How to choose a new kitchen and not overpay for unnecessary delights? Pavel Shelyagin, designer and founder of the Fields furniture store.
5. Layout
Without a well thought out layout, everything else does not matter. Be careful when designing U and L-shaped headsets. They use more furniture and custom fittings for corner cabinets. The cost of such a kitchen will be higher.
A linear set with the ability to attach a bar counter is an excellent option for those who want to create an aesthetic design and not overpay.
On a note! Wall cabinets can be replaced with regular shelves - uhThis will save additional money. Roomy drawers and a pencil case will help to compensate for storage space.
4. Facade material
It is too expensive to use natural wood in facades. In addition, wood is a difficult-to-use material that can dry out, darken, and crack over time. If you are ready to take additional care of it and wax it once every six months, buy it.
In other cases, trust the proven MDF facades. MDF material does not require special care, is inexpensive compared to natural solid wood, and, most importantly, it is subject to restoration.
On a note! If you get tired of the color of the kitchen, you can always remove the facades and repaint them yourself.
3. Table top
Forget about natural materials - stone, wood, marble. The price increases exactly 10 times in comparison with more affordable and easy-to-use analogues.
Natural stone can be replaced with artificial - acrylic and porcelain stoneware.
On a note! Porcelain stoneware does not actually contain granite, but pressed quartz sand. But that doesn't mean the material is bad. In terms of its properties and appearance, it is only slightly inferior to granite, but it costs much less.
2. Apron
An important element is the kitchen apron. Choosing the wrong apron = ruining the whole kitchen. If you are not sure about the choice, here are some simple tips to help you decide:
- Don't go for bright colors or prints. It's not stylish and will be annoying.
- Avoid aprons depicting dishes - lemons, coffee beans and other products. Even if your mother really likes this apron, it is hopelessly outdated.
- Use simple and tried-and-true options that will never go out of style - for example, classic-laid hog tiles.
On a note! Square tiles 10x10 or 20x20 look more aesthetically pleasing than their horizontal siblings, but the cost of such tiles and their installation will be higher.
1. Fittings
What you definitely can't save on is fittings. Why is it important? I know at least two main reasons.
- Impression. Fittings are exactly those little things that are invisible, do not catch the eye, but completely determine the impression from the daily use of furniture.
- Durability. Reputable manufacturers are not afraid to talk about how long the furniture with their fittings will last, and they confirm this with certificates - do not be lazy to look at the site. InnoTech Atira drawers quality certificate from Hettiсh (manufacturer from Germany) 80 thous. opening and closing cycles. How many times a day do you use drawers in the kitchen? By conservative estimates, such a box in my kitchen will work for at least 15-20 years.
If you understand the topic of the price / quality of accessories, you can find more nuances that ultimately help to save money.
- Miser pays twice -for the accessories too. Cheap fittings tend to fail quickly. Sometimes the doors sag in a couple of months: the headset looks sloppy, it is inconvenient to use it. In such a situation, you still have to spend money on replacing the fittings. But this can be avoided if you initially put high-quality and reliable mechanisms in the furniture.
- Less expensive but good mechanisms are needed. An example is Sensys hinges. Where 3 or more regular loops are needed, Sensys needs one less. Considering that the “Germans” will also work for a long time, the choice is obvious.
On a note! For inspiration and helpful tips, check out instagram account brand Hettich.