Kitchen design and planning · Dorset
Kitchen design and planning in Blandford Forum
Our kitchen design and planning service covers Blandford Forum and nearby places such as Shaftesbury and Poole, with a free survey visit and an itemised written quote as the first step.
Thinking about kitchen design and planning in Blandford Forum?
Families across Dorset 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 Blandford Forum home, a measured plan can catch sizing errors before the order is placed. Homes right across Blandford Forum are covered, as are nearby places such as Shaftesbury, Poole and the villages in between.
What is in a typical job?
Here is what usually goes into kitchen design and planning, adjusted to your Blandford Forum kitchen after we have measured it:
- Appliance positions, housings and ventilation gaps checked against real sizes
- Positions of water, waste, gas, power and radiators recorded on the plan
- Measured survey of walls, windows, doors, ceiling height and floor levels
- Layout options such as galley, L-shaped, U-shaped, island or peninsula
- Working zones planned for preparation, cooking, washing and storage
- Elevations and 3D views for larger or open-plan kitchens where chosen
How much does kitchen design and planning cost in Blandford Forum?
The figures below are guide prices for Blandford Forum, including VAT and adjusted for typical costs across the South West. The fixed price comes after we have measured up. Costs in the South West sit close to 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 | £310–£930 |
| Detailed design with 3D views and elevationsFor larger or open-plan kitchens | £620–£1,500 |
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%.
What kind of kitchens do we fit in Blandford Forum?
Typical homes in this part of Dorset include thatched cottages, Victorian and Edwardian villas, 1930s semis and seaside bungalows. Edwardian villas in Bournemouth often have a separate kitchen and scullery, while 1930s semis and bungalows tend to have a compact room at the back.
Flats in converted villas may have no lift and shared hallways, and narrow village lanes can make delivering long worktops difficult. Most of Dorset has hard water, so limescale on taps, sinks and boiling water taps is common, and a scale-reducing filter can help.
Regulations for kitchen work in Blandford Forum
Designing and fitting a kitchen needs no planning permission in England, but a good plan allows for the rules that follow. New circuits are notifiable under Part P, a cooker hood extracting outside should achieve about 30 litres per second under Approved Document F, and removing a load-bearing wall needs a structural engineer and building control approval. Listed buildings and flats may need consent before a new outside vent is cut.
Thatched and listed cottages may need listed building consent for internal changes, and owners of flats in converted houses usually need the freeholder's consent before work starts.
Practical advice for Blandford Forum homeowners
- Note where sunlight falls in your Blandford Forum kitchen during the day, as it affects where people like to prepare food and sit.
- Ask for the plan for your Blandford Forum kitchen to show socket, switch and light positions as well as units, so the electrician can follow it.
- Before the survey, list what frustrates you about your current Blandford Forum kitchen; it is the quickest way to shape a better layout.
- Leave clear walkways; common guidance is around a metre between facing runs or around an island, and more if two people cook together.
Questions about kitchen design and planning in Blandford Forum
How much does kitchen design and planning cost in Blandford Forum?
Guide prices in Blandford Forum are about £310 to £930 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.
Which parts of Blandford Forum do you work in?
All of them. Our Dorset coverage takes in the whole of Blandford Forum, including the DT11 postcode district, as well as surrounding towns such as Shaftesbury. If you are unsure, send us your postcode.
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.
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.
Also covering nearby towns
The same service is available a short drive from Blandford Forum, including:
- Kitchen design and planning in Shaftesbury
- Kitchen design and planning in Poole
- Kitchen design and planning in Dorchester
- Kitchen design and planning in Bournemouth
- Kitchen design and planning in Ringwood
- Kitchen design and planning in Sherborne
- Kitchen design and planning across Dorset