Kitchen design and planning in Cardiff

Why do people in Cardiff choose kitchen design and planning?

Homeowners in Cardiff often ask for a design when the kitchen layout no longer suits how they live, even though the room itself is a reasonable size.

If you are thinking about an island for a Cardiff kitchen, a design check tells you early whether the room is wide enough for comfortable walkways. We work throughout Cardiff (CF10, CF11, CF14, CF15, CF23 and CF24) and across the wider South Glamorgan area.

What does the job involve?

Every kitchen is different, so we confirm the scope in writing. Most jobs of this kind include:

Layout options such as galley, L-shaped, U-shaped, island or peninsula
Elevations and 3D views for larger or open-plan kitchens where chosen
Measured survey of walls, windows, doors, ceiling height and floor levels
A final plan and specification to order from and fit to
Positions of water, waste, gas, power and radiators recorded on the plan
Appliance positions, housings and ventilation gaps checked against real sizes

What should you budget for kitchen design and planning in Cardiff?

As a starting point for Cardiff, these ranges include VAT at 20% and allow for typical labour costs in Wales. Prices in Wales usually come in below the national guide, as labour rates are lower than in the South East.

What should you budget for kitchen design and planning in Cardiff?
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–£830
Detailed design with 3D views and elevationsFor larger or open-plan kitchens	£550–£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%.

Local homes and their kitchens

Across South Glamorgan you will often find Victorian terraces, Edwardian villas, post-war estate houses and waterfront apartments, and each shapes the kitchen differently. Cardiff's Victorian terraces often have a long galley in the back addition, while Edwardian villas in Penarth may have a separate kitchen and breakfast room.

Busy on-street parking in terraced areas and apartment blocks with booked lifts can affect delivery times and how long worktops are carried in. Much of South Glamorgan has soft to moderately soft water, though some parts are harder, so check with your supplier before choosing a filter.

Building regulations, electrics and gas in Cardiff

In Wales, a new kitchen layout needs no planning permission (a listed building may need listed building consent), but the electrical layout matters: extending an existing circuit within a kitchen is notifiable under Part P, as are new circuits, so new socket positions are certified through a competent person scheme or building control. Extraction should meet Approved Document F, and structural openings need building control approval.

Listed buildings and conservation areas, including parts of Cardiff and Penarth, may need consent for new vents, and apartment owners usually need the freeholder's consent.

Worth knowing before the fit

If you are extending or knocking through in Cardiff, finalise the kitchen plan before the builder fixes drainage and power points.
Measure the appliances you are keeping, including the depth with the doors open, and bring the sizes to the design meeting.
Ask for the plan for your Cardiff kitchen to show socket, switch and light positions as well as units, so the electrician can follow it.
Mark radiators, the boiler, stopcock and meters on the plan early, as moving them adds cost and changes what can go where.

Questions about kitchen design and planning in Cardiff

How much does kitchen design and planning cost in Cardiff?

Kitchen design and planning in Cardiff typically costs £280 to £830 including VAT for measured drawings and a layout plan for a kitchen bought elsewhere, based on prices in Wales. Larger or more involved jobs cost more, and your price is fixed in writing after a free survey visit.

Which parts of Cardiff do you work in?

All of them. Our South Glamorgan coverage takes in the whole of Cardiff, including the CF10, CF11, CF14, CF15, CF23 and CF24 postcode districts, as well as surrounding towns such as Penarth. 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.

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.

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.

Nearby places we cover

Neighbouring towns where we offer kitchen design and planning: