Kitchen layout/design advice

[mrsglowglow]

I've .been reading the threads on here and getting lots of good advice but still finding it all daunting. We've had these plans done up and it will involve quite a bit of electrics/plumbing/plastering. Shopping around for appliances and using laminate worktops we estimate 10k all in. Does this sound reasonable? The units/worktops are from benchmarx. What do you think of this layout. My feelings are that it should hopefully work well but feels rather boring. There are some adjustments we'd have to make to the plan such as the wine racks if we keep them will need to be on the wall next to the fridge as we need some space to be able to fully open the freezer door. It's a bit of an awkward space as not fully open plan (The fridge is round the corner if that makes sense!

[mrsglowglow]

A few more photos!

[mrsglowglow]

Also, does about 6k for units/worktops/sink and taps sound about right? It's just looking at diy tv shows etc I hear people say they got their units all in for 4k and it often looks like a lot more than we are getting. Our quote is for lacquered gloss doors which I'm told is more hard wearing than foil so happy to pay extra if this is correct.

[OliviaBenson]

No idea on costs but I'd swap some cupboards out for pan drawers- they're far better for storage.

I'm not a fan personally of the separate hob and ovens combo- a range cooker could look fab in your kitchen. I also think the microwave looks really high up- I wouldn't be able to reach it at all.

[gruffalocake2]

I think having the oven next to the wall and door could be annoying because of splashing in the paintwork and danger of that door is a thoroughfare. The sink at the end of the work surface means there's nowhere to put the dirty dishes before you start washing up. Could they be witches to other locations?

[SwedishEdith]

Do you need that many wall cupboards? I'd try and keep one wall cupboard free.

[IShouldBeSoLurky]

I think your two wine racks look a bit odd - are they directly above each other?

[SandwichYum]

I think you need more work surface either side of your hob. And agree that you should swap some cupboards for drawers - so much easier and more versatile. Is the 10k including fitting?

[mrsglowglow]

Great tips so far! Yes oven right next to wall is not great. The unit next to it is a pull out larder. They could be swapped around. That wall leads into through lounge so that is the Max I can have there.

Agree re microwave not sure about it so high and I do use it quite a bit.

Wow lots to think about.

The sink is a bit of an issue and yes I agree re dirty dishes. It could be on the side where the long run of worktops but no window so not sure.

I'd love a range cooker but no gas supply.

It does seem like a lot if wall cupboards but just going on what we have now it does seem like we need them. I admit though I have too much stuff that I need to thin out.

[mrsglowglow]

Wine racks definitely are odd! Thinking of using this space at the side of the fridge as we need a space to stop the door hitting the wall. I want a long narrow gap for broom/ironing board but dh thinks naff. He ain't the one who gets them out surprisingly!

[mrsglowglow]

I could take the wall cupboards from either side of hob out. Can't work out how to get extra worktop space . it is a 80cm hob so could change to 60cm but don't know if 30cm would make that much difference.

[mrsglowglow]

Yes 6k units, 2k apps and 2k to builder

[mrsglowglow]

20cm even duh

[wowfudge]

Just on the wine racks - at the end of the run away from the window under the beam is a small width cupboard: if you lose the wine racks you can put a larger cupboard there.

[Sparklycat]

10k seems a bargain!

[OliviaBenson]

I think you can get electric range cookers op if that's what stopping you. You can get induction jobs with electric ovens on some I've seen as well

[SilverGiraffe7]

I'm considering this induction range which doesn't need gas.

[RaisingSteam]

It does seem quite spread out. I wonder if your breakfast bar would be better a work space with hob and ovens under. Then maybe a tall larder or bit of seating where the hob currently is.

[SandwichYum]

We've had kitchen done recently so the 10k seems a good price, we moved hob to increase workspace either side which was well worth the hassle. With your layout you will end up chopping etc one side of kitchen and walking across to cooker. Is it possible to have cooker on side where wine racks are instead? You could then get the range cooker in.

[mrsglowglow]

The induction electric range does look good. I'm leaning more to a separate hob and oven as I have dreamt of having those wonderful pan drawers for a long time. Our cooker is currently where the fridge is on the plan and I'm often stuck round the corner for a lot of the time while everyone else is partying in the other end so that's why I thought having it moved to that wall might be better. I'm thinking now about ditching the larder unit - another thing I've dreamt of having, to make more workspace. I agree there isn't a big enough space near the hob. I think a lot of the problem is the position of the doors but we are unable to move them. It looks like a lot of base cupboards but they will house washing machine and dishwasher and they must stay on that side due to mains.

[Sparklycat]

Oh no don't ditch the pull out larder unit! I thought they were silly until we moved to a house with one and now I adore it. You can fit so much more in a thinner space rather than in a normal cupboard, plus you can see everything.

[RaisingSteam]

Is this any better? You could have larders and maybe microwave on the lounge wall, an induction hob on peninsula.

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

You should never consider an oven /micro etc where you have to lift hot heavy items above your shoulder height - it's incredibly dangerous . The fridge needs a gap of usually 90/130mm between fridge and a wall next to it to allow door to fully open - and doors need to fully open so you can get interior shelves in and out ! Doesn't look like this would happen here ?! Both of these are rookie mistakes ...

[thewookieswife]

I like raising steams idea

[mrsglowglow]

Yes I like that layout Raisingsteam! It seems to bring it all together a bit better. We did ask about having the hob there but there are roof windows making it tricky to position the extractor. I did see some really cool ones that raise out of the worktop but think they are £££'s. I'm going to have to investigate more.

Yes OnePlanOnHouzz, we even discussed about the fridge door near the wall and the planner still put it there! This is our current fridge we are keeping and I can see with the handle and interior door compartments it needs to open further than the width of the fridge. I was a little let down with the planner tbh as I thought she'd give us good suggestions for the space. Same with regard to the microwave. Apparently it's very popular to have it this way but I agree it poses a safety risk especially as it is something that my kids will more than likely be using.

[mrsglowglow]

I know sparkly I would love a larder unit. My friend has one that I open and close a lot when I visit her. I told dh it would change my life if I got one