Designing a Kitchen or Wet Bar That Will Actually Work: The Plumbing Decisions That Get Skipped

Learn the plumbing decisions often skipped when designing a kitchen or wet bar and how proper planning can improve functionality, efficiency, and long term performance.

In the event that homeowners decide to renovate a kitchen, or construct a wet bar, much of their focus will be on finishes. The colour of cabinets, the material used for the countertops, splashbacks, lighting solutions, and appliances will usually take centre stage during the decision-making process.

As appealing as these aspects may be in determining how the space will look, they might not necessarily be critical in determining functionality. The most significant decisions in a project are made at the level of infrastructure which stays hidden when construction work has been completed.

For instance, having an aesthetically appealing kitchen might quickly turn into a frustration for its owners should drainages prove inadequate. Similarly, the convenience offered by a wet bar will largely be influenced by its ability to perform as intended and provide easy maintenance. In this case, a combination of aesthetics and proper infrastructure planning would ensure success.

Fixture Location Will Influence Functionality Too

The location of sink, dishwasher, beverage station, wet bar, and other fixtures impacts much more than appearance alone. There will always be considerations relating to accessibility, water supply and drainages. Even a shift of a few metres within a room can greatly affect drainage gradient, cost of installation, and ease of servicing the fittings.

The issue is even more crucial during renovations where there will already be plumbing infrastructure in place. This infrastructure will limit the number of options at hand for designers and constructors. The best designs are usually created when plumbing requirements are taken into consideration during the design phase of the project.

Professional Advice May Help Avoid Costly Mistakes

Many times, people make the mistake of considering plumbing as one of the last things when designing a space. The truth is that the considerations related to plumbing can go a long way in shaping the entire project, influencing such aspects as:

- Supply and access to water

- Drainage gradients

- Appliance connections

- Access to hot water

- Servicing needs

Many times, people underestimate the importance of the above factors until after a project has been completed. As mentioned earlier, beautiful kitchens are created through proper planning well ahead of time. While much emphasis is placed on cabinetry, finishes, and appliances, plumbing considerations may also have an impact. Some homeowners prefer to seek advice from professional plumbers when designing their kitchens or constructing wet bars. Many professionals, including Koala Plumbing, offer consultancy services that can help prevent costly mistakes.

Water Efficiency Continues to Affect Modern Designs

Moreover, water efficiency becomes increasingly significant in residential design nowadays. In recent times, people began to take into consideration their fixtures, consumption rates, and resource sustainability when renovating. With efficient tapware, proper fixture choice and maintenance of the system, you will be able to economize on water consumption without affecting its usability.

According to information from YourHome website, which is Australia's national guide to environmentally sustainable housing, application of water-efficient design solutions may contribute to improvement of sustainability of your house and savings in the future. In order to achieve better results, it is crucial to use water-efficient design in the initial design phase rather than during retrofitting process.

Importance of Drainage Capacity Assessment

It might seem like as long as wastewater exits your premises and no obstruction or backflow is experienced, your drainage system works well. At the same time, some factors should be evaluated in relation to your kitchen and wet bar. Every day the drainage system carries large amounts of food scraps, fats, soap residue, beverages, etc., reducing its performance overtime.

Unlike other plumbing problems that are usually revealed immediately, restrictions related to drainage capacity tend to develop gradually. While the system initially may seem adequate to your needs, after some years of operation, it fails to perform well owing to growing demands caused by family expansion, increased entertaining activities, or additional fixtures.

One of the most common causes of restriction is grease. Even though small portions of grease go down the drain, it accumulates in the pipes, trapping all other materials that enter the system. As a result, diameter of the pipes decreases.

The capacity of drainage pipes and their dimensions are also important factors in assessing drainage problems. Those pipes that have insufficient capacity, improper gradient, or belong to the previous generation are expected to fail when operating under extreme conditions. You are likely to face such issues as slow drainage, bad odor, clogs, and further drainage problems.

Normally, during the design process of your renovation, only current parameters are taken into account. However, it is important to assess possible drainage problems that may emerge in the future. Evaluation of the drainage system at the initial design stage may help prevent any issues with your drainage system.

Hot Water Supply System Should Be Addressed During Renovation Planning

While homeowners are busy choosing cabinets, equipment, fixtures, and finishes for their kitchens, they do not always consider the hot water supply system installed in their home. However, hot water is an important element of any kitchen. It contributes greatly to convenience and comfort. Otherwise, despite the attractive appearance, the kitchen would not work well.

When planning a renovation, it is essential to consider whether or not the current hot water supply system meets your needs. Otherwise, once your kitchen is renovated, it is unlikely that everything would be fine as you could expect it.

In fact, after renovation the consumption level of hot water tends to grow considerably. An additional sink, a larger dishwasher, the purchase of new equipment, installation of kitchen or wet bars, as well as family growth, may become the causes of this problem.

Shortage of hot water leads to different inconveniences. Hot water will take too much time to heat or simply would not come at all. These issues will certainly reduce the satisfaction you feel having renovated your kitchen.

Therefore, it is important to evaluate requirements of the renovated kitchen in terms of hot water usage before the renovation begins. You might have to reconsider the current system or purchase a new one.

Accessibility Should Also Be Taken Into Account

While designing kitchens and wet bars, there are many important features that homeowners cannot notice because they are hidden. There are moments when your pipework requires maintenance, repair, and checking of certain components like valves and pipes. In case your room decoration prevents you from reaching certain elements, your life may become complicated in the future.

Usually, people tend to think more about appearance than about accessibility while designing their room, but thinking about that beforehand will save you a lot of trouble. It is quite natural that you want to hide your pipework while decorating, but you must not do it anyway.

Wet Bars Have Unique Planning Requirements to Kitchen

While wet bars and kitchens require similar plumbing fixtures and systems, there may be significant differences in their functions. Kitchens may be used regularly for cooking and cleaning while wet bars may be created for entertaining purposes with beverage preparation.

It can affect the choice of fixtures, the requirement for drainage, storage, and water access among other aspects of plumbing. Knowing how the space is intended to be used can allow for better decisions about plumbing installations.

The Best Plumbing Designs are Often Inconspicuous

The design of drainage gradients, balancing water pressure, installing valves at convenient points, and piping are not generally considered as factors worthy of admiration.

Yet, in many cases, the right decision about the plumbing layout is what makes a house pleasant and practical to live in. When a space has been well-designed from a plumbing point of view, the occupants will not need to think about it again.

Water will flow to its designated location, drains will work efficiently, maintenance will be simple, and all the plumbing components will perform their functions without problems.

Designing the best spaces for kitchens, wet bars, or any other type of space starts with paying attention to details that are often overlooked.