MAKE THE MOST OF A KITCHEN EXTENSION

A bigger kitchen gives you more space for cooking, dining, entertaining, and even home working - here's how to get the best results, whatever your budget

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The kitchen has always been the heart of the home. But if yours is lacking in space, there is a way to create plenty more room for all your household's needs. Having a kitchen extension will free up space for larger worktop areas, extra appliances, a dining table, an island or an open-plan layout. You can then either keep the current kitchen as it is and simply use the extra floor space for dining with a view, or reconfigure the entire design. Our expert guide has all the information you need to get started, with tips on everything from setting a budget to starting the build.

1 Set your kitchen goals Before you begin, walk around your current kitchen and make a note of everything you like and dislike about it. What are the main things you'd like an extension to achieve? Is it generally to have more space to fit a dining table and island in? Or is it to reconfigure the entire layout, adding more storage and perhaps making room for a pantry or breakfast cupboard? If you love entertaining, would extra appliances help? Think double oven, steam oven, warming drawer, coffee machine and wine cabinet for the full effect.

Maybe your goal is to have glass doors leading on to the garden. Whatever your ambitions, make sure you won't be sacrificing too much of your garden with an extension. It can be worth losing 25% of outdoor space to add 50% floor space to your kitchen, but try not to lose much more than that.

EXPERT ADVICE