Help needed with kitchen design...

[snailsontour]

Right, I have an empty room and I want to turn it in to an amazing working kitchen. The kitchen designers I've had in have failed to wow me as they've simply just regurgitated our architects plan, and I'm suffering from major indecision. Link to plan below.

Appliances to go in:
Samsung American FF
SMEG induction range (pyrolytic oven)
Strong Extract Fan
Dishwasher (quiet one)

We're a large contemporary and spacious 70’s bungalow, and the new kitchen will be in a southwest facing room that opens up on to the garden.

The room will be lovely and light with three roof lights and a wall of glass - with the possibly of opening up a new window dependant upon where the sink gets sited. The plan shows it in the peninsular, but I'm thinking the back wall may be a better option for it.

I want drawers as opposed to cabinets, I'd prefer an island rather than a peninsular, and that's about it.

I'm leaning towards a white gloss finish, but I'm worried that there may be too much reflection?? I don't want to have to wear sunglasses:)

Worktops probably granite, island/peninsular wooden, floor probably amtico...

I've read lots of the kitchen threads and picked up many hints and tips, but think I'm just in overload now.

Help...

www.dropbox.com/sc/8foetuwsikuotvm/7kDGZAPUYo

[ifitsnotanarse]

You could download Ikea's kitchen planner and play about with different designs. It will generate 3D drawings which you can print off. This way you can see what type of units you like/don't like. You don't have to buy from Ikea, but as most kitchen cabinets are fairly generic, you should get a good idea of what will work for your new kitchen.

I designed my own kitchen with it and it's not too bad if I say so myself.

here

[SquirtedPerfumeUpNoseInBoots]

Would your sink, dishwasher and fridge not be dependant on where the drainage / water inlets are?

[longingforsomesleep]

Watching with interest for comments about white gloss. I'm also planning this and slightly worried about the overall effect. South facing garden and, because it isn't overlooked, we prefer not to have any blind or curtain up at the window.

[SquirtedPerfumeUpNoseInBoots]

Me too for the white gloss comments. I think it might date quickly.
I'm leaning towards white matt with black granite worktop and upstand and kick boards.

[ifitsnotanarse]

BTW, I went for cream slab gloss units - softer reflection than white gloss. Also so easy to clean.

Flooring is stone effect vinyl; it's lovely and warm underfoot and, best of all, visitors think it is real stone tiles.

(Would have loved an island/peninsular but the room isn't wide enough )

[celestialsquirrelnuts]

I think that is a hopeless design. It makes anyone who comes into the kitchen have to walk through all the working areas in order to go into the garden/sit at the peninsula. That just isn't safe if, for example, you are walking from the hob to the peninsula to drain a vat of boiling spaghetti.
It seems to me that you should keep a clear walkway from the dining room to the back door and stick a peninsula at right angles from the right hand wall instead, where it currently shows the end of that run (marked D). Then you arrange your sink and hob within the horseshoe so that when you are cooking it is your domain and kids/people won't be getting in your way. You can keep the fridge a bit out of that protected space - towards the dining room - so people can get a drink etc without getting in the cooking space.

What I would do if I were you is get a clean version of the plan - no units - from your architect and take it to the most expensive kitchen people in town. Think of an appropriate (made up) budget to get their interest and get THEM to design how the space should flow. They will have good ideas that you can then use in a cheaper design.

[celestialsquirrelnuts]

White gloss a no-no I think. White matt better but beginning to look dated. There is a move towards colour and wood - think about a matt orange or yellow maybe? Or a walnut? Perhaps a combo - matt white for the units on the side and the peninsula and some colour on the back wall run that ties in with the colours in the dining room?

[MoreSkyThanWeNeed]

We have white gloss cabinets in a sunny room and it's not too bright but we have a black floor which tempers it.

[minniemagoo]

I agree the Island is in the wrong place, it seems really silly to have to walk around it to get into the room proper, if sitting at it you have your back to the garden/light/view and if working at the sink have every one walking behind you. I would turn it 90 degrees and move out free standing. I would make the corner at top right which doesn't have any windows my 'work' corner. Have the hob with fridge to side and sink on island when you turn around. Sorry if I am not explaining that right. I would also keep the worktops at the entrance to the room clear of appliance with maybe some shelving above as this is what you see first so no clutter and clear worktop for putting prepared food etc when bring it into dining room.

[snailsontour]

We have played with the Ikea planner ifits, and are eagerly awaiting their new kitchen designs coming in next week. Liking the sound of your floor, what make vinyl is it?

Squirted, all the facilities, water electrics etc can be wherever we chose as the room is not currently a kitchen. We gave had the drains laid in the centre of the back wall so the sink can go pretty much anywhere I'm told - just needs channel through floor if in Island.

I've been dithering over the gloss as I do want something that won't date, but then I don't want to play safe and I love the idea of the easy cleaning of gloss. So many decisions. I originally was going for cream matte shakers, but thought the look was a bit messy when turned in to an all drawer kitchen.

Good ideas Celestial, I worried that the peninsular makes the area behind it a corridor - and that's not great in a kitchen. Have got blank plan now and will chat with most expensive kitchen peeps!

I also like the turning the peninsular 90 degrees making it a proper peninsular mm - I needs to play more with ikea planner.

[longingforsomesleep]

I also like the idea of easy cleaning gloss. I'm determined to get completely flat doors as my current doors aren't and the grime is really difficult to get out of the corners.

[MerryMarigold]

Personally, I wouldn't put the sink in the island. My sink is opposite my cooker now and I regret it not being closer. All sorts of stuff gets washed, my hands drip all over the floor, vegetables, fruit etc. drip on the floor, floor gets dirty. In my old kitchen the sink and cooker were at right angles to each other and it was a much more workable space.

I'm not sure about the Island full stop. It's hard to work out dimensions, but I'd rather have a nice big table for 8, which looks out onto the garden, somewhere in that space.

[seb1]

I have always wanted an Ikea kitchen but alas it is not to be, any design requires a 300mm unit (next to hob, 200mm would be to short for pan handles no space for 400mm due to corner) and ideally some 500mm units but found this on ikea website - The METOD range is built on a completely new platform that will be used for future kitchens as well. It is based on modularity, offering greater versatility. For instance the cabinets come in widths of 20, 40, 60, 80 and heights of 40, 60, 80, 100, 140, 200, 220 centimetres.

[MerryMarigold]

Drawers are a must btw. I love my drawers. I got white gloss and a few copper cupboards (the top ones). I prefer the copper ones and I am so glad I don't have all white gloss which is a bit characterless tbh. Yes, it is easy to clean, but I do crave a limed wood sometimes.

[snailsontour]

Ah Seb it looks like the Metod could well be the new Ikea range I knew was coming soon - sounds v exciting!

Ah Merry don't tell me you hanker after limed - the existing kitchen is limed oak!

I'll upload Howdens design... When I find it!

[HomeHelpMeGawd]

snails, I think the starting point is what you want to do in the various spaces available to you. For example, there's a dining area adjoining the kitchen. Is that for formal meals, or do you plan to have friends over to eat in the kitchen as well? If so, you'll want a table in the kitchen as well. What are your plans for the area you're creating with the new extension? Is that for eating? An informal lounge, with a telly? Something else? I would be wary of creating dead space.

[MerryMarigold]

. Grass is always greener, eh.

Actually I do like green in kitchens (my current walls are a very yellow/ green). Maybe green cabinets.

Agree, Homehelp. I didn't see the dining area. A nice lounge-y area would be nice in the extension, but no good for TV if very light.

[MerryMarigold]

How about grey? I like this matt look grey

[MerryMarigold]

I like this matt one as well. I would avoid the walnut look tbh, I think it's on the way out. This would be super smart with a granite top.

[HomeHelpMeGawd]

If I were in your shoes, I'd consider a lovely resin floor with underfloor heating.

www.houzz.com/Resin-floor

[ifitsnotanarse]

Snails it is a Leoline. I have uploaded a photo on my profile if you wish to look. Please excuse the door in the photo - it's waiting to be painted!

[snailsontour]

Link to Howdens kitchen...

www.dropbox.com/s/tpcs6m6w0mjtxbl/2014-01-27%2013.04.50.jpg

Home, the dining room will continue to be used as the primary eating place. The additional space will house a couple of easy chairs for relaxing, no tv planned. We considered ufh but the screed wasn't deep enough and would have needed too much of the floor digging out to make it cost effective:(

Love the grey Merry.

I've not been idle this afternoon, I've been back to visit one of the kd's to talk through changes ie moving the peninsular 90 degrees Minnie, and it's doable. Looking at cream gloss now with grey island and some sort of cream/grey granite worktops. Looks lush.


Off to google your floor ifits - it would go rather nice with the above colour scheme!

[MerryMarigold]

Sounds lovely!

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

Hi - have added an idea !
pinterest.com/pin/440930619739442624/

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

Added some more to sketch !
pinterest.com/pin/440930619739443087