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Original poster

Kitchen Ideas - help please

63 replies

CarGirl · 06/02/2011 16:31

I'm looking for unusual / different / not often seen ideas to overcome our kitchen issues!

We don't have a huge budget so clever solutions would be great or links to websites with lots of pictures etc etc

We have a smallish kitchen with 2 doorways which effectively makes is even smaller.

We will need to have space for:
Double oven
hob (going to go for only 2 burners to save on worktop space)
frige
freezer
dishwasher
radiator/heating (have heard about under cupboard radiators/heather which sound a great solution)

We are currently suffering with complete lack of worktop and cupboard space.

Can't have anything "open" as the dust/pollution levels are really high unfortunately so shelving needs to have doors on it etc

The huge gas meter and water stopcock are in the only internal corner to make things worse and I've looked at moving them and it isn't really an option Sad

We can have a run 5 units long with one and a bit at right angles to create L shape

Then we can have some stuff on the other wall but only 2 units wide Sad

Any takers?

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Original poster
CarGirl · 06/02/2011 20:30

I think that we don't need loads of cupboard space as I can put some china in a skinny tall cupboard in the dining area - perhaps Ikea Billy or something in the corner. I can put washing powder etc with the washing machine too.

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SaggyHairyArse · 06/02/2011 20:31

Thinking outside the box, is it possible to block a door up?

For example, my kitchen is galley style off the hall way and I don't have access to it from the lounge but I plan to block the current doorway up ad knock an opening from the lounge/diner when I do it up. That way I get kitchen/diner and more wall/floor space for cupboards and counter top.

I will then access the kitchen via the lounge which has a door which will prevent cooking smells from travelling.

PrettyCandles · 06/02/2011 20:35

Re stove with a glass lid.

We have a Rangemaster four-burner one. You can put the glass lid down as soon as you switch the burners off, without waiting for the stove to cool. It has a safety cut-out which turns off the gas when the lid is down, so if you accidentally put it down while the burners are still on they go out. I often use it as an extra worktop.

I wouldn't reduce options by having only two burners.

Re gas meter etc, can't they be boxed-in or boxed-over to provide more worktop?

Definitely have storage all the way to the ceiling, especially if you are worried about dirt. As well as cupboard, you could have short wide wall units.

Original poster
CarGirl · 06/02/2011 20:37

Nope - back door (next to window) is actually our main entrance and then the other door is straight into the dining area, dining area is under the stairs and there is no hallway.

Outside the box thinking is good though.

If we got rid out the back door we would have to use the patio doors in the dining room which again is small and is used as the main entrance to the house.

We cycle most places so they are in the back garden and the car parking is out the back as well. Only strangers come the front. We're terraced.

Neighbour got rid of back door and has told be she bitterly regrets it!

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Original poster
CarGirl · 06/02/2011 20:39

The gas meter is in the corner so it's fine you can have counter over it but it means you can't have a "corner cupboard" which would be the most obvious way of having more worktop overall.

Cost of moving gas meter was huge as we would have to dig up the concrete floors to lay pipe back to the kitchen!

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SaggyHairyArse · 06/02/2011 20:51

Well you can't get rid of the door really as that would cost a lot for what you would gain if there weren't the issues re access. I was thinking it was an internal door and could be plasterboarded and skimmed, rebricking an external wall would be costly and it would never look right.

I've loaded your floor plan and am a bit confused...Can you have cupboards on walls D, C, A and B until the back door leaving you with an empty corner between the two doors?

PrettyCandles · 06/02/2011 20:52

How about worktop extending over the gas meter, with trolley unit beneath worktop? How often do you need to get at the gasmeter? 3-4 times a year? As long as you can move any obstruction out of the way without too much upheaval, you might as well take advantage of the space.

Original poster
CarGirl · 06/02/2011 21:04

The combi boiler is in the corner between the 2 doors so I reckon I could build a cupboard with ventilation in front of it so would have cupboard space underneath.

Issue is I would like to keep my waist height oven which is on the the back wall next to the gas meter - this mean at the moment we have worktop over the gas meter and just a huge gap of nothing ness that isn't utilised.

I want to make my work triangle smaller - at the moment instead of the double doors we have a rubish folder door in the corner next to that brick wall bit that needs replacing and want to replace with double doors more centrally so it's more of a kitchen diner.

I digress - at the moment you have half the work top where the double doors are and you spend the entirely cooking time walking from the gas meter side to the other side as people walk in and out of the kitchen as it's the main thru fare of the house!

We have an open bookcase and it's permanently grim with dirt so open anything definately a no no.

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SaggyHairyArse · 06/02/2011 21:20

What about:

Moving the utilities from where they are to ceiling height, box them in and have that corner with a counter top and either storage underneath or fridgefreezer. Reducing the cost of having the completely resituated but freeing up that corner.

In your 'l corner' leave sink where it is with dishwasher close by and have a cooker with a glasstop like the OP suggested as that is a good idea (my Dad does that too). Also, definitely get a mobile counter unit, Ikea have cheap ones and Habitat have some good ones too.

Original poster
CarGirl · 06/02/2011 21:27

That is I think the only other option.

Only thing that may still be an issue is that is also where the water stop cock is so not sure if you could still but a fancy corner cupboard pull out thingy in it?

One to ask the planners I guess!

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SaggyHairyArse · 06/02/2011 21:32

Do you mean a metal spinning cupboard insert thingy?

I had one of those in my last house and so long as the stop cock is in the back corner or either side of the cupboard and the spinner thing can rotate it should be fine. In mine there was space to stack big cartons of juice/bottles of water either side.

Original poster
CarGirl · 06/02/2011 21:34

They do new fangled type ones that actually pull out! Yes though that type of thing.

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SaggyHairyArse · 06/02/2011 21:37

You must let me know what the outcome is, I love trying to find the solution rather than seeing a problem. My motto, where there's a will there's a way, LOL!

Have you decided what style kitchen you want?

Original poster
CarGirl · 06/02/2011 21:41

I want completely smooth units with no handles!!!

So probably gloss white.

It's huge project tbh all the electrics need to be put into the wall, internal door needs moving, floor tiles replacing, external window & door replacing - they are 45 years old.

Meanwhile entire kitchen is falling apart around us......

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Original poster
CarGirl · 06/02/2011 21:44

Is there a recommended gap between unit runs to open an oven door?

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Original poster
CarGirl · 06/02/2011 21:45

Other thing is I'm tiny so can't have a fridge freezer as can't reach the top shelves Blush

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SaggyHairyArse · 06/02/2011 21:45

I want smooth units too but want matt effect. My current kitchen must be 35 years old and is just grim (kitchen is white but house rented out and everything grubby even though scrubbed and bleached).

Good luck with getting yours sorted! I will live vicariously through you as just seperated from my husband so am relying on a lottery win, LOL :-)

Original poster
CarGirl · 06/02/2011 21:50

I've not seen matt effect.

I currently have 80's what matt kitchen doors with grey marble effect transferred on Hmm you need to clean it with jiff and elbow grease but then some but not all the grey comes off.

I've found some photos for you

s723.photobucket.com/albums/ww236/Miffy_bucket/stuff%20to%20show/?action=view&current=100_0398.jpg

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SaggyHairyArse · 06/02/2011 21:50

I don't know about the oven. I have eyelevel grill and the heat has warped the laminate covering on the cupboards.

SaggyHairyArse · 06/02/2011 21:52

My kitchen is really similar!

Original poster
CarGirl · 06/02/2011 21:53

Have you looked further on to see my new bathroom.

The old one made the kitchen look good!

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Original poster
CarGirl · 06/02/2011 21:55

When you use the main over it heats up the entire house!

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SaggyHairyArse · 06/02/2011 21:58

I think the Applad Ikea kitchen is matt white.

SaggyHairyArse · 06/02/2011 22:01

I like the black bathroom tiles, is it a panel?

Original poster
CarGirl · 06/02/2011 22:06

It's panels.

Love it - no grout to go manky and blades down in seconds.

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