AIBU to have a visible washing machine and tumble dryer in kitchen-diner

[frugi]

We are in the process of creating (via a garage conversion) a large open plan kitchen dining room. Original plan was to have hideaway units for washing machine and tumble dryer. Have realised those are a bit restrictive re choice of dryer (would like condenser or heat pump dryer and they can’t have doors in front apparently). So now considering leaving them open with just countertop over. Would this look weird in a living area? We will also have visible fridge and freezer. My husband thinks it may look a bit odd to have them visible and I agree with him that it’s neater to have them hidden. But I think it would be ok to have them visible under the counter? Does anyone have this?

Actually I find the hidden kitchen appliances thing a bit twee anyway. And it's a pain if I'm looking for something in someone else's kitchen, which is a regular event with my work.

I bought a house with integrated appliances and it's been a nightmare replacing them as choice is so restricted. When we redo I'm only putting in freestanding appliances. To me why hide what obviously happens in the kitchen. Plus appliances today look very smart.

Its your home. Make it to make you happy :)

integrated are form over function - use freestanding if at all possible.

can't see what is so objectionable about white doors!

I personally don't like it but appreciate you get much better choice! Could you put them somewhere more unobtrusive within the layout of the kitchen? I.E. not immediately obvious as you walk in?

I'm American so I'm afraid that washing machines and dryers in the kitchen will always look a bit odd to me. Even if that's where our combo unit is.

I doubt anyone will care to be honest.

I got to the age of 50 without an integrated appliance.

Thanks for the thoughts. They're not exactly immediately obvious when you walk in but they are next to the table. No scope to put them elsewhere. Obviously when they're on it will br obvious they are there whether they're hidden ir not.

They are free standing machines, just housed in a "hideaway unit" which the kitchen company sell - basically a large box with doors. So there's a countertop, then underneath it each appliance is housed separately, with 2 small doors opening in the middle in front of each appliance. I can't find any photos online of anything similar. But basically you open the two doors (like you might open two adjacent cupboards) and then you open your machine separately. It's not like an integrated one with a plinth at the bottom etc.

My tumble drier is in the bathroom because it no longer fits in the kitchen. HTH

Just be careful of putting a freestanding machine in a too tight hideaway unit. The washing machine will need space to vibrate so it can balance the spin, or it won’t spin fully and could also break your worktops. The tumble drier needs a bit space all round for ventilation or it will overheat and cut out. My new hideaway cupboard is tighter than the old one so now my tumble drier is upstairs where it has space all around it and the washing machine can vibrate all it likes on its own with enough space. Freestanding machines are not designed to be tightly enclosed in a cupboard space, with or without doors. Previously mine had several inches all round but not so with the kitchen design.

Could you have sliding doors on the hideaway unit so you just leave the door open when the tumble dryer is operating?

I've always had mine out on "display" in the kitchen diner and never thought anything of it. Personally I'm not keen on integrated ones.

I inherited some integrated appliances when we moved into this house. I also had an integrated dishwasher in my last house.

My experience has been that the integrated ones have been a lot poorer quality than freestanding ones, less choice of model and less durable. So for me it is now freestanding all the way. I even think they look better, and can easily be taken with you if you move house.

Recently did kitchen/diner conversion and have free standing washing machine, dish washer, cooker and huge American fridge freezer.
Am happy with them all.

I have a kitchen diner, my washing machine and tumble drier are in the utility room but I have a very tall fridge and dishwasher in the kitchen, they're freestanding. I'm not a fan of integrated appliances and because my appliances 'match', it doesn't look at all odd.

The problem with integrated ones is when you have to replace them in 10 years time the sizes would have changed. Just choose matching appliances in the same colours and make sure you have some leeway with spacing around them.

Freestanding, definitely.There's nothing odd or embarrassing about possessing a washing machine, and they are mostly nicely designed and pleasant to look at, so why hide it? And the kitchen is as good a place as any to have it. I don't really like kitchens with lots of identical looking cupboards and no idea whatsoever what is hidden behind them. Imvho, hiding it is as silly as covering a toilet roll with a doll in a dress with a massive skirt.... Each to his own, though!

We had ours behind doors in our last two houses. It was a pain having to leave the door open when the condenser drier was on, but I preferred that to having to look at mismatched/ugly appliances.

I don’t think it looked twee - it isn't as If they were flowery cupboards. The opposite tbh in our case.

I don't think it looks odd - am of an age where everyone had their washing machine in their kitchens - but I think the noise is the issue if you are going to use it as a living room, as opposed to just a big kitchen with room for eating in.
I don't want a washing machine spinning in the same room as I am watching TV / chatting with friend / doing some work at home / just quietly reading a book or MNing.

It’s all down to personal preference and space. I’ve lived on mainland Europe too long to find it ok to have a washing machine in the kitchen. I’m not keen on integrated fridge freezers but wouldn’t consider a non integrated dishwasher.

More than one poster has said it's not normal in their country to have the washing machine in the kitchen. Where are they putting them when there's no utility room?

Are we talking routinely using sheds, outhouses, porches and bathrooms ect? If that's the choice i'd rather do my laundry in the kitchen.

I agree with Alpaca. Very twee.

I'm the complete opposite. I like everything hidden away with the units looking sleek. I hate to see stand alone washing machines and dishwashers - all different brands, different heights and food been kicked underneath where you can'r reach to clean but can see it

Washing machine and tumble dryer in a Kitchen?

How bizarre. Far too noisy and add far too much moisture to the atmosphere. My Mother and Mother-in Law both had washing machines in the kitchen - neither could ever give a good reason why.

Well ventilated Utility Room or Bathroom.

Never an 'integrated' appliance. As many others have said, over-priced and under-specced.

Here is a photo of the hideaway style. I think it is fine to have them on show unless you can be very sure that the open doors will not be a hazard in the kitchen. At the end of the day, the kitchen is a workroom not a showroom.

Personally I don't like having them on display and have never had a problem with my integrated condensing washer/dryer or dishwasher.

I would however be checking noise levels of any appliance I was having in an open plan area.