Journal
Installing a bespoke kitchen; how long does it take and what should you expect?
Designing your bespoke kitchen is the fun part; a space tailored to meet your exact needs, design preferences, and lifestyle. Bringing together all the elements involved, spending time with the kitchen design team; deciding on the layout, cabinet style, colours, worktops and appliances as well as fabrics, lighting and flooring.
The kitchen installation day arrives; it’s a daunting prospect; the thought of teams of people arriving at your house to take days to install; traipsing through your home, over new carpets, across freshly polished floors, damaging paintwork and walls. Our aim is to mitigate any of these potential issues; we have a wealth of experience in design, manufacture and installation of bespoke cabinetry and kitchens. We want to ensure that the installation process runs smoothly, that your home is cared for. So, what should you expect, and how long does it take to install a bespoke kitchen?
PLANNING
Site Surveys
Prior to the design stage our project management team will visit your home to take precise measurements. If you’re altering the layout, they’ll assess plumbing, electrical wiring, and structural features to plan for any adjustments.
Design Proposals
The kitchen design is then submitted for your review with detailed 3D renders or plans that showcase the layout, colour scheme, materials, and finishes. You may go through several revisions to get everything just right.
Timeline
Once the design is finalised, deposits are paid, a space is allocated in our workshop schedule. An installation date will then be confirmed. From inception to completion can take several months depending on the complexity of the project.
Preparation of the space
Preparation of the space can take several weeks. To ensure that the kitchen installation process runs smoothly we suggest that the room is prepared in advance by your team of builders. In existing kitchens, this will involve removing old cabinets and possibly making any necessary structural changes. For new extensions and major house renovations, we will advise all the trades involved how to prepare the room correctly in advance.
Flooring should be fitted and the room should be painted with at least one coat of paint ahead of installation. The flooring will be covered before installation.
As you would expect; the length of time it then takes to install a kitchen depends on the size of the project. Our design team will inform you of the suggested time frame we have allowed and our experienced installation team will work to that schedule.
INSTALLATION
Cabinets
Hand made bespoke cabinets will arrive pre-assembled, wrapped in blankets and specialist packaging. We build all our bespoke cabinets in our workshop ahead of installing them in your home to ensure that they meet our exceptional standards. We then take care to wrap them for transit to ensure that they arrive in perfect condition.
Taps, Sink, Appliances
Appliances will be installed along with the cabinets. If you have chosen integrated appliances they will arrive installed in the cabinets ready to be hard-wired. Taps are installed with the sink/s and any handles or additional hardware and open shelves.
Electrics
Our kitchen installation team will at this stage work alongside your electrician to ensure that lighting, appliances and plug sockets are fitted according to your design.
Plumbing
Our kitchen design team will work alongside your plumber to ensure that the sink/s are plumbed, the dishwasher is installed correctly and any other features such as Quooker taps or pot fillers are working correctly.
Painting
All painted cabinets will arrive assembled with one coat of primer applied to any painted surfaces. Once they are installed the cabinets are hand-painted in-situ by a specialist painter, this can take several days to complete. There is an art to painting a bespoke kitchen, details of which can be found here.
Worktops
Finally the worktop can be fitted. Depending on which finish you have chosen the worktops will be templated, cut to size and then installed by a specialist team. This process can take a few days to complete.
TESTING
Our kitchen fitters will ensure everything works seamlessly before leaving your home. This will include testing the appliances to ensure they are functioning correctly and checking the drawers and cupboards open and close as they should. Once your bespoke kitchen is installed, there’s usually a settling-in period. Any small adjustments, like aligning cabinet doors or adjusting drawers, will be made before handing over the space. Since everything is custom-made, some elements may require fine-tuning after a few weeks of use.
MAINTENANCE
On completion we provide a file containing the instruction manuals and cleaning instructions. Bespoke kitchens and high-end appliances often include materials that may require specialist care.
Kitchen installation can take from several days to several weeks depending on the size and complexity of the project. Our project manager Sam, and installation team have many years experience and Sam will remain in close communication with you and your contractors at all stages to maintain timescales and coordinate all the elements of the project.
Under Sam’s leadership the team will coordinate all the practical aspects of making, delivering, installing, painting and finishing the project. We work very hard to minimise snags in our furniture, and generally install with very few or none. However, if they do happen, we have a dedicated furniture maker to address them as quickly as possible.
Installing a bespoke kitchen is an exciting, yet complex project that demands careful planning and patience. The process can take time but the result is a beautifully crafted kitchen that’s uniquely yours. By knowing what to expect and preparing for the journey ahead, you’ll be well on your way to creating the kitchen of your dreams.
