1)  Perhaps the number one rule on making the most of your kitchen is to keep it tidy. A tidy kitchen will help you work in a more efficient way. Clear out the kitchen clutter. Dive deep into the kitchen cabinets and be really ruthless about which kitchen appliances you really need. Many of us are guilty of buying kitchen gadgets that we rarely use. If your kitchen cupboards are stuffed full of equipment that is not being used, consider having a good clear out and selling items at a car boot sale or an online auction site.

2) Make use of your kitchen wall space. Shelves are great for cookery books and pots and pans. Another option is to use a wooden ceiling mounted clothes airer, and use meat hooks to suspend kitchen utensils and saucepans. You can also use it for drying and storing tea towels.

3) Covers for kitchens sinks and hobs can help to create extra flat kitchen workspace. Consider a wooden cover for your sink that can double up as a chopping board. You can also get covers for half bowl sinks which give you a little extra work space. Covers are also available for draining boards.

4) Consider the use of kitchen furniture which can be folded away.  Think about a snack bar or table with folding leaves. Also consider folding kitchen chairs which can be stored flat when required. A butcher’s block on wheels, that can move if needed, is also a space saving measure. These butcher’s block often have storage underneath, which is great way to make use of kitchen space.

5) Scale down on fitted kitchen appliances. Slim line dishwashers are a great invention as are some slime line washing machines which work as top loaders. A large fridge freezer may be a sacrifice that you have to make with smaller kitchens. Have a smaller fridge, and place a small chest freezer in a garden shed or garage if you have one.

6) Lighting is really important to make the most of smaller spaces. Strategically place spot lights around your kitchen, so that you can make the most of dark recesses. You will instantly be able to use more of your kitchen space if it is well lit. Also, your kitchen will seem larger. On the same theme, it is really important to decorate your kitchen with light coloured paint, so that light is reflected back into the room; this will make your kitchen appear larger.

7) Invest in storage boxes.  Stackable storage boxes are great, they are even better with liftable lids or draws. Stackable recycle storage bins are also a great idea and go well in any kitchen.

8 ) Door hanger organizers are a great way to get extra space out of kitchen cupboards. For those with no room for a wine rack, they are also a great way to store bottles. Kitchen cabinet steppers are another great invention. These allow you to see your tins and packets at a glance. They help alleviate wastage as you will find yourself using products and not buying duplicates.

9)  Locate washing machines and tumble dryers in your garage if you have one. Or consider having a smaller extension or conservatory area to use as a utility room.

When you go to visit your chosen kitchen showroom in Chesterfield, take note of how helpful or knowledgeable the staff seem to be. Do they seem interested in answering questions? Are they knowledgeable about brands, products and kitchen pricing? If they do not have the information you require, are they willing to obtain answers from their main suppliers. If the answer is no, you may be better off finding an alternative kitchen supplier in the Chesterfield area. Generally speaking, a good kitchen supplier will be interested in answering your questions thoroughly. It is impossible for a kitchen supplier to fit and supply kitchens in Chesterfield, or indeed any other any other area for that matter, if they do not possess the right information to help conclude a sale. One of the purposes of kitchen showrooms is to advise customers on their kitchen planning needs. After all, sales assistants are often called sales advisors, and one of their key roles should be to advise customers about their kitchen choices. So next time you are looking to locate suppliers of fitted kitchens in Chesterfield, remember to ask questions and look for good responses. The chances are that if a company shows interest in you and your needs at this basic level, then they will be more likely to offer a good after sales programme should you require it.

Decide if you need a complete kitchen refit or figure out whether you can get away with replacing work surfaces, cupboard doors and tiles. Sometimes a mini renovation is all that you need, as the kitchen carcass can be used again and be completely transformed.

Laminate, acrylic polymer (Corian) or granite worktops? Most people would agree that granite worktops look fantastic, but they are both heavy and expensive. Before you invest in granite worktops for your kitchen, check out whether or not the units chosen can support the weight of granite.

Decide on your floor covering first. It is sometimes easier to lay flooring first, especially if you are going for ceramic tiles. Tiles can be laid across the whole kitchen floor surface creating a seamless transition, rather than having tiles cut to fit around awkward corners. Laminate flooring looks great, but be aware that if water penetrate the laminate the flooring can become easily damaged.

Choose practicality over style. Whilst we would all love to have a beautiful kitchen that looks like it has been taken straight out of  the pages of  magazine, it is important to factor in your kitchens usage. So if you have a large family of children, who leave sticky finger prints everywhere, perhaps a highly polished chrome finish is not for you. Highly polished reflective surfaces require constant maintenance otherwise they quickly become grubby looking.

Choose tiles for your splash back areas with care. Lime green and mocha may seem the height of sophistication to you today, but you will likely have to live with your kitchen for at least another 10 years. So unless you are prepared to update regularly, choose tiles which have classic appeal.

In general stainless steel or enamel sinks work best. Enamel sinks can chip and so if you have any doubts stainless steel is your best investment. Avoid light coloured plastic sinks which are prone to discolouration. Buy the best quality sink you can afford. The sink is one of the most used areas in kitchen and this is not area to skimp on.

Taps are where you can afford to let you style show through. In general taps are not difficult or too expensive to replace. So if you want to invest in funky taps and it doesn’t work out, then it should not be too difficult to replace them. Again, if you have a family, then there are certain things that you should take into consideration. Taps which are set quite high up from the bowl of the skink can tend to create a splash back if turned on too forcefully. Therefore if you have children around you may want to rethink this option unless you want to spend a vast amount of time mopping up water.

Built in appliances are great, but do remember that if you move the costly appliances are likely to be left behind as they will be viewed as kitchen fixtures and fittings.

Take care when choosing kitchen paint. In general kitchens which are light in colour are easiest to work in. Paler colours will reflect light and create a better working environment. Ensure that the paint you use is appropriate for moist and damp environments. Even the best kitchen extraction systems will not alleviate all condensation, so to ensure that your kitchen is not prone to peeling paint, choose the correct emulsion.

Kitchen lighting is often overlooked, but this is a very important feature. As well as providing illumination, light create atmosphere. If you intend to also use your kitchen as a dining area, consider having two sets of lights. One for cooking and food preparation, and one set for eating by. This way your kitchen lighting will have dual purpose.

Think about the storage of pots and pans, cooking utensils, and grocery storage .Many people place the utensil draw beneath the kitchen sink; however this may not be the most efficient location in your kitchen. Think about the location of your kitchen ware, plates, cups etc. Where would it be best to locate your kitchen utensils in relation to your kitchen ware?

During the construction of your new kitchen, do think about how you are going to cope without a working kitchen. Are you able to relocate temporarily to stay with friends or family? Or are you in some way able to make do with a short lived inconvenience. If you move away from home during your kitchen renovation, it is important that someone is left in charge. This might be a family friend, a site project manager or someone from the kitchen supply company.
 
It is important for peace of mind to check periodically on the work being carried out to ensure that it is being done to your specifications and satisfaction. Problems or inconsistencies caught at an early stage are much easier to put right, rather than having to tear out kitchen cabinets and start over again.

The Kitchens Chesterfield information service has identified four basic kitchen shapes; a galley style kitchen, a two way galley, and L shape kitchen and a U shape Kitchen.

A Galley Kitchen has all main kitchen features one side of the room. This allows for plenty of kitchen floor space, but the downside is that it does limit storage space. A lack of space under kitchen worktops can be alleviated by installing a large kitchen pantry style cupboard at one end of the kitchen. The kitchens chesterfield information service would like to point out that the disadvantage of a galley style kitchen is the walking distance between the main work areas. To try and alleviate this you should consider placing the kitchen hob, oven, fridge and sink as close as close together as possible.

A two way galley – corridor style kitchen is a kitchen layout that has work surfaces running parallel down the kitchen sides. These kitchens are more advantageous than single galley style kitchen as more storage space is available bellow the kitchen worktops. The Kitchens chesterfield information service considers this layout to be one of the more efficient layouts for kitchen. Chesterfield homes can be short of space in the kitchen areas and the two way galley make the most use of available kitchen area. The Kitchens chesterfield information service would like to point out however, that in view of the traditional demographic in the chesterfield area, it is quite common for the chesterfield inhabitants to eat in the kitchen, and the two way galley style kitchen does not leave room for dining in the kitchen, unless you install an end breakfast bar.

(Kitchens Chesterfield Information Service – diagram of L shaped kitchen below)

The L-shaped kitchen is a very popular layout in new homes L-shape kitchen allows for plenty of storage and workspace. The L shape design reduces distance travelled between appliances in kitchens. Chesterfield homes can make use of the extra free square footage for a designated eating area. The kitchens chesterfield information service suggests that those who do not eat in the kitchen area make like to consider a kitchen island unit. Kitchen island units provide an extra food preparation area as well as extra kitchen storage space. Some may want to consider a free standing mobile kitchen island unit which can be moved as required.

A U-shaped kitchen is another popular layout. This kitchen design allows for a large work surface area and storage under kitchen worktops. This kitchen design works best in a larger room as it can appear to be a little overwhelming in smaller kitchens. The Kitchens Chesterfield Information Service advices that you research your needs thoroughly before deciding upon a kitchen plan.

When looking for new kitchens, the Kitchens Chesterfield information service can help by giving  information on what to look for when choosing kitchens.
Chesterfield is spoilt for choice as far Kitchen suppliers go. Fitting new kitchens in Chesterfield means searching through suppliers and deciding which kitchen specialist in the Chesterfield area can best provide the level of service you require.

The Kitchens Chesterfield information service believes that there are a number of things to consider when choosing new kitchens. Chesterfield is a relatively small town and the choice of supplier is between a large national chain, or a small local kitchen specialist. Which of these you elect to use, will be your first concern. Should you decide to go with a small local chesterfield kitchen company, then you will need to ascertain as to whether the kitchen specialist offers a kitchen fitting service. The kitchens chesterfield information service, understands that a  number of the smaller companies providing kitchens within the chesterfield area do not offer their own in house kitchen fitting service. Some of these companies will either expect you to find your own kitchen fitter or contract out the kitchen fitting to an independent contractor whom you will pay separately.The Kitchen Chesterfield information serice would impress upon you that the use of an independent  contactor should be researched, to ensure that the kitchen contractor can be relied upon to provide a good quality service. If the kitchen fitter works independently from the kitchen supplier, you will have to consider what your options are if work is not carried out to your satisfaction.

The Kitchens Chesterfield information service; short kitchen design ideas video

Some of the kitchen companies in the Chesterfield, Dronfield and Sheffield areas will have their own in house kitchen fitters working in the local region. The Kitchen Chesterfield infomation service would like to see more  kitchen suppliers carry out  kitchen renovations. In such a case there is just one point of contact should any problems develop. Sometimes it can be easier just to deal with one organization. Some people however,  prefer to source their own kitchen fitter to carry out work to their own specifications. The kitchens chesterfield information service believes that the choice of buying your kitchen from a local company within Chesterfield and then employing a local kitchen fitter to  install the kitchen is a personal one, dependent upon circumstance.

The Kitchens Chesterfield Information Service – Advice on Planning your Kitchen.

The Kitchens Chesterfield information service believes that the most important aspect of buying new kitchens in Chesterfield is the planning. Have you thought about the shape of the kitchen? How big is your family, and will your kitchen be used to just cook and prepare food, or will it also be a place for family dining.
Now for your choice of kitchens. Chesterfield, like many other areas has a diverse housing stock. Many of the older houses originated from housing associated with the old mining industry in Chesterfield. For many, space it at a premium. When planning a kitchen in Chesterfield, your choice will be between a fitted kitchen or a free standing model. The Kitchens Chesterfield information service highlights the advantages and disadvantages of each choice.  Should you choose a fitted kitchen, you will be making the most of your kitchen space. Many houses in chesterfield are smaller design terraced houses or newer modern houses that do not have a lot of kitchen space For many in Chesterfield a choice of kitchens would make a fitted kitchen preferable. Mostly the choice will be between flat pack, rigid or custom built kitchen to suit your needs and budget .From research seen by the Kitchen Chesterfield Information Service, a fitted kitchen is most likely to add value to your home.

For older style kitchens in chesterfield, a free standing dresser could be a storage option in a non-fitted kitchen. Country style kitchens are popular in Chesterfield in some of the rural, more outlaying areas. A freestanding or non-fitted kitchen lends individual style and an informal look to your kitchen. You may prefer this for an older style property. And eclectic mix of furniture creates a certain type of ambiance more in keeping with some older houses. The Kitchens Chesterfield Information service sees great benefit in non fitted kitchens for older properties, especially when you consider that you are free to take your kitchen furniture with you with you move.
If your choice is for a fitted kitchen in your Chesterfield home, a breakfast bar is a great idea. A small kitchen can benefit from a defined eating area. Different lifestyles call for different types of kitchens. Chesterfield is a growing town and the people have diverse lifestyles. Lifestyle is the key to planning a kitchen that works. Whilst it may be obvious that a single person or a couple will have different need and uses for their  kitchen than families with young children, the Kitchens Chesterfield information service believes that if  should be remembered that Kitchen designs in chesterfield will reflect the growing young urban population.  Assess your kitchen area accordingly to your needs. Kitchens need to perform well.  Plan how much storage space you need. Make notes of which equipment you will use most often. Make a decision as to which area of your kitchen you will use most often. Kitchens that have a dining area also need storage, so it is important to figure this out at the planning stage when choosing from a range of Kitchens. Chesterfield homes can be tight on space for the reasons detailed above, therfore the Kitchens Chesterfield information service believes that proper planning is vital to your kitchen’s success.