Mostreno · Guides · Kitchen

The kitchen guide.

Everything that goes into a kitchen, from the layout down to the drawer runners. Read it before you speak to anyone, including us.

01Layout

Start here. Everything else follows from where the runs go.

The layout decides how a kitchen works long before anything is chosen. Leave 900mm of clear floor between opposing runs, and keep sink, hob and fridge within a comfortable triangle.

Galley
Two facing runs. The most efficient for a narrow apartment kitchen.
L-shape
Two perpendicular runs. Works in almost any room and leaves space to move.
U-shape
Three runs. Maximum storage and worktop, needs the width to carry it.
Island
A freestanding block. Adds prep space and somewhere to sit. Needs 900mm clearance all round.
Peninsula
An island attached at one end. The island effect where there is not room for an island.

02Cabinets

The largest surface in the room, and the largest line in the quote.

Style, finish and colour are three separate decisions. A Shaker door in gloss navy and a Shaker door in matte white are the same cabinet with entirely different results.

Door styles
Shaker
Recessed flat panel in a square frame. The default classic.
Flat-panel
A single slab, no frame. Minimal and easiest to wipe down.
Glass-front
Framed panes. Breaks up a long run and shows what is inside.
Handle-less
A routed grip along the top edge. Nothing protrudes.
Raised panel
Centre panel steps forward with mitred edges. Traditional.
Finishes
Matte
No sheen at all. Hides marks, reads contemporary.
Satin
A slight sheen. The easiest of the four to live with.
Gloss
Reflective, bounces light around a dark room, shows every fingerprint.
Woodgrain
Texture and warmth. Hides marks better than any flat colour.
Colours
White
Makes a small kitchen feel larger. The default for a reason.
Walnut
Warmth without going rustic. Pairs well with brass.
Olive green
Muted and current. Usually best on the lower units only.
Navy blue
Deep and calm. Needs good lighting or the room closes in.
Greige
Grey-beige. The safe neutral when plain white feels cold.
Charcoal
Dramatic. In gloss it shows every fingerprint.

03Countertops

Where the money shows, and where it gets spent.

Countertops are priced per square metre plus cut-outs for sink and hob. Ask what the edge detail costs before you choose — a mitred 60mm edge can add a third to the price of the slab.

Quartz
Engineered stone. Scratch resistant, never needs sealing, the safe default.
Granite
Natural stone with bold movement. Heat and stain resistant.
Marble
Soft, stains, etches with lemon juice, and beautiful anyway.
Butcher block
Warm and organic. Needs oiling a few times a year.
Porcelain
Thin, extremely tough, available in very large formats.

04Backsplash

Small area, disproportionate effect.

The splashback is the cheapest place to add character, because you need so little of it. Labour, not material, is what separates these.

Subway tile
Running bond, the safe classic. Cheap, timeless, forgiving.
Herringbone
Same tile, laid at 45°. More labour, much more presence.
Marble slab
One continuous piece, no grout lines. The most expensive and the quietest.
Mosaic
Small format on mesh sheets. Good on curves and awkward returns.
Glass or metallic
Long, reflective formats. Bounces light in a dark kitchen.

05Sinks and taps

The part you touch fifty times a day.

Sink choice constrains the worktop: undermount needs a solid surface, and a farmhouse sink needs its own modified cabinet. Decide before the joinery is ordered.

Sinks
Undermount
Fixed below the worktop. No rim, so crumbs sweep straight in.
Drop-in
Rim sits on the worktop. Cheapest to fit, works with any material.
Farmhouse
Front face exposed, cabinet cut away. A statement, and heavy.
Double bowl
Two chambers. Wash and drain separately, at the cost of width.
Taps
Single lever
One handle for flow and temperature. The default.
Bridge
Two handles on a raised body. Period kitchens, classic look.
Pull-out spray
Head detaches on a hose. The most useful upgrade in a kitchen.
Boiling water
Instant near-boiling tap. Removes the kettle from the worktop.

06Flooring

It runs under everything, so it goes in early.

In a Dubai apartment, check what the building permits — some towers require acoustic underlay for hard flooring, and a few prohibit it entirely above ground floor.

Engineered wood
Real veneer over ply. Warm underfoot, but not for a wet floor.
Porcelain tile
The hardest wearing option, and the coldest.
Luxury vinyl plank
Waterproof, quiet, forgiving of a dropped pan.
Natural stone
No two pieces alike. Heavy, and needs sealing.
Waterproof laminate
The budget option that has genuinely become good.

07Lighting

The layer most people underestimate.

One ceiling light makes a kitchen where you chop in your own shadow. Layering fixes it: general light overhead, task light on the worktop, and something decorative or ambient to make the room liveable in the evening.

01
Recessed downlights
Flush in the ceiling. Even, shadow-free general light. Space them about a metre apart.
02
Pendants
Over an island or table. Decorative first, task light second. Hang 750mm above the surface.
03
Under-cabinet LEDs
The one that actually matters. Lights the worktop where you cut, not your back.
04
Strip lighting
Plinth, shelf or cornice. Ambient glow with no glare, good for evenings.
05
Dimmable control
Any of the above on a dimmer. One kitchen, three moods.

08Appliances and extraction

Specify these before the cabinets are built.

Built-in appliances need exact cabinet openings, so the appliance list has to be final before joinery is cut. Extraction also needs a duct route — decide early or you end up with a recirculating filter you did not want.

Extraction
Chimney hood
Wall mounted, visible. Best extraction rate for the money.
Integrated
Hidden behind a cabinet door. Pull-out visor when in use.
Ceiling extractor
Flush in the ceiling above an island. Silent and invisible.
Downdraft
Rises out of the worktop behind the hob. For islands with no ceiling run.
Appliance planning
01
Built-in ovens, fridges and microwaves
a seamless run, sized to the millimetre
02
Smart integration
worth it for ovens, rarely for anything else
03
Ergonomic layout
fridge near the door, bin near the sink, oven out of the walkway
04
Island and peninsula services
power and water routed under the floor
05
Storage planning
everyday items between knee and shoulder height

09Storage and finishing touches

The details you notice daily.

These are the items people wish they had specified. They cost far less at build stage than retrofitted afterwards.

01
Soft-close hinges and drawers
standard on good joinery, ask if it is included
02
Pull-out pantry and organisers
turns a deep cupboard into usable space
03
Spice racks, tray dividers, hidden bins
cheap now, awkward to retrofit
04
Decorative handles and hardware
the fastest way to change the whole feel
05
Integrated lighting controls
dimmers and sensors wired in at first fix
Questions

What homeowners ask first.

How long does a kitchen renovation take in Dubai?

A typical apartment kitchen takes 7–14 working days depending on scope. Larger villa kitchens with structural changes can take 3–4 weeks. You get a clear timeline before work starts.

Do I need to vacate my apartment during the renovation?

For most kitchen renovations you can stay in your home, though expect dust, noise and no kitchen access during construction. We work efficiently to keep that period short.

Can you source all the materials?

Yes. We can handle full material procurement, or work with materials you have already sourced. We are familiar with all the major suppliers in Dubai and Al Quoz.

Do you provide a warranty on your work?

Yes. We stand behind our workmanship — any defects in installation within the agreed warranty period are put right at no cost.

Are you licensed to operate in Dubai?

Yes. Mostreno operates as a licensed renovation and general contracting company in Dubai, UAE.

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