We are getting our kitchen replaced! Whoopee. Top tips please

[purplewithred]

Looking forward to an intense and very enjoyable few months of kitchen shopping. Sadly our kitchen is very small (4m x 2.2m or 13' x 7') with the door at one small end and a window at the opposite small end. Any advice, horror stories, must-haves gratefully received.

Before you start, is there any possible way you could make it larger? Knock down a wall or move kitchen to another room entirely? Will cost £££ but worth it?

I had my kitchen done two years ago and my absolute favourite things are still the pull-out larder and the Neff compact combination oven. I also have a Neff single oven below it (and wouldn't be without it) but most often use the combi as it does absolutely everything.

I had my kitchen done when I moved in & loved kitchen shopping,decisions decisions!
My builder was from an approved list from where I bought the kitchen. The quotes differed a lot. I went for the nicest man who was at the cheaper end. Nice but crap basically. He took weeks to do it & it was a simple job in a tiny kitchen. Rather grim,I found a number scribbled on a bit of paper & rang it (thought it was a date's number that I'd lost) to be greeted with the dulcet tones of Housewives Direct,a porn line!!
I did point out in a call when I was becoming unhappy how long the job was taking that a bit more building & a bit less wanking may be needed :o
He ballsed up plumbing to flood downstairs,the work surface was damaged & behind the cupboards & appliances he'd really done a bodge job. The worse thing was I bloody paid him,all the bodging didn't come to light until later.
Do your research on your builder is my advice!

My mums kitchen planner told her not to go for gloss worktops as they scratch easily.

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My worktops and floortiles have a discreet pattern in them which hides marks (and mess). My sisters floor tiles are glossy ones and show up everything so she is constantly having to wipe them.

If you have big dinner plates, check they will fit in wall cupboards as some wall units are too narrow.

Don't over fill your units and declutter before you put stuff back

Consider wall shelves and hooks etc which can be used in areas that you can't fit units. I put a towel rail on the back door for my tea towels. My next plan is to have a spice rack on the wall to free up some cupboard space.

Ikea (and I'm sure other places) sell a silicone cupboard liner. I have lined all of my cupboards. It stops the pots and pans from scratching the units and if I spill something in the cupboards I can easily wipe it clean.

Hi purplewithred I'll be watching this thread too as also planning kitchen refurb.
It's great planning and looking at ideas isn't it?