Kitchen design and planning in Totnes

Who usually needs kitchen design and planning in Totnes?

Owners of new-build homes in Totnes sometimes redesign the standard kitchen after a few years to add tall storage, an extra appliance or a breakfast bar.

If you are about to order a kitchen online for your Totnes home, a measured plan can catch sizing errors before the order is placed. Totnes sits about 21 miles east of Plymouth, and our Devon coverage takes in everything in between.

What does kitchen design and planning in Totnes include?

The exact scope is agreed after the survey, but a typical job in Totnes covers:

Layout options such as galley, L-shaped, U-shaped, island or peninsula
Socket, switch, lighting and extraction positions marked for the electrician
Working zones planned for preparation, cooking, washing and storage
Elevations and 3D views for larger or open-plan kitchens where chosen
Measured survey of walls, windows, doors, ceiling height and floor levels
Appliance positions, housings and ventilation gaps checked against real sizes

Guide prices for kitchen design and planning in Totnes

The figures below are guide prices for Totnes, including VAT and adjusted for typical costs across the South West. The fixed price comes after we have measured up. For the South West, these ranges are close to the national figures.

Guide prices for kitchen design and planning in Totnes
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 Totnes?

Across Devon you will often find cob and thatched cottages, Victorian terraces, post-war houses and flats and seaside bungalows, and each shapes the kitchen differently. Victorian terraces in Exeter and Torbay often have a narrow back kitchen, while post-war houses and seaside bungalows usually have a square room that suits an L-shape.

Single-track lanes, steep town streets and cottages with no parking can make deliveries slow, so long worktops and tall units need a planned route into the house. Much of Devon has soft mains water, which is kind to taps and appliances, though some eastern parts are harder, so check with your supplier.

Regulations for kitchen work in Totnes

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 Dartmoor or Exmoor national parks, listed thatched cottages and conservation areas may need consent before a new extractor vent goes through an outside wall.

Worth knowing before the fit

Note where sunlight falls in your Totnes kitchen during the day, as it affects where people like to prepare food and sit.
Open every cupboard in your current kitchen and decide what you use, what you store and what you could do without before planning storage.
Ask for the plan for your Totnes kitchen to show socket, switch and light positions as well as units, so the electrician can follow it.
Keep the sink, hob and fridge reasonably close; the classic work triangle is a useful check, not a rule every kitchen must follow.

Questions about kitchen design and planning in Totnes

How much does kitchen design and planning cost in Totnes?

For measured drawings and a layout plan for a kitchen bought elsewhere, budget around £310 to £930 including VAT in Totnes. That reflects typical costs in the South West; we confirm the actual figure in writing once we have measured up.

Can you measure up in Totnes before quoting?

Yes. Every quote starts with a free, no-obligation survey visit to your home in Totnes. We measure the room, check the walls, floor and service positions, then send an itemised written quote.

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.

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.

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.

Also covering nearby towns

We also carry out kitchen design and planning in these towns near Totnes: