What Should I Check Before Ordering My New Kitchen?

Before ordering a kitchen, check the measurements, appliance specifications, storage and space needed to move around. Resolve lighting, sockets and extraction alongside the layout so the installation does not depend on decisions made halfway through the work.

For a London kitchen renovation, start with what frustrates you now. A new kitchen should address those problems as well as update the appearance.

How do I know if my kitchen layout will work?

Walk through preparing a familiar meal on the proposed plan. Think about taking food from the fridge, washing ingredients, chopping, cooking and clearing up.

Check where another person could stand or pass. The layout needs to work when doors and drawers are open, not just when everything is closed.

Does every kitchen need a work triangle?

No. The relationship between the sink, hob and fridge is useful, but a triangle is not suitable for every room.

Howdens acknowledges that this arrangement can be harder to achieve in small or multipurpose interiors. Focus on practical connections between preparation, cooking, storage and cleaning.

Is my kitchen too small for an island?

Test the island with cupboards open, appliances in use and people seated. If it obstructs essential movement, a smaller island, peninsula or different layout may work better.

Mark its proposed footprint on the floor, including the worktop overhang. Avoid approving an island simply because it fits into an empty floor plan.

Where should the dishwasher go?

Position it so loading, unloading and putting dishes away are convenient. Check whether its open door blocks nearby cupboards, the bin or the main route through the kitchen.

Also consider who uses the room at the same time. Someone loading the dishwasher should not prevent another person from reaching the fridge.

Unsure whether your proposed arrangement works? Our space planning service can help test the layout before you order.

How do I know whether I have enough storage?

List what you need to store, including pans, food containers, small appliances and recycling. Allocate these items to specific cupboards and drawers on the plan.

Check usable internal dimensions. A cabinet’s external width does not tell you whether your largest pan or appliance will fit inside.

Should I choose my appliances before ordering cabinets?

Confirm the appliance models before finalising the cabinetry. Their installation requirements affect openings, ventilation, connections and access.

Integrated appliances need particular attention. Ask the supplier and installer to check compatibility rather than assuming that similar advertised dimensions mean an appliance will fit.

What should I check before choosing my worktop?

Ask about the specific product’s resistance to heat, staining and scratching, alongside cleaning and maintenance requirements. View a physical sample with your cabinet finish.

Confirm the sink, tap and hob details before worktop templating. Howdens requires their positions to be finalised and the relevant items available on site for its templating process.

Where do I need lighting and sockets?

Plan lighting around preparation surfaces, cooking, washing and dining. Check whether your body or wall cabinets will cast shadows onto the worktop.

List the appliances you regularly use and discuss suitable power provision with your electrician. Coordinating lighting design with the kitchen plan helps resolve these details before installation.

Can I choose the extractor after the kitchen is designed?

Include extraction while planning the hob and cabinetry. Have the proposed system and any duct route checked against the appliance instructions and the property’s ventilation requirements.

This is particularly important when considering a hob on an island. Establish what can be installed before committing to its position.

What costs should I check beyond the kitchen units?

Ask whether the quotation includes everything needed to complete the room.

Cost to clarify	What to ask
Removal	Are dismantling and waste disposal included?
Services	What plumbing and electrical alterations are allowed for?
Surfaces	Are flooring, plaster repairs and decorating included?
Installation	Does the price cover appliances, worktops and finishing details?
Changes	How will additional work be priced and approved?

Agree a contingency appropriate to the project’s uncertainties. Avoid assuming that the cabinet quotation represents the complete renovation cost.

Who checks that the design can actually be installed?

Agree who verifies site measurements, checks appliance compatibility and coordinates the kitchen supplier with the trades. Record who will resolve discrepancies before manufacturing or installation.

A design and build service can bring these responsibilities together within an agreed scope. The appointment should make those responsibilities clear.

What should I approve before placing the order?

Review the final layout, cabinet schedule, appliance models, finishes and installation scope together. Confirm that any revisions appear consistently across the drawings and quotation.

Check the practical details one last time: door openings, working space, storage and service positions. These are harder to assess from a visualisation alone.

Planning a new kitchen? Explore Oraanj’s kitchen renovation service or contact us with your floor plan and priorities. We can help develop the design and coordinate the refurbishment around how you use your home.