Kitchen Layout - PLEASE HELP ME!

[GrannyRoberts]

Been lurking on these threads for ages picking up lots of great tips (Kitchen lessons learned thread anyone?!). I THINK I am now settled on the style (matt white handleless, walnut worktops, polyflor yorkstone posh vinyl on floor). Now the layout is giving me sleepless nights. I think I have arrived at something that will work but I feel as though I am so deeply into it now that I really can't see the wood for the trees.

Hoping those of you who have some experience in these matters might be able to offer a fresh perspective....so I've attached some photos. Basically we will have a longish room (8m), slightly L-shaped with widest point (3.8m) going back into the utility room. Longer narrower part (where dining table is) will be 3m wide. The full height units are a swing-out larder, double built-in oven and a worktop dresser tambour unit to hide all my small appliances in. Underneath the tambour will be a base cabinet of pan drawers and the drawer arrangement will continue all along that side of the kitchen. Base corner cupboard with one of those hinged L-shaped doors and then just basic shelves inside (can't stand those carousel things). The section under the window will be a sink unit and dishwasher then the peninsula section will be a pull-out bin and wide (800mm) base unit with shelves and drawer at top. Overhanging worktop at dining table side for a couple of stools for the kids.

Freestanding fridge on short section of wall opposite the oven.

Any thoughts would be very welcome - am I missing anything crucial? Utility room will house the washing equipment and a freezer.

[FritzyMousey]

Looks fantastic to me! Fridge is slightly awkward but I can see there's no other place for it really, which way does that door open? Also, microwave?

[GrannyRoberts]

Thanks Mousey! Microwave possibly in the utility as we really don't use it that much, or I might squeeze it in with the oven tower, think you can get units that will house both. The utility room door will probably open away from the kitchen into the utility room, unless I can find some kind of bifold internal door that looks OK.

[FritzyMousey]

Perfect, wish we had a utility room!

[GrannyRoberts]

I have never had one before, this is all part of a major internal reconfiguration and very small extension (tiny garden) and I cannot wait to have my laundry room and general dumping ground. It may be the most exciting thing about the whole project...

[namechangedtoday15]

I think, personally, I would lose whatever you have either side of the oven so I could have an integrated fridge freezer, I agree with previous poster that fridge looks really odd, like you've got nowhere else to put it and would kind of spoil the sleek look / finish of the kitchen. I'd potentially have a shallow depth (30cm) mid height unit on that wall where the fridge is now (you know the ones that are kind of chest height) to have your little appliances in if necessary.

Have a look at pocket doors - we have a normal internal door (we have all 1930s oak doors) between the kitchen and utility room but it is a pocket door so it disappears into the wall between the two rooms when its open so I don't lose any space in either room where it would otherwise have to open. The width of the stud wall between the 2 needs to be slightly wider than a normal stud wall, but definitely worth it.

[namechangedtoday15]

Granny oh yes, I spent hours planning a 3m x 1.5m utility room . Love it!

[GrannyRoberts]

Thanks namechanged, I did wonder about pocket doors and might ask the builder if that would be an option. I do see what you mean about the fridge and maybe shallower units on that wall would work better. I'll have a play around with that idea, wasn't sure about having the fridge and oven next to each other but I will certainly give that some thought. Maybe some kind of narrow full-height unit to separate them could work.

[GrannyRoberts]

ooh, 3m x 1.5m is about what we will have - how did you lay it out in the end?!

[namechangedtoday15]

I've had ovens and fridge freezer next to each other in my last 2 kitchens. I think it might have been an issue in the past, but not now (I don't think).

Pocket door in the middle of one of the long sides - all appliances / cupboards down opposite wall (washing machine, tumble dryer, base unit with wall units above, then made to measure floor to ceiling shelf unit (this is my favourite bit - a bit like an IKEA Kallax / Expedit unit with a basket in each space - 1 for for each member of the family for sorting clean washing and a space underneath for the washing basket if only they'd use them) then a floor to ceiling cupboard for hoover / ironing board / sweeping brush etc. The other walls have narrow shelves, folding drying racks. Also have microwave on wall brackets in there. I am slightly obsessed with it

[GrannyRoberts]

Sounds perfect namechanged...might steal some -all- of those ideas!