Updated October 2026
2 min read
In short
Most regrets about a new kitchen come from something nobody caught in time. These are the ones we see most, and how to avoid them.
The little things that make the biggest difference
Put your oven at eye level. Nobody wants to crouch down for a hot tray.
Think about where the air fryer is going to live before you run out of worktop. Fit more sockets than you think you need, because you'll use every one. And a built-in bin? Just do it.
Above all, never commit to anything until you've seen it in person. A screen or a piece of paper never tells the whole story.
Look inside the cabinets
You know when you've got a really lovely door, and then you open it and inside is stark white? It makes the whole kitchen look cheap.
We use a timber effect inside, nickel shelf supports, and we don't pepper the sides with shelf holes you'll never use. Having a green kitchen with an oak effect inside? We edge it in green, so nothing shows through when the doors are shut.
The part nobody checks
Most people choose a kitchen by the door, which is fair enough. It's the bit you see every day.
But the carcass behind it is what you live with. A bright white carcass behind a beautiful door just looks cheap. We match them up properly, with timber effect inside and the right edge banding, so nothing peeks through that shouldn't. You only notice it when it's done right.
Don't rush the design
The biggest mistake of all is signing off a layout before you've lived with it for a while. Our designs go through as many versions as it takes. Here's how we work.