getting my kitchen changed and utility room made bigger can I ask...

[cbigs]

What you have in your kitchen / utility room that you wouldn't be without so I can steal ideas??

I presume you'll automatically have some standard things like a sink, an oven, cupboards so.....

Cupboards that make full use of the corners, but slide the shelves out easily so everything is accessible

Big pan drawers - much prefer them to the cupboards I had previously

A kind of hose on the end of the tap, that you pull out and can rinse around the sink - it's great
A1.5 size sink, so can have a bowl in there and still use the sink around it, but (which, IMO makes it better than having a normal sink and then a little one next to it) it's big enough to wash bigger things - like the grill pan

More than 4 rings on the hob - I've got 5, but, if I were doing another kitchen, I'd go for 6

Different fuel for hob and oven so get best of both worlds (elec oven/ gas hob)

A really wide cutlery and utensils drawer (over the pan drawer) with movable dividers in there so can organise as you wish.

That so helpful and exactly the sort of thing I meant thanks so much

Definitely drawers instead of cupboard where possible. Nice deep robust ones.

Big sink to wash oven trays (we have Miele appliances and ovens come with large trays - which are fab but...big and don't fit in dishwasher) - we also have little drainer sink next to it.

Something to break up cupboard run - shelves for cookbooks, nice cake tins, etc

In addition I love my: hot water tap and induction hob more than I anticipated. Also big fan of steam-combi oven (but you have to put the effort into learning to cook with it) and deep warming drawer but more nice so lower down the pecking order.

I have a very small utility - so had to lose the sink in favour of cupboard space. Ideally, I would like one and plenty of room to store the ironing piles and have the ironing board out there. I don't though and that isn't going to change! I do absolutely LOVE the Lakeland standard laundry totes - I have eight - and have a place to store them in the utility.

My utility has close shelving on one wall from about 1.5 metres up the wall to the ceiling, about a metre or so long which is perfect for the umpteen pairs of shoes we accumulate, having 3 young adults and me, all with an eye for nice shoes! Space for wellies and boots at floor level.

Depends if your utility is part of the house, or a shed/ outbuilding type of thing, but, if it's a room, then include it in the heating system and put a ceiling pully in there to dry stuff on. Indeed, if you can heat it even when the central heating isn't on, so much the better - be that lots of glass (conservatory style) or an efficient, low voltage heater you can plug in when you need to dry stuff but the heating isn't on.

I'd ALWAYS want a sink in a utility

If it is the 'back of the garage' type place, or has a door to the outside, then I'd agree, shelving big enough to take wellies and walking boots has been SO useful for us over the years.

Double the powerpoints you think you'll need.

Wastedisposal unit in sink. Had ond at old house and currently don't have one. New kitchen goes in next Monday and can't wait to have one again. Also love my steam oven.

Oooh this is so helpful thanks everyone I have a really unhealthy interest in utility rooms

Watching with interest

Shelves and power points.

My MIL does a lot of baking and has her kitchenAid in a low level cupboard on a lift up shelf something like this

Get a larder! I don't have one but would love it if I did! I'd spend hours rearranging shelves and organising everything into different themes. I want a larder!

Wow Breakfast I love that!
We are getting a new kitchen so I am watching this thread with interest
I am getting a range cooker for the versatility of the different cooking spaces, and I want the grill plate, as above I would like 6 or 7 burners rather than my current 4.
Fridge- we are looking for a freezer space that can handle more than a pack of meat or a pizza box, so pull out drawers, 2 freezer drawers means stuff you want more often is easier to access and larger stuff and stuff you need less often isn't exposed
There is a fridge that has a third drawer that can be fridge or freezer but I doubt I will ever need that much storage.

I want a pull out drawer unit from the cupboard by the cooker for herbs and spices and cooking condiments to be easily accessed.

A sink with a water filter- I had considered an instant hot tap, but a friend who is a junior doctor warned me off that idea sharpish!

Proper storage for cook books if you use them

One thing I am doing is freeing up a wall space for artwork and pictures, there will be bridge cupboards above, to keep DH and the kitchen planner happy but the well lit wall will be a focal point and it means my shiny new fridge wont be covered in crap letters and pictures

A really good bin system, mine isn't going to be cheap but will sort the recycling general waste and food waste at the point of disposal

Make sure you know where your plates and glasses will go before you finalize your plans, and also make sure you have enough space for pots and pans and cooking utensils.

Have a look at all the new dishwasher designs, there are loads of great systems out there now.

I agree with the larder suggestion.