to ask what KITCHEN mistakes you made?

[Albadross]

I needed this after the bathroom one - we're about to get a new kitchen (replacing the 90s disaster of worn chipboard and a cupboard you have to open the fridge to access).

Just had mine done and loving it, although my last kitchen was tiny. It was an IKEA kitchen with really short top cupboards so loads of stuff had to be out so even when clean looked awful. So would agree no shelves.
I have gone for gloss doors (so easy to clean) but with rounded edge handles. My last ones were square and pointy and took some skin off every time I cleaned a door. I have an island but it is just work space/breakfast bar. I didn't want anything on it as I thought there would be splash from a sink or hob. What it does have though is a massive pull out that has 4 bins in - 3 big for recycling, paper and rubbish then a smaller one for compostables. Was just going to leave a space under the island for my bin and some recycling ones, but so glad I didn't. And I also got some plugs under the island too. Mostly so I can use mixer.
On the floor I have some wood effect stuff (like amtico/karndeen). Perfect for us as not as cold and a bit more forgiving on small heads/dropped things than tiles. But better than laminate for where there is likely to be water splashed about. And I can wizz a steam mop over it. Would never get tiles anywhere again - my bathroom floor is fecking freezing!

We did ours a few years ago and the things I love are:

Matte beige speckled marble. No worries about water or hot pans.
Travertine effect beige tiles - hide dirt and stains very well.
Big drawers instead of lower cupboards, much more practical
We went for matter glass cover and electric drawers, so all furniture is without handles, very nice and clean.

A couple of things I miss is some kind of cover to hide appliances, so I could keep them out but make kitchen look tidier in a second. And I love this Kitchenaid solution - I don't use mine so often that it would make sense to keep it out; but getting it and all the parts out of drawers is a faff.

These are not my mistakes but previous owner's:

• Sink in corner. Awful for so many reasons.
• Sink right next to dishwasher, so if person A is washing up, person B will bash them if they try to stack the dishwasher
• Stone tiles, no underfloor heating, freeezing floor.
• Extension with lots of single glazed glass - freeezing in winter, boiling in summer
• No plug sockets in the island (we put some in)
• Island too close to fridge, so you can't open the fridge doors and stand back to look (we moved it)
• Open shelves - look nice in theory but everything on them gets covered in dust/grease (we put doors on)
• Billions of spotlights. It's like an operating theatre.

However, it's painted wood in a shaker style which is good, as easy to change the colour or freshen up.

Mistakes - No space for bin. Metal pull out larder unit- rattled itself out of kilter and broke. Think I would have 2 full size sinks next time if room as never used the half bit except for sitting sponge in!

Loved karndean floor, lots of storage , upstands not tiles.

Simple Human under cupboard bin is great, it's only about 10L but is removable and Poundland liners fit
Granite is dreadful, and I'm a cleany tidy type but granite sent me round the bend!
You want the 'triangle' fridge - oven/hob - sink. But! Make sure you have a decent stretch of workspace between fridge and hob as I don't have that and it's really annoying! We have a huge stretch of worktop on the other side of the room and I tend to just chop etc in the tiny space between fridge and cooker rather than go across. Annoying.
Get extra tall cupboards that go up to the ceiling and then get one of those yellow/mustard ikea step stool things to grab high up stuff. Doubles as a spare seat, painting ladder, all sorts. Don't get stone floors unless you're getting underfloor heating. Quite miserable on a cold morning. I got my radiator replaced with a tall and thin modern one and gained a whole cupboard space!
Don't get an integrated washing machine unless someone is very handy. Find an end corner that you could just put one in as a cupboard. Mine you have to open the cupboard and then the machine door, but it's been dragged out so many times without having to detach it from the cupboard so I'm glad the kitchen guy suggested it. Pans are annoying so if you can stand to have them on a rail/hook system on the wall, you'll save yourself a massive cupboard and you do get used to them being out. Oh, and yes, get new pans!

Oh yes and a 1.5 sink!

just place marking. :)

Our high level kitchen cupboards don't go all the way to the ceiling. This means that vile kitchen grease and dust collects up there and is impossible to clean as the tops are made of rough chipboard.

Avoid white composite sinks like the plague. They stain like buggery and require bleaching twice a week just to look vaguely clean. (Ours is stainless steel but white composite was the default choice in a new build when we moved in).

And don't put a kettle and toaster under a cupboard. We have absolutely no choice, but the heat and steam have made the veneer start to peel off the cupboard doors.

I too have a white composite sink. It's awful.

We are moving into a new build house in February so loving this thread for ideas.

Does anyone have any experience with a white porcelain sink? Good idea or not?

I was warned by the kitchen supplier not to get the composite sink due to the staining.

I like my 1 sink instead of 1.5. Just one less place for bits to collect.

White porcelain sinks are more likely to chip stuff as they are porcelain ie hard.

Lauryloo the white ceramic is a no-no according to my mum as she has one. I always like the look but they stain and build limescale really easily, plus they chip your washing up as they're so hard. Stainless steel seems to be the only way!

mygorgeousmilo Stainless steel seems to be the only way

I thought I never wanted a metal sink again because both the one I have at the moment and the same in the last house, the draining board has always got a little puddle of water on it that never drains because there's a slight dip rather than it being rigidly flat.

But now I've been advised against ceramic because they chip and against composite because they stain and I'm wondering if I was wrong about metal. Might it be that the metal sinks I've had up till now have been crappy cheap ones and a good quality metal sink would be OK?

• missed out vital bit - constant stagnant puddle always goes gross and slimy - that's why I hate it.

That's put me off the porcelain then! It'll save me a few £ too

I'm delighted with my new kitchen especially, the terracotta tiled floor - which looks fab and shows no dirt. Mind you, it's freezing cold in winter and nothing survives being dropped on it.

I used vintage look Spanish tiles for the backsplash and the rest of the kitchen is stainless steel which is stunning despite the fact that you can see every fingerprint. The final look is something ultra modern with a traditional twist.

All the drawers have a smooth close feature and the cupboards have no handles and a tap to open mechanism.

The best best thing is a custom made wooden cutlery holder for the drawers. I've always hated those plastic trays.

If you get tiled floors you really need underfloor heating

I am really pleased with our new kitchen. I do wish I put in a long thin cupboard for chopping boards.
And my bin drawer is on the wrong side of the sink.
Other than that it's great. Granite benches and all drawers except the pantries. Easy to work in.

To those who have sockets on their island units, are these mounted on the sides (i.e. vertically) or are they embedded in the worktop? I'm arguing with my husband about this - we love the idea (getting work done while watching kids eat, plugging in small appliances while using them etc) but he thinks they're in the worktop so would get splashed by sink water...

My sockets are integrated into the backsplash. I have a patterned backsplash of colored tiles - so I have matt stainless steel silver sockets that are not noticeable. Socket covers come in all colours and materials, not just white. I didn't know that before.

They are on the sides Snorfig. We have a breakfast bar and they are tucked under there - so not too visible but you can use them easily if you are doing mixing etc on the island and need to plug something in.

My mum has these kind though - they pop up from the worksurface but there is a cap which protects them.

I can't think of a single thing I would change in my kitchen. I have had it for 8 years and the layout, storage space etc is all spot on.

I have a marble glittery effect work surface and it is great although it does get smeary. Apart from that, nothing.

Note: it is a large kitchen and was designed from a scratch in a renovation property so didn't have to work around anything that was already there apart from the double oven and hob which I like.

Mine are in the work top but my sink is not on the island, just the hob. Also you could have one of those pull out units and have it facing away from the sink.
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PULL-POP-UP-ELECTRICAL-PLUG-SOCKET-2-USB-KITCHEN-WORKTOP-BLACK-SILVER-STEEL-TOP-/121343269865

Thanks so much for responses! I want sockets everywhere - imagining a world with no trailing cables or multi way adaptors. I have such simple dreams...

When planning the kitchen, don't forget to account for end panels widths! I forgot and just got away with it :-)

The socket thing is fantastic. I also would recommend a wifi booster so you can have a good quality wireless speaker. I bought a sonos one and its brilliant