The first appointment to design a custom kitchen needs no special preparation, because our team takes care of the technical measurements and the design of the space from start to finish.
That said, our experience at the ek Home Design showroom in Nea Ionia shows that visitors who have already settled five key questions get through the design stage much faster and more efficiently.
1. How you really cook
The kitchen design has to serve the way you live day to day:
- Cooking every day: This calls for a generous work surface, a double-bowl sink and a powerful range hood.
- Quick meals & breakfast: It is worth investing in a well-organized breakfast station with easy-to-reach outlets and dedicated drawers.
- Two people cooking at once: You need a clear walkway of at least 1.10-1.20 m between the counters or the island, and this shapes the layout from the start.
2. What frustrates you in your current kitchen
The most useful information for the designer is what does not work in your current kitchen: too few outlets, poor lighting, hard-to-reach corner cabinets or no room for recycling.
Tip: For a week, jot down on your phone everything that bothers you. For every practical problem there is a matching cabinetry solution (concealed LED lighting, corner pull-outs, pull-out baskets, built-in sorting bins).
3. Open-plan or a separate kitchen
- Kitchen open to the living room: The design also has to tie the kitchen in visually with the living area. We suggest tall units that house the appliances, an island or breakfast bar that defines the space, and two layers of lighting (bright for work, ambient for the evening).
- Closed or separate kitchen: The priority is maximum storage and the best possible ergonomics in the “work triangle” (sink, cooktop and refrigerator).
4. Your budget and how to allocate it
What matters is not only the total amount, but how it is divided. With the same budget you can choose more economical door fronts paired with a very hard-wearing compact HPL countertop, or the other way around.
On hardware (soft-close drawers, pull-outs, opening systems), we advise against compromise, because it determines how durable and functional the build will be in the long run.
If we know your budget range from the start, we can show you the best options at each price level. (For more detail, see the materials guide and our article on kitchen costs.)
5. Visual references (a mood board)
Three or four photos from Pinterest, Instagram or architecture magazines help us grasp right away the style that speaks to you (natural wood, matte surfaces, integrated Gola handles or stone textures, for example).
Just as important is one picture with things you do not like, so we can rule them out of the design from the start.
What to bring to the appointment
To get the most out of our meeting, it helps to have the following with you:
- Visuals of the space: A rough sketch, photos or a short video on your phone.
- Rough measurements: If you have them. If not, our specialist team will take precise measurements on site.
- Your notes: The practical issues with your current kitchen that you want to fix.
- Visual references: The photos showing the style and materials that inspire you.
- Appliance specifications: The make and model of the appliances you plan to keep.
What happens after our meeting
Your new kitchen takes shape through a transparent, well-organized process:
- On-site measurement & design: Our technical team visits your home to record the exact dimensions and the installation requirements.
- Photorealistic 3D rendering: We show your kitchen in 3D, with the materials, colors and lighting you have chosen. That way you have a full picture of the final result before production begins.
- Construction & installation: Once you give your final approval, the kitchen is built to the highest standards and installed in your home by our specialized crews.
Get inspired: See some of our completed projects that started with a first appointment at our showroom.
Book your appointment at the showroom