I've designed kitchens for years, and the same costly mistakes keep showing up. Here's what to avoid before you commit to a renovation:

1. Ignoring the work triangle.

Your sink, hob, and fridge should form a triangle with no leg longer than 2.7m. Break this rule and you'll hate cooking in your own kitchen.

2. Skimping on worktop space either side of the hob.

You need at least 30cm of landing space on each side. Sounds obvious — yet 80% of kitchens I audit fail this.

3. Choosing handles before cabinetry.

Handleless designs aren't just a trend. They fundamentally change how a kitchen flows, cleans, and ages. Decide the mechanism first, aesthetics second.

4. Underestimating lighting layers.

One ceiling light is not a lighting plan. You need task lighting under cabinets, ambient lighting for mood, and accent lighting to highlight your best features.

5. Buying appliances last.

Integrated appliances need to be specced before cabinetry is ordered. Not after. This one mistake causes more delays and budget blowouts than anything else.

If you're planning a renovation and want to avoid these traps, StudioKitchen offers full bespoke design consultations — from concept to completion.