Impossible kitchen

kitchennightmaresforme · 2022-09-17T12:42:41+00:00

Hi, I have a tiny kitchen, and no room to extend. I am needing to fit a new kitchen and finding getting everything I need into the awkward space impossible. We are ideally buying the kitchen and fitting it ourselves as needs to be budget friendly as possible (the current kitchen is actually falling to bits). I suppose what I'm asking is are there any dab hands at visualising out there who could offer any advice please? Many thanks

Binfire · 18/09/2022 07:40

I would go to Magnet or similar and ask them to design something and then buy it from DIY Kitchens. They will send someone out to measure up and then provide you with a free design which there should be no obligation to buy.
You may need to keep the current layout to keep costs down, but DIY kitchens do cabinets in every size so you’ll definitely get a kitchen to fit. Where there’s a small gap at the end they use boards to cover small spaces, so you don’t need to worry that you won’t get one to fit. If there’s one currently in there, you’ll get one to replace it.
Hope this helps!

TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination · 18/09/2022 08:07

It's difficult with a small kitchen, you can't help but think 'ah lovely new kitchen' and your mind runs away with images of bifold doors opening out into a patio & beautiful garden and to the Aga & dishwasher, huge ff and ....

...and then reality slaps you around your chops!!

you can't make it any bigger, but you can make it function better!!

Are there things about it that are particularly annoying? What are they?

what are the things you like about it?

DIY kitchens are great. Definitely great cost wise. Just make sure you'll have somewhere suitable to put it when it arrives! (The prebuilt cabinets are the best, but bulky!!) and read up on their delivery information.

my current kitchen is small, but on paper you'd think could still fit a lot of stuff in, but the placement of doors, windows, water pipes, water waste & gas meter make it very difficult (& far too expensive to have them moved (£5000 alone for the gas meter due to external complications) so as your trying to do it as economically as possible & by yourselves, it's probably going to be best to work with that kind of thing where it is unless it's really bad!

Houzz has lots of photos & idea & you can filter to small kitchens & various layouts etc. BUT I just found it more frustrating then settling for something because I don't have a bijou kitchen in a gorgeous converted building etc.

so list the things that really annoy you in order of most annoying to least & see what you can do to change them.

& a list of things you love & try not to lose any of them!

DECLUTTER!! It's amazing how little you really use day to day in the kitchen & how keeping things you use twice a year, makes day to day life difficult. If you have a garage/under stairs cupboard or whatever, and have space for a plastic crate. Get one and put 'season/occasion stuff in that if you really want to keep it. But you don't need 20 plates in everyday use, keep your favourites & donate the rest. If you 'Do Dishes Daily' (see Dana K White, youtube) life is not only better, but it'll show you how many plates, cups, glasses you actually use and which are your favourites. Donate the rest. Now before you get your new kitchen. (If you are too worried about doing that, put them in a box & put date on them to donate if not used by x.)

parietal · 18/09/2022 08:19

Post a floor plan here with measurements to get advice on layout.

IKEA is also good for units on a budget.

sashh · 18/09/2022 09:06

Could you start with one of the 'mini kitchen' or kitchen in a cupboard and then add to it?

In the second link there is a kitchen in a cupboard that has a sink, microwave, fridge and dishwasher in it.

elfinkitchens.co.uk/

www.tinykitchens.co.uk/

Original poster

kitchennightmaresforme · 18/09/2022 10:06

TooMuchToDoTooLittleInclination · 18/09/2022 08:07

It's difficult with a small kitchen, you can't help but think 'ah lovely new kitchen' and your mind runs away with images of bifold doors opening out into a patio & beautiful garden and to the Aga & dishwasher, huge ff and ....

...and then reality slaps you around your chops!!

you can't make it any bigger, but you can make it function better!!

Are there things about it that are particularly annoying? What are they?

what are the things you like about it?

DIY kitchens are great. Definitely great cost wise. Just make sure you'll have somewhere suitable to put it when it arrives! (The prebuilt cabinets are the best, but bulky!!) and read up on their delivery information.

my current kitchen is small, but on paper you'd think could still fit a lot of stuff in, but the placement of doors, windows, water pipes, water waste & gas meter make it very difficult (& far too expensive to have them moved (£5000 alone for the gas meter due to external complications) so as your trying to do it as economically as possible & by yourselves, it's probably going to be best to work with that kind of thing where it is unless it's really bad!

Houzz has lots of photos & idea & you can filter to small kitchens & various layouts etc. BUT I just found it more frustrating then settling for something because I don't have a bijou kitchen in a gorgeous converted building etc.

so list the things that really annoy you in order of most annoying to least & see what you can do to change them.

& a list of things you love & try not to lose any of them!

DECLUTTER!! It's amazing how little you really use day to day in the kitchen & how keeping things you use twice a year, makes day to day life difficult. If you have a garage/under stairs cupboard or whatever, and have space for a plastic crate. Get one and put 'season/occasion stuff in that if you really want to keep it. But you don't need 20 plates in everyday use, keep your favourites & donate the rest. If you 'Do Dishes Daily' (see Dana K White, youtube) life is not only better, but it'll show you how many plates, cups, glasses you actually use and which are your favourites. Donate the rest. Now before you get your new kitchen. (If you are too worried about doing that, put them in a box & put date on them to donate if not used by x.)

I can't get my dishwasher, tumble dryer and washing machine in there at present, I have awkward storage (those half sized doors that go back sideways. Deep, narrow, arm breaking trying to get into.

Yes we have the window, door, boiler scenario. Also annoying built in hallway cupboard that takes a corner off of the kitchen but can't be removed as sold concrete and holds all the electrical's and meters. Room is also dark. I absolutely hate this kitchen 😂

OP posts:

Handsnotwands · 19/09/2022 08:47

Start with a piece of graph paper. Draw your room to scale, mark the unmoveable bits. Cut out scaled squares for dishwasher etc. move them around to find a position that works and see what you’re left with

MrsElm · 19/09/2022 08:53

kitchennightmaresforme · 18/09/2022 10:06

I can't get my dishwasher, tumble dryer and washing machine in there at present, I have awkward storage (those half sized doors that go back sideways. Deep, narrow, arm breaking trying to get into.

Yes we have the window, door, boiler scenario. Also annoying built in hallway cupboard that takes a corner off of the kitchen but can't be removed as sold concrete and holds all the electrical's and meters. Room is also dark. I absolutely hate this kitchen 😂

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Can the washing machine and dryer go somewhere else, such as the garage? Can you change to a washer dryer? How about a slimline dishwasher?