Allow Enough Time for your Kitchen and Appliances

Many people often wait until building works are almost complete before ordering their kitchen and appliances. There are some very good reasons for not doing this and to order at the project planning stage.

People are often surprised when they can’t get a kitchen within days or even a couple of weeks from ordering. However, this is an unrealistic prospect – even for an ‘off the shelf, mass produced kitchen, let alone a bespoke, custom -made solution.

Furthermore, as we write this post (September 2022) there is a long lead time (from order to delivery) for many high-quality appliance brands.

For a bespoke manufactured, in-frame kitchen solution - from agreeing drawings, costings and placing order, the average lead time is around 3 x months / 12 weeks. This can be even longer from time to time depending on the season and how full the brands order book might be!

Whilst 3 x months might sound a long time, you need to consider that the manufacturer is constantly fulfilling other orders; if a bespoke manufacturer can quote a much shorter lead time, they’re obviously not that busy and this puts into question the quality of their work and reputation!

Remember, a proper bespoke designed and manufactured kitchen is a thing of beauty, using the finest materials and the skills of master cabinet makers and fellow artisans. Every commission is entirely unique and made to suit specific proportions, requirements and tastes. Even when it’s your time and you’re at the front of the que, such furniture – with all its many components and finishes can not be produced in a moment! Besides which, 3 x months times nicely with the lead times for many of the high-quality kitchen appliances. Let’s face it; a kitchen isn’t much good without appliances and vice versa!

There is also another very good reason for deciding upon your kitchen design and ordering early on in the project planning - build or renovation process. You need to know the exact location for electrics, plumbing and services in general; this makes for a truly successful and uncompromised kitchen result. To achieve this, the kitchen designer needs to work closely with the architect or builder early on.

To illustrate this point, imagine when you eventually choose your kitchen that you decide you want an island with a hob and sink BUT the concrete for your floor has already been laid - requiring it to be dug up to get the necessary supplies in place.  A highly experienced kitchen designer might also suggest ‘if only you had made that internal wall 10cm longer; we could have then fitted in the integrated fridge freezer you wanted. You get the picture!

Always talk to your preferred kitchen supplier at the start of a project so that they can not only work with all involved parties to get the exact result you want, but also, to ensure that your furniture and appliances arrive on time.