By KiwiAdmin2016 Kitchens 0 Comments

Tips and considerations when choosing a kitchen for your home in France

When planning a renovation project for your new home in France, the choice of kitchen is often high up the list for homeowners. At Kiwi Construction, we’ve undertaken many kitchen projects over the years, so here are a few tips and considerations to help you get started.

  1. Layout, space and functionality: the available space will determine a range of factors. Especially if you have a small area to work with, an efficient use of space and practicality is key. Make sure that your preferred kitchen layout enables easy movement between the oven, fridge, sink and preparation areas.
  2. Style: Traditional French country or provincial kitchens remain popular, with their attention to detail, natural elegance and features such as the ornate carpentry. However, more contemporary styles are increasingly prevalent with their clean lines and quality materials.
  3. Storage: Think about maximising storage space to keep the kitchen well organised and free of clutter.
  4. Durability: A kitchen should last for around 15 – 20 years, so it needs to be solidly built with durable countertop materials to stand the test of time.
  5. Lighting: Depending on the position of the kitchen, try to maximise the amount of natural light (for example windows and skylights) to make your kitchen light and bright. This is crucial for the look and feel as well as safe working.
  6. Budget: obviously this is a critical factor! You can opt for a modest but homely kitchen – or a luxurious kitchen! Understand your budget constraints at an early stage; this will help guide your choices of appliances and materials.

These are six of our top tips. Kiwi Construction can execute complex kitchen remodelling projects that suit your personal style and preferences. We can assist you in making minor kitchen updates or performing entire remodelling and produce a kitchen you will love. Contact us for further information.

 Kiwi Construction delivers professional expertise, exceptional customer service and quality construction to all its’ clients covering the Biarritz, the Pays Basque and Landes departments.

Contact :

Grant & Joeline Norris

+33 (0) 6 03 18 53 31

 

grant.norris@wanadoo.fr

https://www.kiwiconstruction.fr/         

By KiwiAdmin2016 Design • Renovation 0 Comments

3 things to consider when planning a barn conversion

Converting a rustic barn in rural France is a dream for many.

Barn conversions are ideal for modern, contemporary open plan living, and for enjoying the wonderfully exposed beams, the high vaulted ceilings and the stone construction. They provide homeowners with a blank space to showcase their own creativity and style within an overall design.

 At Kiwi Construction, we enjoy working on barn conversion projects and are sharing a few things to think about before you start:

  1. Planning permission and paperwork. You’ll need to get planning approval first from your local Mairie. This means you will require a permis de construire or a déclaration préable de travaux ; this depends upon the size of the property. Understanding the change of use regulations is key as barn conversions will modify its use as an agricultural building to that of a residential property.

 

The situation of the barn is also important; if it is standalone, planning permission may be difficult. If though it is part of a group of other buildings where there is already a dwelling, consent is more likely. Kiwi can help and we’ve successfully submitted many application on behalf of our customers over the years.

 

  1. Plan your budget. Before buying, undertaking a survey as well as finding out whether you can obtain planning permission is crucial. Conversion costs can be significant: architects’ drawings, allowance for structural changes, utility costs (electricity, water, communications) together with other building costs and materials. Kiwi can advise you on projected build costs depending upon the size of the building before you commit to the purchase.

 

  1. Design the project. This is the exciting part! Getting the design right is obviously important, to ensure that the property is fit for 21st century living whilst also reflecting some of the heritage and tradition of its surroundings. Kiwi can offer a full project management service from the design through to the works on site, from start to completion.

 

If you would like to discuss further your barn conversion project, please get in touch.

 

Kiwi Construction delivers professional expertise, exceptional customer service and quality construction to all its’ clients covering the Biarritz, the Pays Basque and Landes departments.

 

Contact :

Grant & Joeline Norris

+33 (0) 6 03 18 53 31

 

grant.norris@wanadoo.fr

https://www.kiwiconstruction.fr/