Kitchen design and planning · Scotland
Kitchen design and planning in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
We carry out kitchen design and planning across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, from Aberdeen to the smaller towns, with a free survey visit and an itemised written quote as standard.
Why kitchen design and planning for an Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire home?
Families across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire sometimes want a layout that lets two people cook at the same time, which changes how the working zones and walkways are planned.
If you are about to order a kitchen online for your Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire home, a measured plan can catch sizing errors before the order is placed.
What does kitchen design and planning in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire include?
Here is what usually goes into kitchen design and planning, adjusted to your Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire kitchen after we have measured it:
- Measured survey of walls, windows, doors, ceiling height and floor levels
- Positions of water, waste, gas, power and radiators recorded on the plan
- Layout options such as galley, L-shaped, U-shaped, island or peninsula
- Working zones planned for preparation, cooking, washing and storage
- Appliance positions, housings and ventilation gaps checked against real sizes
- Socket, switch, lighting and extraction positions marked for the electrician
- Elevations and 3D views for larger or open-plan kitchens where chosen
- A final plan and specification to order from and fit to
How much does kitchen design and planning cost in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire?
As a starting point for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, these ranges include VAT at 20% and allow for typical labour costs in Scotland. Costs across Scotland tend to sit under UK averages, which these ranges reflect.
| Typical project | Guide price |
|---|---|
| Design for a kitchen we supplyMeasured survey, layout plan and specification are part of the supply-and-fit price | Included |
| Measured drawings and layout plan for a kitchen bought elsewhereMeasured drawing, layout and service positions for your fitter and supplier | £280–£850 |
| Detailed design with 3D views and elevationsFor larger or open-plan kitchens | £560–£1,400 |
Design is included in the supply-and-fit price; for kitchens bought elsewhere, the guide prices cover the measured survey, layout drawing and service positions, with 3D views and elevations in the detailed option. The survey visit to quote is free; the fee covers the measured drawings and layout plan you can take to any supplier. Prices include VAT at 20%.
Kitchens in homes across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
The housing mix across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire includes granite tenement flats, granite villas, post-war council-built houses and farm cottages, so no two kitchen fits are quite alike. Granite tenement flats often have a small kitchen off the hall, while villas and bungalows across Aberdeenshire tend to have a separate kitchen beside the dining room.
Mains water across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire is soft, so limescale is rarely a problem and taps, sinks and boiling water taps stay cleaner. Tenement flats without lifts mean carrying units up common stairs, and rural farm tracks can be narrow for delivery lorries.
In a granite tenement flat, the kitchen is often a small room off the hall, and opening it into the living room needs a building warrant if the wall is load-bearing, and can need one even if it is not, where the change affects the escape route or fire separation in a flat. Many rural bungalows are off the gas grid, so cooking is often electric.
Rules for kitchen design and planning in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
In Scotland, designing and fitting a kitchen does not normally need a building warrant, but removing a load-bearing wall or altering drainage needs one before work starts. Electrical positions must meet the building standards and BS 7671, and extract ventilation should meet standard 3.14 of the domestic Technical Handbook. Listed buildings may need listed building consent, so check with your local authority if your home is listed.
Homes in the Cairngorms National Park, listed granite buildings and conservation areas may need consent for new external vents, and tenement owners may need neighbours' agreement.
Before you start
- Plan landing space either side of the hob and next to the oven and fridge, so hot pans and shopping always have somewhere to go.
- Mark radiators, the boiler, stopcock and meters on the plan early, as moving them adds cost and changes what can go where.
- Base units are typically 600 mm deep with a worktop height of around 900 mm; taller or shorter cooks may want this adjusted.
- Work out the route for cooker hood ducting to an outside wall before fixing the hob position, as long or bent runs reduce extraction.
- Before the survey, list what frustrates you about your current Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire kitchen; it is the quickest way to shape a better layout.
- Open every cupboard in your current kitchen and decide what you use, what you store and what you could do without before planning storage.
Questions about kitchen design and planning in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
How much does kitchen design and planning cost in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire?
Guide prices in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire are about £280 to £850 including VAT for measured drawings and a layout plan for a kitchen bought elsewhere. The final price depends on the size of the kitchen and what is moving, and is set out in an itemised written quote.
Do you cover the whole of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire?
Yes. We carry out kitchen design and planning across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, including Aberdeen, Peterhead, Inverurie and Fraserburgh. Every job starts with a free survey visit and an itemised written quote.
What is the kitchen work triangle?
The work triangle is a planning idea that links the sink, hob and fridge, keeping each within a short, unobstructed walk of the others so cooking takes fewer steps. It is still a useful check, but many kitchens are now planned in zones for preparation, cooking, washing and storage, which suits larger and open-plan rooms where more than one person uses the space.
Which kitchen layout suits my room?
It depends mainly on the shape of the room, where the doors and windows sit and how many people cook. Narrow rooms suit a galley, rooms with a corner suit an L-shape, and wider rooms can take a U-shape. An island needs space for walkways of around a metre on each side, and a peninsula gives similar worktop space where an island will not fit.
What are the standard sizes of kitchen units and worktops?
Base units are typically 600 mm deep, with worktops around 900 mm from the floor, though the plinth height can raise or lower this slightly. Unit widths come in standard steps, commonly from 150 mm up to 1,000 mm, and wall units are shallower, often around 300 to 350 mm deep. A plan built on real measurements uses filler panels to take up any leftover space.
Kitchen design and planning in towns across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire
Choose a town for local guide prices and postcode coverage:
- Kitchen design and planning in Aberdeen
- Kitchen design and planning in Peterhead
- Kitchen design and planning in Inverurie
- Kitchen design and planning in Fraserburgh
- Kitchen design and planning in Stonehaven