For those of us who cook, the kitchen will probably be the biggest focus and investment in the entire home. You need to be careful when planning your kitchen and spend wisely to avoid costly rework if the area isn’t working. Here is a quick guide to planning a contemporary and practical designer kitchen, taking note of the kitchen layout, space and materials to be used.

To begin with, consider your needs: depending on how much you cook, the design can even be strictly functional or aesthetic.

With careful planning, you can fit many features into even a small kitchen. While space for food preparation and storage can be created using clever sliding surfaces and tall cabinets, the main focus is on the cooking area between the countertop, sink and appliance. By creating a work triangle that is small enough to cook comfortably, you will gain efficiency in your workflow.

The use of space is an essential consideration in the kitchen. Properly planned, the kitchen can hinder its user instead of facilitating the flow of work. It seems obvious, but the most common mistake made in the kitchen is not leaving enough room for the refrigerator or cabinet doors to swing open all the way.

As for materials, you should not skimp on countertops since it is one of the areas that we use the most. There are five main types of countertops:

1) High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Countertops

2) Solid surface made of acrylic, polyester or mixed

3) Natural stones such as marble

4) Semi-natural granite stones such as silestone.

5) stainless steel

Of these, HPL is the most affordable and comes in a wide variety of colors. But it is susceptible to delamination and peeling, as well as heat scarring. A stronger alternative is a solid surface, such as Corian, which is moldable and has no visible joints. One idea is to use bright, pristine white laminates and Corian worktops combined with glass and stainless steel elements to create a space that practically glows, visually enlarging a small kitchen. If this is combined with an open concept design, the idea can be expanded to include a half glass wall to open up the room and allow interaction between the kitchen and dining room.

Natural or semi-natural stones are more durable but also more expensive and quite difficult to install. Marble, for example, is very beautiful and resistant to heat, it is also very expensive, especially the Italian and Greek varieties.

The most hygienic and germ-resistant surface is stainless steel, but it does have some maintenance drawbacks. It scratches easily and needs a lot of cleaning to maintain its shine.

Regarding color, one suggestion is to go for a bold color scheme of gloss black and white, which matches the steel appliances. The right choice of appliances also makes a world of difference in terms of kitchen efficiency and aesthetics.

Finally, if you don’t have the confidence to plan and install a kitchen yourself, hire a kitchen specialist to do it for you. A well-done design can mean a lot of time savings, ease of use and ergonomics.