Kitchen design and planning in Aberdeen

What prompts kitchen design and planning in Aberdeen?

If you are thinking about an island for an Aberdeen kitchen, a design check tells you early whether the room is wide enough for comfortable walkways.

In an Aberdeen semi with a small back kitchen, planning often comes down to fitting more storage and worktop into the same footprint without crowding the room. Kitchens in every part of Aberdeen are covered, and the survey visit is free wherever you are in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.

What is included in the work?

Your written quote lists everything included. For kitchen design and planning, that normally means:

Layout options such as galley, L-shaped, U-shaped, island or peninsula
A final plan and specification to order from and fit to
Socket, switch, lighting and extraction positions marked for the electrician
Elevations and 3D views for larger or open-plan kitchens where chosen
Appliance positions, housings and ventilation gaps checked against real sizes
Working zones planned for preparation, cooking, washing and storage

Kitchen design and planning prices in Aberdeen

Use these ranges to plan your budget. They include VAT, reflect costs in Scotland, and are firmed up once we have seen your Aberdeen kitchen. Prices in Scotland usually come in below the national guide, as labour rates are lower than in the South East.

Kitchen design and planning prices in Aberdeen
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%.

House types around Aberdeen and what they mean for a kitchen

You will find granite tenement flats, granite villas, post-war council-built houses and farm cottages throughout Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. 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.

Tenement flats without lifts mean carrying units up common stairs, and rural farm tracks can be narrow for delivery lorries. Mains water across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire is soft, so limescale is rarely a problem and taps, sinks and boiling water taps stay cleaner.

Do you need approval for kitchen design and planning in Aberdeen?

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.

Worth knowing before the fit

If your home in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire has a boiler in the kitchen, ask for service access to be designed in rather than boxed in tightly.
Count the small appliances you use every day, such as a kettle, toaster and coffee machine, so enough worktop sockets are planned for them.
Open every cupboard in your current kitchen and decide what you use, what you store and what you could do without before planning storage.
Keep the sink, hob and fridge reasonably close; the classic work triangle is a useful check, not a rule every kitchen must follow.

Questions about kitchen design and planning in Aberdeen

How much does kitchen design and planning cost in Aberdeen?

Kitchen design and planning in Aberdeen typically costs £280 to £850 including VAT for measured drawings and a layout plan for a kitchen bought elsewhere, based on prices in Scotland. Larger or more involved jobs cost more, and your price is fixed in writing after a free survey visit.

Can you measure up in Aberdeen before quoting?

Yes. Every quote starts with a free, no-obligation survey visit to your home in Aberdeen. We measure the room, check the walls, floor and service positions, then send an itemised written quote.

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.

How long does kitchen design take?

Usually one to three weeks from the survey to a final plan, depending on how many layout options you want to compare and how quickly choices about doors, worktops and appliances are made. A replacement in the same layout can be settled quickly, while an open-plan room with an island or moved services often takes a few rounds of changes.

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.

Also covering nearby towns

Neighbouring towns where we offer kitchen design and planning: