Which is Best Kitchen Planning Tool?

Meepster

Kavanne wrote: »

I did give you a link to a list of predominantly free ones or low priced ones through that google search and asked you which one should I pick? What more do you want?

Well, why don't you change the title of the thread to "Which is the best FREE kitchen planning tool?" There you go, problem solved...

Oh, and the answer is, they are all as equally poor as each other. The best CHEAP way to plan your kitchen, is go buy some graph paper and cut out shapes accordingly...

Actually saying that, the Ikea one isn't that bad, as long as you want an Ikea kitchen. The sizes of their units are slightly different to everyone elses, so you can run into problems if going down this route...

CKdesigner

Kavanne wrote: »

Where are you based? So I can avoid you.

Stop advertising on this forum!!

I don't want to go waste the time of a designer because as you can see from my signature I currently only have £400 saved up

Hi Kavanne

LOL! I said go to a local independent kitchen specialist, after all the clue is in the job title.

Put it this way if you thought the brakes on your car weren't working properly would you not take it to a qualified mechanic rather than fiddle about with them yourself?

Anyway, good luck with your search.

beetlebum_2

I used the basic one on Wren Kitchen webite to get an idea of dimensions and unit sizes. When I had the layout I wanted (I used this due to its simplicity) I then used the one on the B&Q website which renders it in 3D. Admittedly it didn't have all the sizes of units that my supplier had, but it gave me a good idea of what it will look like.

becs

I really don't understand what everyone says about Ikea units not being standard size. They are normal size 300mm,400mm,500mm,600mm,800mm and 1000mm all seem fairly normal to me. The only thing they dont have is room for pipework at the back of them. We overcame this by either building a false wall to place units against and have pipes behind (this was actually fantastic as trust me no wall will ever be straight, so by building it we ensured it was!) we then had an extra deep worktop mae to go from back to front which gives me a fantastic size worktop which is the envy of everyone who sees it. Or along the side of the kitchen where we had sink, washing machine and dishwasher, the appliances were fitted either side of the sink and because both used flexi hoses we cut a hole in side of sink unti to feed the hoses through and connect under the sink.

Kavanne

thanks becs, how much room did you leave for the pipes?

becs

To be honest we allowed appx 10 cm but mainly because we wanted the units to fit flush in line with the back door.Pipes can also run under the units though as they have good space under them so not strictly neessary. The Ikea plan does also tell you if you put a cupboard in the plan and it's too close to something therefore preventing door etc opening properly so it is hard to make mistakes. Like one of the previous posters advised live with the space first to see how you would prefer things. Although kitchen designers are experts at what they do we are all individuals and don't necessarily work to normal plans. I'm delighted with the layout we ended up with and find it works so well for us but might not be the case for everyone else.