The benefits of choosing your appliances first
Kitchen appliances are a big investment and play a starring role in the hardest working room of the home. Making your selections before finalising your kitchen design will help you to strike a balance between design aesthetics and functionality. If you’re a passionate home-cook, there’s a good chance you’ve already got the exact make and model of your dream oven in mind.
“Choosing your oven, cooktop and rangehood before fully designing your kitchen allows you to find the perfect appliances to fit your cooking needs without compromising or missing out due to measurement and layout requirements or restrictions,” says Alison McGorlick, Category Manager of Cooktops, Rangehoods, Accessories and Consumables at Miele.
“It definitely makes our life easier,” admits interior designer Naomi Nimmo of Nimmo Nielsen Collective. “That way, we can start drawing based on the exact specs you’ve already chosen.” The size, shape and installation requirements of your big ticket items can influence your cabinetry measurements, your storage options and even your floor plan. “If you choose a wall oven for example, we can include drawer space under the bench,” says Naomi.
When you do hit the shops, there are two important things to keep in mind. “The biggest considerations when choosing appliances for a new kitchen is the size of your space and your individual cooking needs,” says Alison. “Your choice of appliances will also depend on your cooking level, with some appliances suited for standard needs and functions along with high-end options for more advanced cooks.”