The Studio by Nandita Manwani

What is a Modular Kitchen, what you will need to install one and how it compares to its traditional counterpart

Home Interior Photographs, Home Interior Photographs Bangalore, Interior Design Photographs, Interior Designers in JP Nagar, Modular Kitchen Photographs

My first article on this blog in the year 2010 was on the same subject. To make it more relevant to today’s needs I spent some time updating that article and including fresh perspectives and experiences to it. Read on, and as always will welcome your questions, thoughts & comments
————————————————-

Most people associate a Modular kitchen as one that looks great, is made in the factory and is installed onsite. However there is more to a Modular Kitchen than just the good looks.
Elita 2B3
In this article we will look at what really is a modular kitchen, what kind of site preparation is needed to install a modular kitchen as well as the comparative advantages and disadvantages of a Modular Kitchen against its carpenter made counterpart. So here goes…

 

DSC00552What is a Modular Kitchen – The 3 Core Elements.

1. Modularity
As the name suggests a “Modular” Kitchen consists of modules that are assembled together. Each module consisting of the Carcass (box) and the shutter is independent and can be taken in and out of the full unit separately. This also helps in easy repair when the kitchen ages –  for example you can completely replace the wet unit (unit under the washbasin) if it spoils after some years of use without disrupting the rest of the kitchen.
 
2.  Installation
The Carcass or the box of a Modular kitchen rests on 3-4 inch adjustable legs, typically 4 legs under each module. It does not rest on a wooden plank. The legs are hidden behind a PVC (not wood) skirting. The legs & the PVC skirting help because 
a) As mentioned in point 1 earlier the unit/ module can be independently moved in & out and
b) the wood does not touch the ground, hence no chances of any damage caused by water, mop etc. and
c) since the legs are adjustable they help on levelling the kitchen carcass irrespective of a minor slope or an undulation in the floor. This helps ensure that the countertop can be laid properly.

 

3. Accessories
Top quality Modular kitchens do NOT have wire steel baskets and accessories in the drawer chambers. Having wire baskets is a local Indian concept and has been continuing since the days when manufacturers did not have better options available. However nowadays soft closing drawers along with matching drawer storage accessories are available in India. Steel wire baskets also come with their own set of problems such as the cutlery & plates peeping out of the wire frame and interfering with the drawer movement, robustness of the joint between the shutter and the wire basket etc.
 

Site Preparation for installation of a Modular Kitchen

 

Bare is better:
Space for a modular kitchen needs to be 100% bare – that is – NO Pre-Installed Countertop, NO raised platform on the floor, NO pre-built shelves. While most big builders in Bangalore have started offering a bare kitchen space with the assumption that the customer would go in for a Modular Kitchen, smaller builders still include the Countertop and / or a Floor Platform pre-fixed at the time of possession. Hence if your builder gives you a choice and you are looking to install a modular kitchen then do ask your builder to deliver a bare kitchen to you, else you will need to spend extra time, money and effort to demolish the platform & remove the countertop.
The reason why a modular kitchen cannot be installed under an existing counter top is that despite best efforts there is likelihood of a space between the existing countertop and the carcass installed below it. This space not only leads to pest management issues but also affects the overall finish as an uneven gap may show from the front. Also, the brackets on which the countertop is installed come in the way of the carcass limiting the design and space options of the cabinets. In a modular kitchen, the countertop is laid on top after the carcass is installed hence the finish is clean and slick PLUS the design is limited only by creativity.
A platform on the floor also incurs similar issues as above. Due to the presence of a concrete platform on the floor it is not possible to install the “legs” that we spoke about earlier. Since now the carcass sits directly on and touching the top of the platform any water accumulation between the two leads to early wear of the carcass. Also in absence of the “legs, it becomes difficult to level the carcass. Carpenters try to level the carcass by providing packing between the floor counter and the carcass but it is really not a long-lasting way of doing this nor does it lead to a clean external finish.

 

Plumbing & Electrical:
Ideally the design of a modular kitchen needs to be thought through before the plumbing and electrical work is done. This leads to the kitchen seamlessly fitting into the space without any redo of the plumbing or electrical points saving both time & cost. In addition, it avoids the wires showing messing up with the overall look of the Kitchen. Planning for plumbing & electrical includes decision on where the wet area should be and appropriate plumbing for the same, provision of electrical points for the Hob, Chimney, Water Purifier, Oven, microwave and other appliances (especially important if one is planning a built in Oven/ Microwave). LED Lighting within the cabinets and on the backsplash is also quite popular nowadays and electrical layout planning for the same is also a key requirement while site planning.
Another thing that usually gets missed during the site preparation stage is planning for the chimney exhaust. Most builders have the Chimney exhausts opening into the utility which, if closed, leads to the smoke landing right back into the home. Not only is the exhaust piping required to be aligned such that it opens up to the outside, it also needs to be hidden with a loft or false roofing so it does not interfere with the look of the Kitchen.

 

Advantages and Disadvantages

While a lot has been written about the advantages of a Modular Kitchen over its traditional counterpart there are places where the old school, carpenter made kitchen fares better. Below is an exhaustive list of advantages & disadvantages of each
 
Where a Modular Kitchen beats a Traditional Carpenter made Kitchen
  1. Better Fit & Finish – since it is factory made
  2. No hassle on site – only site preparation is required
  3. Modularity – Wet unit can be taken out and replaced in case of wear
  4. Installed on Legs that protect the carcass from water & wear
  5. Quicker to build & install
Where a Traditional Carpenter made Kitchen beats a Modular Kitchen
  1. No choice in case of pre-existing countertop or a raised counter on the floor
  2. 100% Control on the ply that is used. Most modular vendors do not provide this choice
  3. Uses less plywood (since each unit is not separate) – hence costs less
So, if you are out in the market hunting for a kitchen for your new home the above should prepare you well to make the right decision.
Signing off
Nandita

 

PS: If you have a question to ask then please note: On Nov 15th we have launched the Q&A module on The Studio website. The Q&A interface on this blog was unable to scale to the number of questions that we have been getting – you would have noticed being unable to  scroll down to a question once the number of questions below a certain post increases beyond a certain limit.  Hence if you have a question then please post it at  https://thestudiobangalore.com/questions-and-answers/ 

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Related Articles

Best Interior Design Companies in Bangalore, Home Interior Designers, Home Interior Photographs Bangalore

More Photographs – Home Interiors Bangalore

The Bar Unit was the show stopper in this project. This is one of our initial projects in the year
Interior cost in Bangalore, Interior Costs in Bangalore, Interior Design Cost in Bangalore, Interior Designers in Bangalore

Costing your Woodwork – Do It Yourself Tips

"So how much will it cost"??? -- Usually the first question that I get from prospects. While for exact costs
New website launch

Just Launched – www.thestudiobangalore.com

  Today being an auspicious day we formally launched www.thestudiobangalore.com. It is a master site for The Studio Kitchens, The

Art for the home, Murals Bangalore, Newspapers, Partitions Bangalore, texture painting, Wall decoration Bangalore, Wall Paintings

Objects of Art for the Home

My article above was published in Deccan Herald today. You may read it here http://www.deccanherald.com/content/535128/art-homes-sake/ However…..since, as readers of this

Interior Designers in KANAKAPURA ROAD, Purva Highland Interior Pictures. Economy Interiors

A few photographs of the Eco Package (Budget Interiors) executed recently at Purva Highlands Kanakapura Road, Bangalore

I wrote about the Eco range of interiors for 2/ 3 BHK apartments sometime back. Here are a few photographs

Art for Home Interior Design, Art for the home, Home Interior Designers

Planning to decorate your walls with Art – Here are some best practices

This article comes to us from our partner Artburt. Artburt has been passionately promoting the cause of Digital Photography as

Best of Houzz

The Best of Houzz 2019 Award – Thank you for all your support

Last week we were notified by the Houzz team that we have been awarded the Best of Houzz in both

Interior Designers in Bangalore, Nandita Manwani, the studio bangalore

My New Logo – The Studio: Homes, Kitchens & Wardrobes

Finally after long deliberations & doodling with friends and family the logo for The Studio is out…yooohoo 🙂   Based

Interior design, Interior Design Experience Center, Interior Designers in Bangalore

Some Pictures of our Interior Design Experience Center in Bangalore

We recently started hosting clients at our Interior Design Experience Center and it is a whole new feeling to do

Interior Designers in Bangalore, Sofa in Bangalore

Selecting the “right” sofa for your home. My article in Deccan Herald today

The subject article was featured in Deccan Herald today. You can also read it at http://www.deccanherald.com/content/445623/selecting-sofas-safe-way/. The free text is

Designing hi end homes, Interior design best practices in Bangalore, Master Bedroom Design best practices

Home Interior Vaastu Shastra – Episode One – Master Bedroom

Guidelines and Principles for Master Bedroom Interior Design
Interior Designers in Bangalore, interiors in bangalore, Material for Home Interiors in Bangalore, Material to use for Woodwork

So what is the Right material to choose for Woodwork?

So you have made your first visit to the market to decide on your interiors, visited @Home, HomeStop, Hometown, Home
Interior Design Masterclass, Interior Designers in Bangalore

Taking blogging to the next level – My Interior Design Masterclass

Since now I had a big enough place at the new experience center I thought why not!!! SO…we are taking

Modular Kitchen Photographs, Modular Kitchens

Interior Design Project Pictures – This one is a stand alone Modular Kitchen in Bangalore

While this project was completed quite a while back, we were able to take some good pics just last week.

Interior design versus modular furniture, Interior Designers in Bangalore

Think Outside the BOX !

Chapter 1: It’s not the box babe’ – it’s your Life The boxes have taken over, where we live –

MinimAtion,Interior Design Trends

Move Over Extravagance, Welcome MinimAtion

MinimAtion – Minimalism + Automation in Interior Design – The Latest Trend that is making Interior Designers go back to
Designing hi end homes, Interior Designers in Bangalore

A Car is not “Just” a Car – The element of “Design” in Interior Design

The thought and the topic of this post came up during a recent drive to Ooty with my sister’s family.

Home Renovation

The Home Renovation Project: Learnings from doing up The Studio’s Own Interior Design Centre in Bangalore

Home renovation is an area that most customers struggle with, I hence thought it best to pen down our experience
Best Interior Designers in Bangalore, Modular Kitchen, Modular Kitchen Photographs, Sliding Wardrobes, What is Modular Kitchen

So what is a modular kitchen? …. and some best practices

With so many scrupulous and un-scrupulous designers, carpenters, interior-walas selling what they call "modular kitchens" these days it is good
Need an interior designer

Do You “Really” Need an Interior Designer

Odd topic you would say, right? You will say “everyone needs a designer provided one can afford it”. You may

Related Articles

Scroll to Top
Thank you icon

Thanks for your Interest

We will get back to you on this shortly