AIBU to ask you what will drive me crackers about new kitchen design in six months?

[Waffles80]

Crystal balls / hindsight / voice of experience / wild speculation.

We are having the kitchen done in the house we’ve just moved in to. We’re knocking the existing dining room and kitchen into one space, and putting the dining room where the kitchen is and vice versa.

We’ve mulled over the plans approx eleventy bazillion times. I think the plans work now. But....what am I missing that will do my head in at a later date? What’s in a stupid position?

Can’t really add more units without encroaching on dining space, but could change what’s going IN each unit.

Any thoughts? Images attached!

I would turn the sink around. The plan looks like it has the drainer on the left. I'm right handed and would prefer to work from left to right when washing up.

Yes - that’s a good idea! Thank you! The drainer would then be nearer the dishwasher which I think might be useful.

I think carrying hot water across the aisle from the hobs to the sink to drain may drive you nuts. Maybe move to both same side. You could also add extra work top space by going round the corner towards the door.

You could then make the other side all tall units if you want.

Make sure the sink you choose is a decent size. I have a small under mounted one and it really is a bit too small.

Are each of the work spaces/tops 2 units long? It looks like you've split them up (cooker in middle for example) Will this give you enough work top space?
What is the small area top right?

Ditto make sure you have a large sink. When i hear my new kitchen installed I put in the largest sink that I could find in the style I wanted. I find when cooking that once side gets filled with things I've used to prep food, the other dude it's cost for draining and washing.

My hob is opposite to our sink. It’s not an issue carrying water - there isn’t enough workable space to have them on the same run in the OP’s plan.

Where are all the doors going? Having two doors in the dining area makes it a corridor IMO and that might be annoying. Can they be moved?

I’d also look at that wall on the left. Can you put anything there?

You’ve got quite a big gap between the run of units - 1.6m? That will make the hob and sink quite far apart which could be annoying.

I would consider moving the hob slightly across. It means the hob won’t be central in that run but you will get a longer unbroken stretch of worktop. Much better for when cooking.

Depending on the style and height of your kitchen, you could consider the shelving between some of the lower and upper units?
And high/long upper units to maximise storage. Also look into internal configurations - where exactly would you put all your dry foods, cleaning products and dishes. I like baking so need space for those gadgets. I’m not understanding the plans as I can’t zoom enough but do you have enough drawer space for you?

Not layout related, but I always like kitchens that have lots of sockets. Gives you more freedom to rearrange toaster/kettle/microwave etc, as well as being convenient for anything electric you might have in the cupboards and use less often (electric mixer etc).

I wouldn't turn the sink round. It's more useful to have an the dirty dishes beside the dishwasher than the clean ones.

My mum and dad have the drainer above the dishwasher and it ends up in a chaos of clean dishes that have been washed in the sink and dirty dishes waiting to go into the dishwasher.

Do not get gloss worktops (not sure if that’s planned!). Ours were annoying within days, they dry streaky every time. Also unfortunately our kitchen caught fire and the fire men said it was bad because the gloss gives off a toxic smoke, making the smoke damage worse. Never again!

Get the quietest washing machine you can find. I have to be careful that the spin doesn't come an mid dinner!

Thanks so much for the ideas so far!

I think we went for hob / sink on different sides to creat symmetry in the room, if that makes sense?

I’m going to speak to the company again about a bigger sink - you’re absolutely right that it’s too small. Thanks for that spot.

We are installing a boiling water tap with the sink to reduce work surface clutter, and the top oven (eye level - probably not clear on the plan) is a microwave too.

Ignore the weird green walls and strange floor on these images, but this is a first draft 3D version.

Here are some more!

I wouldn’t bother with waist heigh ovens in a small kitchen - worktop is always my priority!

I wouldn’t be bother about symmetry either in your plan - practical comes first - it’s a working room.

That door by the sink, is it going to outside? Where is the door opposite it going?

You’ve got space at the ceiling it looks like, I’d definitely use it fully with longer cabinets

The door out on the sink side isn’t staying - that’s the existing door and we’re bricking it up - kitchen designer has forgotten to delete it!!

We do a LOT of cooking, but have minimal gadgets. I do like the idea of some shelves though.

The wall by the entrance to the kitchen door might need a radiator on it.

Get a quiet dishwasher as well - ours is so loud.

Research your boiling water tap to make sure it’s a true boiling tap, there’s lots out there that aren’t. We have one and I love it.

Make sure when it's fitted that the stopcock is still accessible (not buried behind the dishwasher as mine was). Agree about the sockets. Also my builders put the kitchen units in really early which then caused problems for other trades. They then put the flooring down and cut round the units. It looks crap and I really wish I'd objected at the time but it would have meant taking out the whole lot to re-lay the floor.

Ooh, a navy kitchen! Where are you buying it from ? totally unhelpful sorry

Have you considered a small breakfast bar/island? Loads more worktop, extra cupboard space without encroaching on the dining area. Swap the dishwasher to the bin cupboard, make the end one a corner unit and add a skinny drawer unit on the end if there's space.

If you are having coloured cabinets you might think about whether they will date rather quickly? (Not a problem if you like replacing your kitchen quite frequently).

The door on the hob side goes out to the patio area, to the left of the image below, which will all be decked - as will the space below the bifolds (where you can see the hose reel and small window in this image).

We need the deck area because the bifolds will open quite high up this wall, so it would be a huuuuge drop down!

If you can get cupboards that go to the ceiling definitely do. I love mine, extra storage and no horrible grease collecting on top of the cupboards.
I'd think about counter space. Realistically, you won't use the space above the dishwasher much as there will be stuff waiting to go into the dishwasher quite often. You'll also lose some to a toaster, maybe a fruit bowl or two. What does that leave you with and where?