Kitchen design and planning in Inverness

Is kitchen design and planning right for your Inverness kitchen?

If you are thinking about an island for an Inverness kitchen, a design check tells you early whether the room is wide enough for comfortable walkways.

If you are about to order a kitchen online for your Inverness home, a measured plan can catch sizing errors before the order is placed. Our Highlands coverage reaches every part of Inverness (IV2) and out towards Dingwall.

What we cover for kitchen design and planning in Inverness

After the survey visit we write the scope down. For kitchen design and planning in Inverness it usually covers:

Layout options such as galley, L-shaped, U-shaped, island or peninsula
Appliance positions, housings and ventilation gaps checked against real sizes
Elevations and 3D views for larger or open-plan kitchens where chosen
Working zones planned for preparation, cooking, washing and storage
Positions of water, waste, gas, power and radiators recorded on the plan
Measured survey of walls, windows, doors, ceiling height and floor levels

Kitchen design and planning prices in Inverness

Typical kitchen design and planning prices for homes in Inverness, including VAT and adjusted for Scotland. Your own figure depends on the size of the kitchen, the layout and what is moving. Labour rates in Scotland are generally lower than in London and the South East, so these ranges are a little below the national guide.

Kitchen design and planning prices in Inverness
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 around Inverness

Across the Highlands you will often find stone crofthouses, Victorian villas, post-war council-built houses and timber-framed kit houses, and each shapes the kitchen differently. Older crofthouses often have a small kitchen in a lean-to, while Victorian villas in Inverness and Nairn tend to have separate kitchens with room to open up.

Long distances, single-track roads and winter weather can affect delivery and fitting days, so lead times and worktop lengths need planning well in advance. Mains water across the Highlands is soft, though many remote homes rely on private supplies, which may need testing and filtering before a boiling water tap goes in.

What rules apply to kitchen design and planning in Inverness?

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.

Homes in the Cairngorms National Park, listed buildings and conservation areas may need consent for a new external vent or changes to historic features.

Worth knowing before the fit

Count the small appliances you use every day, such as a kettle, toaster and coffee machine, so enough worktop sockets are planned for them.
Before the survey, list what frustrates you about your current Inverness kitchen; it is the quickest way to shape a better layout.
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 Inverness

How much does kitchen design and planning cost in Inverness?

Guide prices in Inverness 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.

Which parts of Inverness do you work in?

All of them. Our Highlands coverage takes in the whole of Inverness, including the IV2 postcode district, as well as surrounding towns such as Dingwall. If you are unsure, send us your postcode.

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.

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.

Kitchen design and planning in neighbouring towns

Neighbouring towns where we offer kitchen design and planning: