Please help me plan my new kitchen

[HomeMakeoverSOS]

Hello MNers. I really don’t want to make any costly or irritating mistakes, so can I have your collective wisdom on all things kitchen please. The project is rip out and start again, right back to bare bones, so apart from not moving walls, windows and doors it’s a clean slate.

Background
It’s in the north east corner of the bungalow, so although it doesn’t feel like a dark room I need to be aware of the light levels

Room dimensions are 2.12m(W) x 5.18m (L) x 2.44m(H), so no room for an island

There's a combi boiler in the loft directly above the kitchen/bathroom wall

I live alone, and don’t have children visiting, so don’t have to worry about finger marks on things

I’m not bothered about styles dating as I’m hoping I’ll never move again

Hopefully I’ll use a small local independent company to supply the units rather than a national chain

Budget...mid range I suppose. I’m trying to keep costs down but hate poor quality stuff that need replacing before it should.

What I probably want is
Units: Pale grey gloss flat doors with discreet thin handles (nothing to snag clothing on!). Like this but probably from a local company.

Worktop: Pale grey “concrete” style laminate

Sink: Single bowl with a very simple drainer like this Bristan one

Taps: A mixer with pull out spray

Hob: A really user-friendly induction hob. Please give me your recommendations as I’ve never had one before, only gas hobs

Cooker hood: I really fancy a chimney style one but the kitchen designer has warned it would come out quite a way and could make my galley kitchen look a bit snug. He suggests having an integrated one instead, but I’m not so keen from an aesthetic point of view. I’ve worked out that the kitchen volume is 26.8 m3 so needs one with an extraction rate of 268 m3/hr

Oven: Built-in, eye level, double electric

Lights: Probably recessed down lights

Please throw your ideas, recommendations, avoid at all costs, at me 😊

This may have been covered elsewhere, but when I had my kitchen fitted, the suppliers (Wickes) recommended a combi oven/microwave to sit immediately above the oven, which itself was a bit off the floor. I was a bit snotty about it but its been brilliant and used a lot. It means I have an eye-height grill which is v useful, and also means there's no separate microwave cluttering up the space.

HomeMakeoverSOS, regarding the width of my under hob unit, its 900mm wide, so wider than a standard base pan unit that are normally 600mm. However, having the wider 900mm unit still works with whatever Hob width you choose, my job is a Bosch 600mm Induction hob, and it fits centrally over the base unit, with the extra forming 150mm more workspace on either side.
I also have a very cleverly designed corner base unit, than opens fully with bifold doors, giving full easy access for larger electrical appliances to be stored away, such as the Airfryer, Kenwood mixer, slow cooker and all the attachments that go with them. I have got more 600mm pan draw units on the opposite side of the Kitchen than I have standard cupboards, but did not opt for the top cutlery draw upgrade on those units, as I keep bakewear and crockery in them, pie dishes and the like!
Where I do have base cupboards, I have gone for deadline units to provide storage for clean teatowels, sandwich bags, cling film rolls, and plastic snap seals for securing opened packets without risk.of spillage!

I like a bin in an under counter cupboard close to the kitchen sink so you can throw away dregs from the sink without dripping everywhere.

I like a sink that's big enough for a roasting tin or whatever to soak under the water, not half in half out.

I like a dishwasher close to the cupboards where the crockery lives.

I like a hob which doesn't have a lip, so you can wipe it down and not get crumbs, bits on onions which didn't make the pan etc stuck at the edge.

I like the toaster etc in a cupboard but on the counter - but appreciate you need the space for this.

I like ovens in wall units not under counters but again you need the space for this, and microwaves also in wall units not on the counter.

I like two levels of lighting - one for I'm just popping into the kitchen and need to find the tea bags, and one for I'm about to do surgery and need to be able to see everything, including what's in the sink.

If you need new saucepans for an induction hob have a look at Tefal ingenio. The handles are detachable so they stack nicely in a drawer and also do fridge to hob to oven.
We have a nef hob, took a while to adjust but happy now.
Eye level oven with slide and hide door is great if space is light.

Thanks everyone, your input has been so useful in helping me decide what to do 😊

@Babdoc, thanks for your tips. I’m looking forward to getting the kitchen door samples to see what the colours look like in there. As you say, what I fancy might look depressing. The main reason I’d like the grey is because I’ve not had it before; had cream farmhouse style and oak type traditional, so want to go completely different. But if the white, cream or warmer toned pale ones in the range are better in that room I’ll have to go with those. My present knackered units are white with a grey worktop and they're OK.
Ah yes to not having to crouch down to the oven. I’m early 50s, with the beginnings of knee issues, so am going for wall mounted, and have tried my best with the working triangle within the confines of the room. Will post the plans so far in a bit. At least the room isn’t too large so it’s not such a bother.
I’ve definitely decided on a dishwasher now after starting this thread 🙂

@Foxyloxy1plus1, oh yes, floor grout. Been there and found it too much of a bother to clean. Much prefer vinyl/Amtico type

Ha, no, my kitchen's not purple
@Purplekitchen, How disappointing, I was hoping for photos of a purple kitchen with orange accessories 😁

@MaudesMum, RE the oven/microwave combi, are they reliable? I’m always so wary of combined appliances. My main concern is putting something metal in there, then accidentally putting it on microwave instead of oven. Friends did something like that and blew the door off! It flew across the room and embedded in the wall! (or so he says, he is prone to exaggeration) 😆

@SavannahLands, the bifold corner doors are good aren’t they. I put then into my G-shaped first house and found them so practical.
Is your Bosch hob user-friendly? I’m researching which make and model to go for at the moment.

I like a hob which doesn't have a lip, so you can wipe it down and not get crumbs, bits on onions which didn't make the pan etc stuck at the edge
@didireallysaythat, I’m trying to visualise that. Would it be slightly recessed so flush with the worktop?
I’m thinking of putting my microwave in a larder unit so it can be at eye level. It’s not going to be in the cooking zone unfortunately, but there’s nowhere else for it apart from on the worktop which I don’t want as it takes up valuable space.

@Peckhampalace, thanks for the recommendation of the saucepans, they sound ideal. Ones like that would be so useful as I like making things like frittata, which needs versatile pans.

Right, I'll post pictures of the design so far in a bit 🙂...

@HomeMakeoverSOS flush would be nice bit I think hard. I was thinking surface mount, so the hob runs over the work surface.

Here's what I wouldn't recommend - our hob has this raised metal edge. If that wasn't there, it would easier to wipe the glass onto the counter (and into cloth/hand/bin)

OK, ignoring the colours (no idea why it’s given me such dark worktops and a dark sink), this is the design so far. Wall A, from left to right…
North-facing, half-glazed white UPVC door to conservatory, then base units:
300mm cupboard with drawer, 1000mm sink unit with dummy drawers, 600mm integrated dishwasher, 600mm (probable size) induction hob above a 600mm drawer and cupboard unit, 300mm drawer and cupboard, 300mm pull-out larder, then a 600mm double oven housing unit in the corner. The gap at the end is because of water pipes that will end up in that corner, and until I discuss it with the builder I’m unsure what he wants to do. If I have to leave a gap then I could use it for chopping boards or trays I suppose.

Wall D has a half glazed, east-facing, white UPVC door

Wall C has a radiator then 3x 500mm pan drawers with corresponding sized wall cupboards above. I may use the offcut worktop to add a shelf from the worktop to the door, for cookbooks and the toaster.
Then there’s the solid door to the lounge, then my fridge freezer (which despite the design throwing up a warning isn’t a problem where it is), and finally a tall larder cupboard with shelving inside. The plan is to put my microwave in there so it can be at eye level and to save space on the worktops.

Wall B currently has a radiator which will be shunted to the right away from the larder door. It’s limited what I can do with that wall, but any ideas? The only thing I can think of is either keep it clear and have a picture, or have shelves, but with shelves comes dusting which I’m not keen on.

Late to the party but

• boiling water tap like Quooker is brilliant, will never be without one again
• consider a single drawer dishwasher from Fisher & Paykel if you have the budget for another way of getting a small (but fabulous) dishwasher in
• you cook in the space between the sink and the hob mostly, so make sure you have plenty of worktop between them

Enjoy!

The handles on the design aren't what I'll get BTW. This is the DIY Altino kitchen I have my eye on (awaiting samples), with the profile handles I'll get. Not only am I going for the minimalist sleek look this time, but so many handles are snag hazards aren't they! 🙄

@Purplewithred, Quookers are an interesting idea, although living alone and only having about 3 hot drinks a day I’m not sure I can justify the cost. But most importantly, if I got one I wouldn’t need a bright orange kettle and I have me heart set on one 😍😁
Lack of worktop space near the hob is potentially an issue but it’s hard to work around with what I want and where it can go, but I figure I can use the sink drainer as worktop 🤔

Funny you should mention orange.
We have this dresser in one corner, it adds a bit of colour to the white and grey.

@Purplekitchen, I love your plates! 😍 What make are they?

Plates are by Richard Bramble. He has a website.

@HomeMakeoverSOS I have an orange wall in my blue kitchen so I'm off to research that orange kettle and toaster!

I'd recommend my induction hob so far. Easy to clean and use, and has a bridging zone for bigger pots. It's a hisense, which is a brand I'd never heard of but since got a TV from them too and impressed so far.

If you get a compact laminate worktop, watch out for it being too thin to house the hob and fit something underneath. Although your oven won't be under your hob so you'll probably be okay. It was a bit of a headache for mine.

I was worried about snagging on door handles but tbh it's not an issue. Makes them easier for the kids to open too.

If you get a compact laminate worktop, watch out for it being too thin to house the hob and fit something underneath

Thanks for the heads up @Misty9. The kitchen bloke mentioned that too which completely changed my design ideas as I want a utensils drawer underneath the hob. It was all because I didn't want a classic grooved sink drainer, so initially considered a sink with no drainer and having the compact laminate with grooves instead. But since finding the Bristan sink I like it's all fallen into place. There's so much more choice of styles with standard laminate than the compact versions or solid stone which makes things so much easier.

Hi @HomemakeoverSOS
have you decided on a worktop yet? I went in a WorktopExpress showroom yesterday and looked at the grey worktop you linked to at the start of this thread and I think it looks ok. Howden's also have a concrete effect one which does look nice, but costs more according to my builder.

@Longlist, the Howden's concrete style worktop is nice, I've seen it in the flesh. I'll probably go for Options Element worktop though as I have a sample of it and it goes beautifully with my sample kitchen door I'm also going for Karndean Herm flooring which is gorgeous. Getting the samples was so useful as I've changed my mind on a few bits, which looked totally different in my kitchen than they did on screen.

The last thing I need to choose is the tap and I've spent days looking online. Have my heart set on an professional style one with a pull-out hose, but they're far bigger than normal taps! Now I'm wondering whether to just embrace it and have a statement tap. Besides, as I'm getting rid of the bath and just having a walk in shower I lose the convenience of being able to wash or dye my hair over the bath using the mixer tap there. At least if I get a mahoosive kitchen tap with a hose I can do all that at the kitchen sink instead 🤔 What does everyone think?