consultation.

What should the kitchen’s atmosphere be like? Modern, classic, natural, elegant, cozy, or minimalist? How much of the storage should be hidden? Would we like open shelves? Is a large countertop important? Do we need a breakfast bar or an island? How many small appliances do we want to hide away? Where should we store items we use less frequently?

The wish list isn’t a final set of decisions. Rather, it’s a starting point for reflection that helps ensure the design isn’t based on guesswork. In a good design process, these needs become clearer and more precise, eventually coming together into a practical, well-proportioned, and professionally thought-out solution.

The questions are just as important as the answers

Many people feel that they need to know everything exactly before they start planning. But that’s not a requirement. It’s perfectly natural to have a lot of questions at the beginning. In fact, it’s especially helpful when these questions come up.

It’s okay if someone doesn’t know how high the counter should be, how much space is needed around the island, what kind of drawer system would be practical, or where to put the dishwasher. These are technical questions, and it’s the designer’s job to help with them.

However, it speeds up the process considerably if the client makes a list of what they’re unsure about. That way, the consultation doesn’t start with a general conversation, but can focus specifically on the points that actually require a decision.

Good preparation leads to a better design

A kitchen is truly functional when the design takes into account aesthetics, technical specifications, and everyday use all at once. The first step toward this is to have as much important information as possible at your disposal.

The floor plan, measurements, photos, inspiration, appliance list, requirements, and questions all serve the same purpose: to ensure that the kitchen being designed truly fits the specific home and the habits of its residents.

A well-prepared design process is not only faster but also more stress-free. There are fewer misunderstandings, decisions are more precise, and there’s a greater chance of achieving a final result that’s not only pleasing at first glance but also a joy to use in the long run.

A kitchen is truly good when we don’t have to adapt to it. Instead, it naturally supports the way we live.