Kitchen design and planning in Eastleigh

Why do people in Eastleigh choose kitchen design and planning?

If your Eastleigh kitchen is a narrow galley in an older terrace, a measured plan shows whether one run, two runs or moving the door works better.

People in Hampshire planning an open-plan kitchen-diner often want a layout drawn before their builder starts, so services end up in exactly the right places. We cover all of Eastleigh, including the SO50 postcode district, and travel out to neighbouring towns across Hampshire.

What is included in the work?

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

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
Measured survey of walls, windows, doors, ceiling height and floor levels
Layout options such as galley, L-shaped, U-shaped, island or peninsula
Socket, switch, lighting and extraction positions marked for the electrician

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

As a starting point for Eastleigh, these ranges include VAT at 20% and allow for typical labour costs in the South East. Labour in the South East generally costs more than the UK average, which lifts these ranges a little.

What should you budget for kitchen design and planning in Eastleigh?
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	£340–£1,000
Detailed design with 3D views and elevationsFor larger or open-plan kitchens	£690–£1,700

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 Eastleigh and what they mean for a kitchen

The housing mix across Hampshire includes Victorian terraces, 1930s semis, post-war estate houses and thatched and brick cottages, so no two kitchen fits are quite alike. Terraces in Southampton and Portsmouth often have a narrow back kitchen, while post-war estate houses tend to have a compact rectangular room suited to an L-shape.

Water across Hampshire is mostly hard, largely from chalk sources, so limescale on taps and boiling water taps is common and a filter can help. Dense terraced streets can be very tight for parking, and New Forest lanes and village roads may limit the size of delivery vehicle.

Building regulations, electrics and gas in Eastleigh

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.

Homes within the New Forest or South Downs national parks, listed cottages and conservation areas may need consent for a new extractor vent or alterations to historic features.

Getting the most from your kitchen design and planning

Count the small appliances you use every day, such as a kettle, toaster and coffee machine, so enough worktop sockets are planned for them.
Measure the appliances you are keeping, including the depth with the doors open, and bring the sizes to the design meeting.
If your home in Hampshire has a boiler in the kitchen, ask for service access to be designed in rather than boxed in tightly.
Work out the route for cooker hood ducting to an outside wall before fixing the hob position, as long or bent runs reduce extraction.

Questions about kitchen design and planning in Eastleigh

How much does kitchen design and planning cost in Eastleigh?

Kitchen design and planning in Eastleigh typically costs £340 to £1,000 including VAT for measured drawings and a layout plan for a kitchen bought elsewhere, based on prices in the South East. Larger or more involved jobs cost more, and your price is fixed in writing after a free survey visit.

Can you measure up in Eastleigh before quoting?

Yes. Every quote starts with a free, no-obligation survey visit to your home in Eastleigh. 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.

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.

Kitchen design and planning near Eastleigh

The same service is available a short drive from Eastleigh, including: