So you're finally here, about to begin the exciting journey of choosing and designing your bespoke kitchen. It's likely that this has been on your mind a while, unless you've just moved in and are looking to improve a kitchen you've inherited.

But when it comes to kitchen design, there's so much to consider. Not only are there your needs to be reconciled with the character of the property you inhabit – your bespoke kitchen also needs to be functional and have the wow factor too!

That's a lot to think about, so where do you begin?

What is your kitchen used for?

The kitchen of the home is far more than the place where food is prepared and the washing up is done; it's the focal point of the house. Just take the kitchen table: as well as being the place where the family sit down to eat, it might be the place you sit down for discussions, where you entertain, where homework is reluctantly done, where you have a cuppa and chat when your neighbour drops in.

The fridge is not just for preserving perishable food – it's the place where messages are left, where reminders are placed. Your kitchen and its component parts are much more than just drawings on a plan, they're places where you will live your life.

So before rushing into choosing and designing your kitchen, take a good look at who uses it, what it's used for, or what you'd like to be able to use it for that you can't at present.

Planning

When designing your kitchen, it's also important not to get carried away with being too ""design-y"". When talking to a professional kitchen designer, remember to ground your design in the functional and practical – where are the service points in your kitchen? Can they be retained (recommended if at all possible as it can add substantially to your budget to relocate them)?

Most kitchens will have significant space restraints meaning storage is at a premium, and remember that the thoroughfares between the cooker, sink and fridge ought to be kept clear as well.

Style – the devil's in the details

Whether it's a bespoke chic, contemporary kitchen with a white minimalist finish; or the handmade kitchen in the country cottage, it's the little touches that can make all the difference.

It could be an innovative storage solution, it might be a set of striking taps – whatever it is, these are the little touches that make your kitchen a place you (and your friends) want to spend time in.

But of course, when it comes to bespoke kitchen design you're not the only customer. Your kitchen has to be congruous with your home, it has to respect it, enhance it. A good kitchen designer can help you with that.