Follow our simple steps on how to plan a modular kitchen in Chennai, from inspiration to installation to find a balance between functionality and appearance.
Kitchens are the most hard-working room in the home. Designing and choosing a new kitchen is one of the most exciting processes when it comes to installing a new kitchen or renovating the old kitchen at home. It can also be the most expensive, stressful and time-consuming. The planning, choosing the right style and kitchen layout, and prep work will take more time than the actual cabinet installation. Understandably, many homeowners often get carried away with the desired look and finish, creating look-books and colour schemes and experimenting with different styles.
We know starting a kitchen project can be daunting. If you are committed to a project like this, just take it one step at a time by breaking the planning process into steps and you’ll get through it. In the end, you’ll have a beautiful new kitchen that adds a tremendous amount of value to your house.
We outline some of the main considerations when planning a new kitchen or an update to your kitchen storage. We’ll take you through some key thoughts to help you create your perfect modular kitchen in Chennai.
1. Assess all your needs and kitchen priorities
For many of us, the kitchen is a room with many uses – not just one. By identifying how the kitchen is used and by whom, it should help better define what’s needed from the kitchen.
No kitchen is perfect. There’s always plenty to love about every kitchen. Now take a look around your existing kitchen and make a list of all the things you like to keep and what you’d like to change. Next, make a list of all the things you wished your old kitchen had – for example, lack of storage space or a more logical layout, kitchen accessories, kitchen appliances, colour scheme – and use this as a basis for your new kitchen plan.
Do you need to ensure that your kitchen is child-friendly? Create a kitchen space for kids to cook, chat and adding ways for them to help. Because a family-friendly kitchen is a happy kitchen.
Now you know what you need and want from a new kitchen, it’s time to plan the kitchen space considering the size available and whether there are any layout restraints. Think about whether the actual space works or if it needs opening up or extending.
Your lifestyle should determine the functionality of your kitchen, not the other way around. It might help to ask yourself whether you need a place to prepare simple meals or to have lunch or dinner with family and friends or a multi-purpose kitchen more modern and user-friendly? The ‘working triangle’ principle will be a good start for good space planning. The ‘working triangle’ is the distance between your sink, fridge and stove or hobs.
During the planning stage, you should be picturing yourself cooking, cleaning, preparing food and washing dishes in your kitchen.
2. Think about electricity, plumbing and heating
Design a Modular Kitchen Electrical Wiring Plan
When you plan a modular kitchen with electrical installations, kitchens are considered a high-risk location.
Kitchen appliance circuits that need to be separate include dishwashers, refrigerators, microwave ovens, electric ovens and electric ranges. When you consider placing outlets for countertop use, remember that small appliances like pressure cookers, coffee pots, wet grinders, mixer grinders and blenders, kettles, toasters and juicers come with short cords. Positioning the plug sockets and outlets is very important during the planning process.
Electrical sockets or switches should be fitted at a safe distance (it is recommended at least 30cm horizontally) from a sink to avoid the chance of water coming into contact with electricity.
Tip 1: Sockets should also be easily accessible. If appliances such as fridges, dishwashers and washing machines are fitted under worktops, getting to sockets may be difficult. Ideally, these appliances should be controlled by a switched fuse connection unit mounted above the worktop where you can reach it easily.
Tip 2: Our recommendation is to add a few extra outlets in the odd places like in the corners above the cabinets, next to the sink on both sides, and over very small cabinets.
Lighting Options for New Modular Kitchen
When planning lighting it’s a good idea to make it flexible so you can regulate areas of your kitchen independently. Secondary lighting, such as spots above cooking and preparation areas, is also useful.
When laying out the lighting fixtures, try to provide a uniform lighting layout for optimal light coverage. Three-way switches should be installed where required to allow you to walk to and from any doorway allowing access to the light switching before entering a room.
Don’t underestimate the benefits of natural light in your kitchen. Natural light can come from an adjacent window, overhead skylight, or even from adjacent rooms that are open to the kitchen. It helps you see your food and preparation better and it makes you feel wonderful as you cook in your Indian style modern kitchen.
Plumbing a New Modular Kitchen
Plumbing should be installed before any flooring is laid or cabinets are installed. This makes it easier to make changes during the planning and in the earlier stages of installation.
If you’re installing new kitchen plumbing, careful planning can save a lot of trouble and additional cost. Planning your kitchen plumbing properly will ensure suitable and working drainage, essential for any kitchen. Your sink, washing machine, tumble dryer and dishwasher will typically all need connecting to drainage pipes, and the drainage pipe must connect to the soil stack or external foul drain.
Tip: Wherever you decide to locate your sink, it’s a good idea to install your washing machine and dishwasher nearby your sink. It’ll help keep plumbing simple.
Tip 2: Know your water pressure. Some kitchen taps and washing machines need a minimum pressure to work.
3. Your Dream Kitchen Ideas
How you want your kitchen to look is, of course, a very personal choice. Make a list of colour schemes, surfaces, materials or accessories you’ve seen that work well together. The next step is to put together all your modern or traditional ideas on what you want your new kitchen to look like.
Visit our modular kitchen showroom in Chennai and try playing with the drawers, looking at sinks, lighting, countertops, and to a sense of the type of features you like. Collect the kitchen catalogues and kitchen brochures from all the modular kitchen showrooms to compare the latest products and design advice they provide.
Don’t worry too much about cost at this point, just focus on things that inspire you, and soon you’ll be able to identify styles you are drawn to.
4. Consult a kitchen designer
Kitchen planners will design your dream kitchen and arrive at a rough quotation in a matter of minutes. The kitchen designers will provide their customers with a 3D view of your dream kitchen. Modular kitchen companies just simply keep updating their CAD planner or 3D planning tools to visualize the kitchen. Their expertise will offer you plenty of simple ideas – as well as innovative ones – that you might not have even considered.
Kitchen designers will also have up-to-the-minute knowledge of various modular kitchen designs, wardrobes, kitchen appliances and accessories, counter tops and fittings, and can source everything on your behalf. Ultimately, they’ll help ensure your new kitchen works as efficiently as possible.
Tip: Only agree on a quote for the design and installation of a kitchen once the designer has looked at the space and did the measurements.
Once the design has been completed, make sure you have a full quotation for the cabinetry and installation. Always check what is included in the cost, including whether the company will oversee the project from start to finish.
Here are the few guidelines for choosing your modular kitchen company in Chennai:
- Visit a company that has a modular kitchen showroom in Chennai so you can inspect the quality of the product and the standard of installation.
- Choose a retail member with a track record of good installations and ask to speak to some previous customers.
- Be careful about paying in full for your kitchen in advance. You shouldn’t pay a deposit of more than 25% and as it’s likely that you’ll be asked to make an interim payment, ask for a written payment schedule. Don’t pay in full until you have received delivery of your goods.
- Make sure you have a written quotation that covers every aspect of the job including fitting and any structural alterations you have discussed.
5. Set your budget for Modular Kitchens
Kitchen ranges at great prices for Indian houses, from a basic layout through to a luxurious kitchen with all the extras – the choice is yours! So have a budget in mind for e.g how much money are you planning to put into your new kitchen installation or renovation.
Visit various modular kitchen showrooms around Chennai including Valasaravakkam, Anna Nagar, Arumbakkam, Pallavaram, Purasawalkam and other areas. Start enquiring the prices for each kitchen so you can get an idea of what the units and kitchen cabinets would cost. Also make a note of the price of handles, worktops, countertops, appliances, sinks, taps, props, accessories, small worktop appliances or installation.
Tip: Shop around and don’t be afraid to ask for discounts, warranties.
Save on units and sinks
Always be honest about your budget so that your designer can help you decide where to save and where to invest – even if you haven’t got large sums to spend. There’s no point paying for extra units to store items you no longer want, and fewer units will mean a lower spend. By paying attention to the look of the rest of your kitchen, you’ll be able to spend less on a sink.
Save on appliances
This doesn’t necessarily mean the quality of individual items, but how many items you actually need. When planning your dream space it’s easy to get carried away, but remember to assess your individual requirements.
Your kitchen designer can give you an accurate quotation of how much your kitchen will cost. Every kitchen is a personal design with a bespoke price.
Finally, make sure your budget includes a 10-15% contingency fund, to cover any unexpected extra costs.
6. Delivery and Installation of Modular Kitchens
Make sure the delivery dates are always confirmed after the initial payment. Most of the companies will have its own transport fleet and a team of installation engineers to ensure the smooth delivery and installation of modular kitchens.
