Kitchen Advice Please

[Casmie]

Well, mortgage has been approved and builder has been booked for the extension. We now have to go shopping this weekend for a kitchen while hopefully the January sales are still running! Problem is, I'm not really sure what to look for so was hoping for some advice from any new kitchen veterans.

Budget is limited but then so is space (won't be huge, but will be much more useable than it is now).

Thoughts for what I want out of the kitchen is: decent big fridge/freezer, sink with a waste disposal unit (either a 1.5 sink or double depending on how it plans out), light colours to make the room look bigger, wine rack, some sort of lockable cupboard for under the sink stuff, telescopic towel holder somewhere, easy clean surfaces, LOTS of cupboard space, space for a decent sized kitchen bin.

What other considerations should I be thinking of. No idea of types of flooring (in the budget range - easy to clean priority!). Don't know anything about worksurfaces and what the differences are. Generally want a clean, modern look without too many things on show (like to hide all the manky kitchen equipment that isn't going to get replaced for years!!!)

Primarily going to look in MFI, B&Q and Wicks... we won't be using fitters, the builder will install. Just generally fishing for advice on what sort of things I need to check/ask/be aware of so I don't just accept whatever some kitchen designer tells me I need!

Silly question - I'm happy with my current washing machine and dishwasher - can I still get the facia-cover things to make them integral (hidden) or would I have to buy new appliances to do that?

We have had ours recently, had it made bespoke by unpainted kitchens who were excellent and very cheap. The frames are pine and the doors mdf, you can get nice wood look melamine innards etc. Really great to be able to design your cupboards to exactly the size you want.

FWIW I have had 2 waste disposal units in the past (inherited) both of which broke pretty quickly, I wouldn't bother again. Also, the kitchen is not the place to keep wine, temperatures fluctuating all the time etc.

Do they have matching panel thingies now? Or are they built-in? Or free-standing?

Message withdrawn

I've just had MFI's kitchen put in called SPACE.

I love it!, white gloss doors easy to clean and look really clean and as you say makes the room feel bright and bigger.

Walnut block effect worksurfaces - easy to clean and look after and look good, especially when i get the walnut floor to match!!

I praise the kitchen enormously, but i do not praise MFI. They made it extremely stressful as bits were delivered at a time (due to MFI saying they were out of stock). Customer services not very helpful and long waiting times on the phone. Still awaiting a reply from my letter of complaint posted 2 weeks ago. Can't comment on MFI fitters as we had independent fitter - often wonder if it would have been easier to use their fitters as they would presumably chase up the missing parts.

After using them i was also told about Howdens which do cheap older stock of MFI.

Casmie - no unfortunately you have to buy special appliances which are smaller than average to allow for the door fronts.

Several people i know who have door fronts fitted, find they have broken with time and a pain to fix.

So i decided to keep my white appliances, which match the white doors anyway, so don't stand out too much!

Would really reccomend the ikea kitchen.We spent a fortune on Bosch cooker and induction hob, maytag american fridge freezer and corian worktop and have had problems with all of them but the ikea kitchen, Tiadaholm, has been fantastic and is really cheap!

Hmm... yeah they're both free standing now. Don't really want smaller ones to allow for doors either as they get really overloaded as it is!

Hmm... might just leave them to be replaced at some point with metal-look appliances as and when we can afford them...

The really important thing for me is that I get a brand new BIG FROST FREE (yipee!) fridge freezer and a double oven. They are my dream items (how sad is that?!)

Good point about the wine - hadn't thought that through properly.

Gaps above cabinets are one of my big no-no's...I would recommend putting your bin in a pullout drawer under your sink. I have had mine there in my last 2 kitchens and it's superb. Put the cleaning things in a higher cabinet that can't be reached by the children and then you don't have to lock it.
One of our builders at work (we're architects) recommended howdens too. Put your pots in pot drawers. Go for one of the american fridge/freezers. Stainless steel double sinks are the way to go. If you can fit it, make sure that at least one of the 2 sinks is large enough to fit your large pans and oven shelves for cleaning. Fully integrated dishwasher means NO buttons for little fingers to press and turn on accidently.

I know a few people who have had problems with integral appliances, doors not working properly, not living up to the stres and strain of family use. M

All I want is a double oven & a 5 ring hob! Sod the winerack...wine doesn't sit around long enough in this house to make it to a rack .

Currently dh & I are actually agreeing we both like MFI's Valencia style which is a good start...

Will you get the whole room floored before you put the kitchen in? Only we are stuck with freestanding d/w, fridge and freezer on crappy old floor, with wires and pipes going through holes in cupboards, and the logistics of removing them before getting new flooring laid has so far stopped me doing it for over 5 years...

Integrated ones mean you don't have to worry about that - just remove plinths, put new floor down and put plinths back. Sorted.

Valencia has dirt ledges, Casmie...

Shush JanH :P

Dh and I are agreeing, don't spoil the moment

Can you sway him with yur womanly charms towards the Rimini?

Well it does look very smart!

Oh, don't get drawer-line units - not that you were anyway I don't suppose, but I found out too late that with a drawer above and fixed shelves, the only way I can fit cereal in is on its side (except Weetabix).

Have you got a N/E wall? If so you can have a cool larder cupboard for drinks and veg.

No dirt ledges on this IKEA one

nexus oak

Casmie, valencia was my original option, (changed mind at last minute). I think it is one of their most expensive is it not?

And shop around, cos it is a very popular look at mo, you may find similar else where for better quality and price. As when i really studied it (just before supposed to pay for it i decided it didn't "look" that good quality wise).

So sheepishly returned to planner and asked him to start over again with the space kitchen!!

And i agree it has dirt ledges! lol

Do love the black work surfaces and wall splashbacks though, it was what attracted to it.

B&Q have 70% of doors on this one, although doors not flat

maple

Well I have had lots of fun this afternoon at MFI Getting a quote for a Rimini style kitchen which we were quite impressed with in the showroom (and is well within the budget range!) Going back on Monday to see the design they've come up with and the quote ( gulp ).

Will go to Homebase and Wickes tomorrow I think, but I'm quite quite sold on this MFI one... price is the key though, isn't it? sigh

Looks very smart, i see you've avoided dust collectors

Oh - meant to say - what's the final verdict on waste disposal units?

Used to have an ancient one in our old house that was fab, but if they're generally prone to breaking down all the time then perhaps they're not ideal. Would be nice to reduce the rubbish we put out each week (and no, no point in composting - no flower beds!)

Yes - took that very valuable advice into account Also going for free-standing appliances (with the exception of the oven).

They don't do flooring/tiling so I'll have to get that elsewhere. Going for a darker worktop than in that picture - a grey colour - not really light, but not really dark either - just enough to give contrast without making the room feel too dark.

Got a lockable cage for the under-sink cupboard to store bleach in (don't have enough high cupboards to spare one for cleaning stuff) which I'm quite pleased with - plus most of the features we felt were important. Couldn't find a fridge-freezer that was quite right so will shop for that elsewhere.

I would say don't do waste disposal. We have had them in our last 2 houses and they are an utter pain when they break down. Bloke we called out seemed to imply that he spends a large amount of time fixing them (i.e. making money!!). They also stink when they get blocked. I would never have another one again.