Specialists in Kitchen Furniture and Components

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Getting Started on your Dream Kitchen

Some points to consider…

  • Look at your existing kitchen, what do you need or want?
  • Do you enjoy a minimalist environment where everything is tucked away or do you prefer open shelves to show off your crockery?
  • Drawers have evolved incredibly over time. Hi-tech fittings have paved the way for wide drawers, specialised insert divides that order the contents of your drawers.
  • Hinges can close on their own, no more slamming cupboards.
  • Corner units become useful and food storage revolutionised.

When you have distilled your ideas, you have a clearer point from which to start…

STEP 1 - Measure

  1. Carefully measure your walls, taking note of plug points, plumbing and ceiling heights.
  2. Note, your floor surface must be prepared and finished before you install your new kitchen cabinets. Measurements will change after your floor surface has been installed.
  3. Its important that you have a level clean surface upon which to place your cabinets, this will ensure a smoother process in the levelling, fitting and finishing of the kitchen.

STEP 2 - Draw

  1. Put pen to paper, create a detailed floor plan using blocked or graph paper. Draw your room outer walls using accurate measurements. To make the process simpler, decide on a scale i.e. 1 block = 50mm or 100mm.
  2. Plot the plug points, plumbing or pillars etc accurately on the drawing. Also note important variances in the room i.e. sloping ceilings. Use colour to differentiate.
  3. Begin plotting your individual cabinets (represented by squares or rectangles) in line on the page.

     

STEP 3 - Getting it right

THE WORK TRIANGLE

Your kitchen planning revolves around the preparation, cleaning of food (normally at the sink or prep bowl), your food storage, including refrigeration and your cooking area. This forms your work triangle.

The key to a well planned kitchen is ensuring you cluster these work environments in such a way that you limit the distance between each. You’re looking for an efficient and logical use of space.
Industry standard dictates that the distance between these three work stations combined, should not exceed 8000mm in total.

PLANNING AND ORDERING

When planning your cabinets, choose standard sizes to streamline your ordering and maximise your options in terms of fittings you may wish to use. Standard sizes for cabinet widths are 300mm, 400mm, 450mm, 500mm, 600mm, 750mm, 800mm, 900mm, 1000mm and 1200mm. There are a variety of other units, please refer to the Boardprep catalogue. Standard counter depth is 600mm. Wall units can run at a standard height of 720mm and finish short of the ceiling, or you can opt for highline units that are 1000mm high and can be run to the ceiling and cornice (see below). These are key design aesthetics you should consider.

It’s important to note too, that the current trend of wide drawers requires high quality fittings that are designed with this width in mind. Basic fittings like ball bearing or white runners will not last the distance. Drawers beyond 600mm wide require good quality runners. Consider what the drawer is holding, the overall weight and the pressures on the drawer when opening and closing it. There are great products available, consider them. Incorrect fittings can result in damage to your carcasses and unnecessary expense.

STEP 4 - Order it!

PREPARING YOUR ORDER

  1. If you’re planning to install yourself, make sure you re-measure the room when you’ve finished your plan. It may help to get a friend to run through the numbers too, a fresh pair of eyes can make all the difference.
  2. Once finished, you can either email info@boardprep.co.za or drop the plan off at Boardprep.
  3. The consultant will then design your kitchen with our planning tool, optimising the plan for efficiency and the available menu of RTA units.
  4. The finished design will allow you to see elevations and views of the room.
  5. Your colour scheme and finishes will come to life.
  6. In terms of design, a rule of thumb – dark doors are normally married with a lighter worktop and vice versa to allow for contrast. However, this is your dream kitchen, it’s in your hands.
  7. If you have any non standard requirements, a cutting list of the materials required must be supplied.
  8. At this point you can order the fittings too. There is a wealth of choice, from soft close to push to open. Remember your fittings are going to be doing all the work, choose wisely. Wider drawers require high quality products that are designed to cope with the weights and strains placed on them.

INSTALLATION

Installation is made a great deal easier if you prepare the area you’ll be working in:

  1. Ensure your floor finish is done, don’t plan to tile around units, tile the entire floor first and then place the units on top.
  2. It’s unusual for walls to be absolutely true, if you have glaring problems, address them before you start installing.
  3. Ensure all your plug points are aligned and in the correct position, call your electrician and sort it out before you install your kitchen.
  4. Make sure your plumbing points are neat and aligned with the proposed appliances/sinks that will require them.

We want to make the process easier for you.

  1. Ask about having your units pre-assembled. This will cost a small fee, but may save you a lot of time.
  2. Consider having your units delivered, by making use of Boardprep’s delivery service. Costs vary depending on the destination. Chat to your representative to find out more…

Using an approved independent installer:

  • If you feel that the project is a step too far for you, Boardprep has a list of approved independent installers with a wealth of experience with our products.
  • If you have a number of non standard units that fall out of the menu of RTA products, it may make sense to approach one of these installers. Please chat to a representative to get a name.
  • The installer will do a final measure up with you. They will then confirm the final plan and unit list, taking into account non standard units. Speak to them about the fittings you’re keen on, it’s important that these fittings are installed correctly in order for them to function properly. Our approved independent installers are all familiar with the industry’s leading fittings and will be able to fit them correctly.
  • The approved independent installer will charge a fee for the installation. This fee is negotiated separately and does not form part of your Boardprep components and units.