How to Remodel Your Kitchen - Part Two

ABOVE: Underfloor heating is a great idea for kitchens with stone or tiled floors, which can be cold underfoot

Read part one for advice on designing a new layout...

Inheriting an unloved and old-fashioned kitchen may seem a little daunting, but with plenty of forward planning and a little practical knowledge, you can end up with your dream kitchen. Natasha Brinsmead explains how...

Heating and Ventilation

Many people choose to have no heating at all in their kitchen, feeling it unnecessary in a room that often becomes unbearably hot whilst cooking anyway. However, for those that use their kitchens for more than just cooking, or who want somewhere to hang damp tea towels, there are several options.

The cheapest and simplest is to fit a radiator with a thermostatic radiator valve (TRV) so that it can be easily adjusted. However, kitchens, especially compact ones, do not always offer sufficient wall space for this. A good alternative is a plinth heater that fits neatly into the space between the bottom of the base units and the floor. Plinth heaters can be electrical fan convector heaters operated by a switch, or can be linked to the rest of the central heating system.

Many people now choose to use heated towel rails in the kitchen, complete with pegs for tea towels — there is a range of radiator companies providing strong individual feature designs that can make the most of the tightest of spaces.

Underfloor heating (UFH) is another popular choice, providing an even and comfortable heat. UFH is ideal in this room, where floors are often stone or tile and can become cold. On the downside, UFH is a little more trouble to install than radiators or plinth heaters, although opting for an electric system as opposed to a water heated system means you can tackle the installation on a DIY basis.

Good ventilation will ensure your kitchen is a pleasant place to be, removing smells and steam and keeping the temperature even. The size and strength of your extractor hood or fan will largely depend on the floor area and how much cooking you do. The sucking power of an extractor is measured in litres per second or cubic feet per minute (CFM). Check with the supplier that the extractor hood you like is up to your needs. Ideally, your extractor will be positioned 75cm from the hob. The most efficient extractors suck steam and odours up and vent them out through a disused chimney or outside wall. Check that there is space to have a vent well away from any windows and doors, or smells will come straight back in.

ABOVE: Before your new kitchen is installed, get an electrician to check your existing electrical system, as in many renovation projects a rewire is called for

Electrics

Before your new kitchen is fitted, first fix electrical work needs to be carried out. Your electrician will need to check the existing system, as in many renovation projects a complete rewire is called for.

Before work starts, present your electrician with a plan showing the quantity and the position of all electrical switches and sockets. You will need sockets for all your appliances and even then it is best to have some extra.

Although a qualified electrician will carry out the majority of work, you can save money by doing some jobs yourself. Chasing out the walls for the new metal boxes and casing for sockets and wiring will cut down the amount of time an electrician will spend on the job.

The electrician should return to carry out second fix electrics, such as connections to plug sockets, before the worktops are fitted. When purchasing your sockets, bear in mind that some appliances, such as your cooker, will require a breaker switch which allows you to turn it off without having to pull it out and reach a socket.

Plumbing

The plumbing in your kitchen needs to perform two functions — providing a water supply and taking away waste.

You will need a hot and cold water supply and there needs to be a waste pump from the sink to outside and a hot and cold water supply feeding the kitchen tap. Your washing machine will need to be either connected to the hot and cold water, or just to the cold water, whilst most dishwashers only require a cold water connection.

Pipework

Whilst renovating a property means that services are all usually connected – unlike with self-builds – this does not necessarily mean that all pipework will still be in good condition. Get a plumber to take a look at your pipework and decide whether it is worth saving it or starting again. Your main consideration will need to be whether the existing arrangement of the pipes is going to get in the way of your planned layout for the new kitchen — unless you are putting everything back in the same place, you are likely to find that they will get in the way and will have to be rerouted. Check pipes for kinks and dents and inspect the joints, looking out for green marks, which indicate leaks.

ABOVE: Choose a lighting design that allows you to carry out practical tasks, as well as one that works for entertaining, by mixing downlights with pendant lights

Lighting

Good lighting is essential in kitchens, where a multitude of tasks are carried out and enjoyed. Look at how much natural light there is in the room. If there is very little, consider ways of getting more, such as a rooflight, lightpipe or roof lantern, or perhaps by replacing a window with a set of French doors. When choosing to extend the kitchen, many people design the extension to incorporate large amounts of glazing to bring as much light in as possible. Avoid central pendants. The light they produce is not targeted enough and they tend to cast shadows around the sides of the room, so providing little light over the worktops.

Downlights and track lights that can be adjusted are the best option, but think through their position and talk it over with your electrician, as these can be affected by shadow unless located correctly. Recessed fittings are practical as they will not get covered in dust or grease as with some other forms of lights.

Use under-cabinet lighting to highlight worktops and, if your extractor hood does not incorporate lights, ensure there is sufficient lighting over your hob.

Dimmable lights are best for kitchen diners, allowing you to vary the mood to suit cooking and entertaining alike.

Read part three for advice on designing kitchens and remodelling a small kitchen...

Further reading:

• Range Cookers in the Sustainable Home
• A Buyer's Guide to Cooker Hoods
• A Buyer's Guide to kitchen Taps

Further contacts:

• Dualit Toasters at Go Electrical