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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think kitchen Islands are the artex of the future?

628 replies

GervaseFen · 24/08/2020 20:59

I was watching a home renovation programme and every time they stick these massive blocks in the middle of the kitchen before ripping out the walls to 'connect' to
the garden. This time the island was a huge rectangle and took up most of the room with a little table in the space at the end. I can so image the future shows having people walking around and identifying these as the first thing to rip out and exclaiming over how much space they gain.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
27
Gardenpad · 27/08/2020 10:52

Well, some of us have a life out of the kitchen! Some of us live in the kitchen - it's where we do all our gathering - people go to the living room to be alone.
I don't mind cooking smells except fish - bloody hate fish smells!
But generally we are quite food focused in our house - we like eating and cooking and no one who visits seems to mind one bit that our house smells of lovely things they are about to eat!😂

DancingCatGif · 27/08/2020 10:56

"lovely things they are about to eat!"

About to eat isn't the problem. It's after when you can smell it all evening when you're full.

If you like it, that's fine but personally it makes me hurl.

Gardenpad · 27/08/2020 10:58

@DancingCatGif

"lovely things they are about to eat!"

About to eat isn't the problem. It's after when you can smell it all evening when you're full.

If you like it, that's fine but personally it makes me hurl.

I have honestly never noticed or found it a problem.
pinkbalconyrailing · 27/08/2020 11:01

what I want to see the back of are washing machine in kitchens.
makes (imo) much more sense to have them in a bathroom or separate utility room.

SantaClaritaDiet · 27/08/2020 11:05

@pinkbalconyrailing

what I want to see the back of are washing machine in kitchens. makes (imo) much more sense to have them in a bathroom or separate utility room.
YES!!!

100% yes!

And whilst we are at it, decent plugs in bathrooms too. Other countries manage to be able to use a hair dryer, plug a machine or toothbrush charger in their bathroom without electrocuting the entire population. I am sure the UK could manage to survive too.

We are not that thick that we cannot be trusted, are we?

Consideredopinion · 27/08/2020 11:07

We are not that thick that we cannot be trusted, are we?

Our voltage is much higher than in Europe I believe, far more likely to actually die of electrocution here.

merrymouse · 27/08/2020 11:09

Anyway, I think the premise of the OP is wrong.

Anybody decorating their house with the idea that it will add value in 10 or even 5 years time is misguided - but does anyone really believe that?

If you plan to move in a couple of years, you probably should take account of current trends, if not decorate the house for the person who will actually live there - you.

SantaClaritaDiet · 27/08/2020 11:14

Unless you are planning on selling immediately, you can always put a lick of light paint when you sell and stick to what you actually enjoy in the meantime.

I am still ensure about people painting their sofas and carpets I have to say...Confused

merrymouse · 27/08/2020 11:17

what I want to see the back of are washing machine in kitchens.
makes (imo) much more sense to have them in a bathroom or separate utility room.

I think new builds tend to include utility rooms if possible.

However, I don't think we will ever see washing machines in bathrooms because UK bathrooms generally aren't large enough to fit a washing machine, and who wants to have a nice relaxing bath next to the washing machine?

In countries where kitchen washing machines are unusual, that tends to be because the washing machine is in the basement or a shared laundry area. However that doesn't seem more practical, and most UK houses don't have a basement.

KatharinaRosalie · 27/08/2020 11:21

@Consideredopinion

We are not that thick that we cannot be trusted, are we?

Our voltage is much higher than in Europe I believe, far more likely to actually die of electrocution here.

No it isn't.
pinkbalconyrailing · 27/08/2020 11:22

in germany the washers are usually in the main bathroom.
or sometimes the cellar if in an apartement block.

SantaClaritaDiet · 27/08/2020 11:22

and who wants to have a nice relaxing bath next to the washing machine?

I'd much prefer my washing machine (switched off) than a loo as the Brits love to have next to their bath frankly.

Ideally utility rooms are better, but it tends to be a next step up in price if you go for bigger houses.

Actually, ideally all this could be in a separate building for someone else to deal with it for you, but that's yet another level Grin

Bluntness100 · 27/08/2020 11:23

Our washing machine was originally in our downstairs loo when we bought this place. Moved it into the kitchen when we redid it, it’s integrated so not noticeable, and it’s only on when we are not likely to be sitting in there.

Turned the loo into a lovely cloakroom area, I seriously dislike loos or bathrooms with a washing machine in. We are about to get our bathroom done now and am I hell putting a washing machine in there. Walk in shower, claw foot bath, yes please, washing machine and a big old cupboard to house it, nope. That’s not happening.

sunglassesonthetable · 27/08/2020 11:25

Hate washing machines in a kitchen. Through bitter experience.

In love with utility rooms.

G5000 · 27/08/2020 11:26

I've lived in several European countries and washing machines live in utility rooms or bathrooms. Makes sense to have your washing in the room where you get undressed, not to sort your dirty socks next to food.

merrymouse · 27/08/2020 11:28

I'd much prefer my washing machine (switched off) than a loo as the Brits love to have next to their bath frankly.

I think that is more about size of bathroom than anything else.

HamstersCage · 27/08/2020 11:30

We have a 8 foot one in the kitchen.
Its handy for storage and to eat

merrymouse · 27/08/2020 11:32

I've lived in several European countries and washing machines live in utility rooms or bathrooms.

But again, you need a bathroom big enough to fit a washing machine. In the UK if you live in a house that has a bathroom with a big chunk of spare space, you probably live in an house that is big enough for a utility room.

OhGodWhatTheHellNow · 27/08/2020 11:33

Oh I love this discussion, I don't even have a sink in my kitchen, it has a separate scullery with the original belfast sink, that was set at the height for a 12 year old victorian scullery maid to use so kills your back (thank sod for the dishwasher!) Anyway, we took out half the units in the 'main' kitchen when we moved in to put in a table instead, much better. Knocking the scullery, kitchen and utility room into one would create a massive statement kitchen that could house a minor archipelago, but no thanks. I genuinely would rather carry on taking my boiling pans to another room to drain the veg!

G5000 · 27/08/2020 11:38

merrymouse I get what you're saying, but in many other countries, houses are not necessarily bigger, they have simply been planned with space for washing machine in bathroom instead of kitchen. Would be doable for UK new builds as well.

SerenDippitty · 27/08/2020 11:39

Our washing machine (non-integrated!) is in the utility room, with the dishwasher, but it (the UR) is not really much more than a big cupboard with a window and a sink.

PickAChew · 27/08/2020 11:39

I'm fine with eye level ovens but they need a surface next to them, even if it's a hob.

Our kitchen has an utterly disgusting and absolutely crap integrated washer when we moved in. I replaced it within a week - with a freestanding one. The only integrated one I saw that looked vaguely up to the job cost an eye watering amount of money.

I'm fine with the integrated dishwasher, though. It's actually better because Ds2 can't get to the controls to turn it off, when it's running.

SerenDippitty · 27/08/2020 11:40

I've seen a few flats in London where the washing machine was in the bathroom.

merrymouse · 27/08/2020 11:52

I get what you're saying, but in many other countries, houses are not necessarily bigger, they have simply been planned with space for washing machine in bathroom instead of kitchen. Would be doable for UK new builds as well.

In new builds the pressure to have more bedrooms and add in en-suites tends to limit the space available upstairs - and I also think that while a utility room is aspirational, a washing machine in a bathroom isn't.

You would have to sell it as a 'utility cupboard' that happened to be near, but not in the bathroom.

RedRiverShore · 27/08/2020 12:32

Not sure I would want the washing machine upstairs as our small utility room is by the back door and in the summer I can be in and out a lot hanging stuff out, and washing everywhere. I wouldn’t want it all upstairs and having to go up and down with washing baskets, the dryer would have to be up there also to keep it all together

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