Kitchen design and planning · Greater London
Kitchen design and planning in Chelsea
Our kitchen design and planning service covers Chelsea and nearby places such as Battersea and Fulham, with a free survey visit and an itemised written quote as the first step.
Who usually needs kitchen design and planning in Chelsea?
Homeowners in Chelsea often ask for a design when the kitchen layout no longer suits how they live, even though the room itself is a reasonable size.
Owners of new-build homes in Chelsea sometimes redesign the standard kitchen after a few years to add tall storage, an extra appliance or a breakfast bar. Kitchens in every part of Chelsea are covered, and the survey visit is free wherever you are in Greater London.
What is in a typical job?
Every kitchen is different, so we confirm the scope in writing. Most jobs of this kind include:
- Appliance positions, housings and ventilation gaps checked against real sizes
- 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
- Working zones planned for preparation, cooking, washing and storage
How much does kitchen design and planning cost in Chelsea?
The figures below are guide prices for Chelsea, including VAT and adjusted for typical costs across London. The fixed price comes after we have measured up. Labour in London generally costs more than the UK average, which lifts these ranges a little.
| 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 | £390–£1,200 |
| Detailed design with 3D views and elevationsFor larger or open-plan kitchens | £780–£2,000 |
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
The housing mix across Greater London includes Victorian and Edwardian terraces, conversion flats, mansion block flats and 1930s semis, so no two kitchen fits are quite alike. Victorian terraces often have a narrow galley beside the side return, while conversion flats and mansion blocks usually fit the kitchen into a small room or along one living-room wall.
Permit parking, red routes and flats without lifts are common, so parking suspensions, stair carries and lift bookings may need arranging before delivery day. London's mains water is hard, so limescale builds quickly on taps and boiling water taps, and a scale-reducing filter is worth planning in.
Building regulations, electrics and gas in Chelsea
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.
Conservation areas are widespread across London, so a new extractor vent on a front wall may need permission, and leaseholders usually need the freeholder's written consent first.
Worth knowing before the fit
- Note where sunlight falls in your Chelsea kitchen during the day, as it affects where people like to prepare food and sit.
- If your home in Greater London has a boiler in the kitchen, ask for service access to be designed in rather than boxed in tightly.
- Measure the appliances you are keeping, including the depth with the doors open, and bring the sizes to the design meeting.
- 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 Chelsea
How much does kitchen design and planning cost in Chelsea?
For measured drawings and a layout plan for a kitchen bought elsewhere, budget around £390 to £1,200 including VAT in Chelsea. That reflects typical costs in London; we confirm the actual figure in writing once we have measured up.
Which parts of Chelsea do you work in?
All of them. Our Greater London coverage takes in the whole of Chelsea, including the SW3 and SW10 postcode districts, as well as surrounding towns such as Battersea. If you are unsure, send us your postcode.
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.
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.
Also covering nearby towns
The same service is available a short drive from Chelsea, including:
- Kitchen design and planning in Battersea
- Kitchen design and planning in Fulham
- Kitchen design and planning in Pimlico
- Kitchen design and planning in Westminster
- Kitchen design and planning in Bayswater
- Kitchen design and planning in Notting Hill
- Kitchen design and planning across Greater London