Kitchen fitting in older properties
Older properties sometimes have uneven floors and walls, or original chimney breasts and alcoves that affect standard unit layouts — a fitter working on a period property will usually survey these carefully before quoting, since standard-width units don't always fit cleanly into non-standard spaces.
What a good kitchen quote should include
A proper quote should specify unit and worktop brand/spec (not just "units, worktop"), whether appliances are supplied or just fitted, whether electrical and plumbing work is covered directly or subcontracted, and what happens if hidden issues are found once old units are removed.
Gas hobs need a Gas Safe engineer
Installing or moving a gas hob is gas work, same as a boiler, and legally needs a Gas Safe registered engineer, not just a kitchen fitter or general plumber. If you're switching from electric to gas (or vice versa) as part of a refit, this needs coordinating separately from the general fitting work.
Kitchen layout, the "working triangle" and beyond
The traditional advice is to keep the sink, hob and fridge in an efficient triangle so you're not crossing the kitchen constantly while cooking — still a useful starting point, though open-plan and island layouts sometimes work better with a different logic. Worth discussing how you actually use a kitchen day to day, not just the theory.
Knocking through for an open-plan kitchen
Removing a wall between a kitchen and adjoining room to create an open-plan space is a structural job, not just a kitchen fitting one — it needs a structural engineer's assessment and, if the wall is load-bearing, a supporting beam, plus building control sign-off. This is usually coordinated with, not done by, the kitchen fitter directly.
Integrated vs freestanding appliances
Integrated appliances (behind matching cabinet fronts) give a more seamless look but cost more and can be more expensive to replace later since they need to match the specific cabinet dimensions. Freestanding appliances are more flexible and often cheaper, at the cost of a less uniform appearance.
Planning bin storage properly
Built-in pull-out bin drawers, sized for recycling separation, are far easier to plan into a layout during a refit than to add afterwards — worth deciding on bin capacity and separation needs (general waste, recycling, food waste) before cabinet layout is finalised, not after.
Planning kitchen storage during a refit
Pull-out larders, corner carousel units, and drawer-based (rather than cupboard-based) storage all make better use of available space than standard cupboards, but need planning into the layout from the start rather than added afterwards. Worth discussing storage needs before finalising unit choices.