Kitchen design and planning · Scotland
Kitchen design and planning in Argyll and Bute
We carry out kitchen design and planning across Argyll and Bute, from Dunoon to the smaller towns, with a free survey visit and an itemised written quote as standard.
What prompts kitchen design and planning in Argyll and Bute?
Owners of new-build homes in Argyll and Bute sometimes redesign the standard kitchen after a few years to add tall storage, an extra appliance or a breakfast bar.
If you are about to order a kitchen online for your Argyll and Bute home, a measured plan can catch sizing errors before the order is placed.
What does kitchen design and planning in Argyll and Bute include?
The exact scope is agreed after the survey, but a typical job in Argyll and Bute covers:
- 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 Argyll and Bute?
As a starting point for Argyll and Bute, these ranges include VAT at 20% and allow for typical labour costs in Scotland. Labour rates in Scotland are generally lower than in London and the South East, so these ranges are a little below the national guide.
| 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 Argyll and Bute
You will find Victorian villas, whitewashed cottages, tenement flats and post-war bungalows throughout Argyll and Bute. Victorian villas in Dunoon and Oban often have a separate scullery and a larger kitchen, while cottages and bungalows tend to have a compact room at the back.
Soft water is usual across Argyll and Bute, so limescale is rarely a concern, though rural homes on private supplies may need their own filtering. Long single-track roads are common, and some mainland addresses are quickest reached by ferry, so delivery dates, vehicle size and worktop lengths need planning around timetables and weather.
Villa kitchens are sometimes split between a main room and a former scullery, and joining them is a common project that needs a building warrant if the wall is load-bearing. Rural cottages are often off the gas grid, so cooking may be electric or run from LPG.
Rules for kitchen design and planning in Argyll and Bute
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.
Parts of Cowal lie within Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, and listed buildings or conservation areas may need consent for a new external vent.
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.
- Base units are typically 600 mm deep with a worktop height of around 900 mm; taller or shorter cooks may want this adjusted.
- Keep the sink, hob and fridge reasonably close; the classic work triangle is a useful check, not a rule every kitchen must follow.
- Work out the route for cooker hood ducting to an outside wall before fixing the hob position, as long or bent runs reduce extraction.
- Note where sunlight falls in your Argyll and Bute kitchen during the day, as it affects where people like to prepare food and sit.
- Before the survey, list what frustrates you about your current Argyll and Bute kitchen; it is the quickest way to shape a better layout.
Questions about kitchen design and planning in Argyll and Bute
How much does kitchen design and planning cost in Argyll and Bute?
Guide prices in Argyll and Bute 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 Argyll and Bute?
Yes, across mainland Argyll and Bute, including Dunoon and Oban. We do not currently cover the islands, such as Bute, Mull and Islay. 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.
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.
Kitchen design and planning in towns across Argyll and Bute
Choose a town for local guide prices and postcode coverage: