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New Kitchen, what mistakes did you make and what went really well?

65 replies

Flossiecotton · 10/08/2024 18:50

It is many years since I bought a new kitchen. Please will you share with me what things you wou,d not do or buy again. What was totally worth the money. Also how did you survive the hassle?
thanks

OP posts:
TakeMe2Insanity · 11/08/2024 13:02

Know how you live, how you cook.

Ask yourself what are the big items that you want out all the time because you use them all the time v once in a while.

For us these are all the things that work

  • all tea coffee items inc milk, cups and spoons are in the same place so you don’t move around. Also this is away from the cooker meaning if someone makes drinks while dinner being cooked they aren’t in the way.
  • spices - we use lots, have lots. No glass cabinets around the cooker because I want to reach them with ease.

Things that don’t work

  • the builder NOT listening and not taking the underfloor heating all the way up to the sink. In winter it means you are stood on a cold spot doing washing up. Don’t wear shoes so feel it.
  • oven being next to a wall, with a cupboard that opens towards the wall.
  • make sure your cupboards open easily with furniture in the room
  • pets - room for their bowls
  • open cupboards - no point.
  • glass cabinets great if you want to display without dust but if you want to store actual stuff a pain.
Flossiecotton · 11/08/2024 13:55

I am looking also for a free standing side by side fridge freezer. I don’t need water taps. I do need floor to ceiling fridge and floor to ceiling freezer. Can you recommend one. Also is it better to get the kitchen supplier to get this or buy ourselves?

OP posts:
MerelyPlaying · 11/08/2024 14:19

The kitchen suppliers may only have access to certain models, I’d work out what you want and then see if you can hunt down the price. Try Euronics for a local supplier. Bear in mind delivery times, I was able to buy mine and have them keep it until the kitchen was ready. You don’t want it too early in case it gets bashed.

Sorry, I can’t help with recommendations as I only have a single size fridge freezer.

I think ‘know how you live, know how you cook’ is very sound advice from @TakeMe2Insanity - I live alone so I don’t usually have to worry about someone else being in the kitchen at the same time.

Interested in this thread?

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FloofPaws · 11/08/2024 14:24

Yes to pan drawers
Corner cupboards with pull out shelves
Plenty of shelves
A second small sink thingy
Decent splash backs
Pull out cupboards (brother has these I wish I did too)
Lighting in the kick boards and under top shelving
Decent cooker hood plenty of plugs around work surfaces

JC03745 · 11/08/2024 14:25

I haven't read every reply, but we recently finished a new kitchen:

  • Get drawers for every cupboard possible to save your back and actually see what is in there
  • We got a integrated bin store, but there is a large gap at the top which is wasted space and too flimsy to leave anything on. I used it for recycling, but also need an additional bin which is on display.
  • Floor to ceiling cupboards make us the of the space, no dusty tops and additional storage for lesser used items.
  • Our tap is a regular one, but can disconnect to become a hose to wash plates etc
  • We got a butler sink, but check the size of the plug hole. I assumed they were all pretty standard, but I can only assume ours is small, but despite the basket trap, it takes ages to empty
  • If you kitchen is small, consider getting under plinth drawers for cans
  • Make use of any gaps in cupboards
New Kitchen, what mistakes did you make and what went really well?
New Kitchen, what mistakes did you make and what went really well?
TwistedSisters · 11/08/2024 14:47

Neff hide & slide ovens
It's dependent on space but I have 2 dishwashers and it's brilliant
100% agree on drawers rather than cupboards
Built in microwave - so much tidier and saves worktop space
We opted for a 1000 wide larder full height larder cupboard rather than a pull out one and honestly it's the best bit of our kitchen- the amount of stuff it stores is incredible
Induction hob is far superior to gas or standard electric
Pay for the extra built in drawer dividers - they're worth every penny
Carousels in the corner cupboards to make access easier
Don't scrimp on taps
We have a built in waste disposal (insinkerator) - I know MN won't approve 😀- but it's absolutely worth it
We had a water softener installed at the same time which again is absolutely worth it if you're in a hard water area
Undermount sinks are far nicer than overmount
Soft strip lighting under the top cabinets is also worth it

Really really think about layout - where do you want to be able to look out to or access - when you're at the hob what do you need - eg we have a small pull out spice rack right next to the hob

Definitely agree with the pp who said install more sockets than you think you'll ever need

List everything you have stored in your current kitchen and go through your new kitchen plan and work out where it all will go - this will help you work out if there's anything you need to change.

Flossiecotton · 11/08/2024 14:47

As always MN wisdom has been really helpful. We have a huge cupboard under stairs for pota, pans, baking dishes canned food etc. in the kitchen we store crockery, packet food and small jars.

Thinking about how we cook and use the space is a great starting point.

OP posts:
Fluffycloudsfloatinginthesky · 11/08/2024 15:20

I had a new kitchen 4 years ago and I still love it

Pull out bin - nearly didn't get it due to price but it's worth every penny
Pan drawers and only 1 lower cupboard which is a corner one
Pull out larders either side of fridge
Little cupboard over fridge I can hide my treats in away from children....

PocketSand · 11/08/2024 15:41

Can I ask about induction? I am having a new kitchen fitted next month and am considering staying with a ceramic hob (no gas to the property) largely because I am attached to my 35 year old pans that are as good as the day I bought them but don't work with induction. Is this madness?

nojudge · 11/08/2024 15:48

Really think about the lighting, especially if it's an eat in kitchen. Direct and indirect lighting for different spots that you use in different ways, with zoned switches, all on dimmers, so you can choose how much light to have on in different areas. We have a mixture of wall washing spots (and a few that directly light the island work surface), hanging fixtures over the island, under shelf lighting and a lamp. I love that we can easily change from functional to cosy, bright to dim, etc.

Another vote for an Insinkerator. Our council collects food waste, so between the two, we never end up with a disgusting kitchen bin. We love it.

I know they're divisive, but we love our Quooker (although ours is in the pantry).

Agree with drawers instead of cupboards and good induction over other methods.

Yes to more outlets than you think and careful thinking about the placement (we didn't and regret it).

Good tap with a sprayer. I also love our very large undermount ceramic sink, but recommend using a rack in the bottom to keep it from getting dinged. If it gets stained, a quick swish of bleach and it's sparkling again.

Yes to a water softener if you're in a hard water area.

Agree with a PP about draining grooves in the worktop. We had them in our last kitchen and hated them. I just put a tea towel down on the worktop for the things we wash by hand (pots, pans, delicate glass and ceramics).

If you have the space, it's nice to not have upper cabinets. We have a couple open shelves, but placed higher up, with lighting underneath and it make the kitchen feel so open and airy.

We put in a flat ceiling panel extractor fan and I love not having one in my face when cooking.

nojudge · 11/08/2024 15:49

PocketSand · 11/08/2024 15:41

Can I ask about induction? I am having a new kitchen fitted next month and am considering staying with a ceramic hob (no gas to the property) largely because I am attached to my 35 year old pans that are as good as the day I bought them but don't work with induction. Is this madness?

Yes. I hate to say it, but it would be totally worth it to change pans. Do you have a friend with induction who would let you have a try on theirs? I was a diehard gas range person, but can't imagine ever going back now.

Kpo58 · 11/08/2024 15:49

FantasticFox27 · 10/08/2024 20:42

@kpo58 can I ask you to explain why you wouldn't have the fridge next to the oven? Genuine question - we are planning our kitchen at the moment and had planned the kitchen this way!

It's harder for the fridge to keep things cool when you have a hot oven next to it spreading heat when you open it.

I also detest resin sinks as they get stained all the time and you spend your entire life bleaching it or looking like you gave a dirty sink.

Supermacs · 11/08/2024 19:24

Kpo58 · 11/08/2024 15:49

It's harder for the fridge to keep things cool when you have a hot oven next to it spreading heat when you open it.

I also detest resin sinks as they get stained all the time and you spend your entire life bleaching it or looking like you gave a dirty sink.

I agree with this! @FantasticFox27 in one house we rented the fridge was next to the oven, and on Christmas Day our meat had gone off and nothing else suitable for a roast so ended up with sandwich chicken pieces from the petrol station...

Logoplanter · 11/08/2024 20:01

We used DIY kitchens and I spent hours planning it.

I'm delighted with the following and would recommend:
Pan drawers - as many as you can fit
Integrated pull out bin
Decent corner cupboards - ours open right up so you can properly reach inside
Larder cupboard
Quartz and no drainer grooves.
Large induction hob - so much easier to clean than gas.
Island/peninsular you seating - kids use ours all the time.
Decent tap with a pull out function. It's useful for cleaning the sink and filling the kettle when there is water in the sink.
Love our gloss units - no problems with fingerprints and nice and neat looking.

The only things I'd change:

I wish our under mounted sink was a tad bigger. Not a lot just, a few inches. When we chose it I think I forgot that with it being undermount it's not quite the actual measurements as you lose a bit because of the quartz overhang.

We got a single oven and a combi microwave oven thing. The combi was expensive and we've very rarely used it. We have actually kept our old microwave and left it in the utility as you need to take all the stuff out of the combi to use the microwave function which makes it pointless 🤦

BigDahliaFan · 12/08/2024 08:32

@Logoplanter wish we had got a separate microwave to the combi. Our combi has metal racks in which are microwave safe so you don’t have to empty it but despite being 900 w it’s still takes forever to heat stuff up.

considering getting a microwave for the utility.

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