Kitchens are one of the most utilised areas of our homes. From eating with family and friends, entertaining guests or taking conference calls from your kitchen table, your kitchen has so many uses. So, it stands to reason that your kitchen should be a reflection of yourself! You may know from some of our previous content or your own research how far you can extend your home, but do you know how far you can take the design and functionality? Here is our ultimate guide on designs for your kitchen and how you can extend them in 2023.
Bifold doors across the width
Kitchen extensions are very popular at the rear of the home, as they lead out into the garden area. But why not maximise the most of your kitchen extension by flooding it with light from full width, wall to wall, bifold doors? Bifold doors are stacked, so unlike sliding doors where one pane usually has the other panes sliding into it, bifold doors can truly open all the way. Especially helpful for if we have another scorching summer this year! Look at this beautiful contemporary design opening onto a balcony with full width bifold doors.
Roof Lantern Windows
When you are extending outwards, it only makes sense that you extend up as well! Lantern windows are a pyramid type of window that sits on top of a roof. The multi-dimensional panes allow your kitchen to be flooded with light as well as provide a focal point to be talked about by your guests. Most use standard clear glass although you can also have the glass with a reflective coating to deflect the sun’s UV rays.
Kitchen Islands
Kitchen islands are retaining their popularity well into 2023! Offering a focal point to your kitchen, islands can be a place to eat, entertain or even offer a magnificent view of your home during those zoom calls! They also serve as a fantastic way to bring the family together, for example mum and dad making the tea, while the children sit at the kitchen island doing their homework. One can wish! To save space so you can maximise the return on your kitchen extension you could also turn this into an additional storage area or charging station. Kitchen islands can be built using a variety of materials, we just love the marble countertop for this kitchen island below. The real beauty is in how much under counter storage you can use for either your pots and pans, or for extra storage around the house to have less clutter!
Conservatories
If you really want to blend your home into your garden, you could always contemplate a conservatory. You can opt for a living style area complete with sofas, rugs and coffee tables to provide an adjoining area. Moreover, this does not have to be a traditional conservatory. It can match the existing building by implementing a solid tiled roof, so it looks more part of the existing house – which we would advise especially if you live in a national park so your planning permission is more likely to be accepted. This would provide a comfortable area where you can relax with coffee after a meal or snuggle up with loved ones.
So, what do I need to know about extending my kitchen?
We’ve provided some of the top ideas of what you can do with a kitchen extension, so how do you get there? Well, a rear extension assuming your kitchen is at the back of the house can extend up to six metres (or eight metres if your house is detached) under permitted development. You can also opt for a wraparound extension to fill in any dead space down the side of your kitchen. As kitchens at the rear of the property are becoming increasingly more popular, if you have a living room at the rear you could always choose to convert this space into your new kitchen! The benefits to this are enormous, especially in the spring/summer months when you might be entertaining guests. Depending on your area you may even have a greater sense of privacy. For our budding home developers, converting a rear room into a kitchen then extending outwards can even increase your overall property resale value. Although you may wish to confirm this with an estate agency given other factors such as your location, parking, proximity to amenities and schools and so forth.
So, what do I do now?
If you live close to our base in Keighley, West Yorkshire all you need to do is pick up the phone for a free consultation! You can contact us on 01535 653530 or fill out our online contact form. Alternatively, you can find out more such as if you require planning permission by using the local council search finder to contact your local planning authority to get you on your way