kitchen design: what would you include/wish you had included when you had your kitchen fitted?

[time4tea]

Hello

I'm starting to research and plan a new design kitchen with space for a table for our family of 4 (plus guests fairly frequently) to sit and eat in.

Does anyone have handy design/planning/storage ideas? for example, a friend recommended having one wall painted with blackboard paint, for noting down shopping lists, drawing pictures, reminders, etc... also to have shelves with drawer mechanisms (pull out shelves, essentially) so that things don't get stuck in the back of drawers.

conversely, are there any real inconveniences with what you have that you would advise others to avoid when planning/fitting a kitchen and dining room?

thanks
T4T

make sure the dishwasher is right next to the sink and right next to pull out drawers where you store cutlery and crockery. i hate emptying dishwaher and it makes it a bit more bearable!!

256 very recent answers for you - you may not get many answers otherwise as lots have just added to this one. Lots of tips here.
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/1554664-The-MN-lessons-learnt-kitchen-thread

If you have space, two cutlery drawers for normal cutlery and one for the other utensils. Lots of deep drawers for pans and tupperware, etc. Induction hob is amazing and our waste disposal unit is pretty good too!

My kitchen has several glass fronted units which I would avoid in future as you can see the clutter inside, unless of course you have the time and inclination to keep your cupboards super organised.
I would never have a blackboard wall either as to me it would look scruffy having notes all over the wall. life is too short to be washing your kitchen walls down

Fishfingers, thanks for that thread - sensational - just what I'm looking for. thanks so much XXXXX

Lots of sockets. I had 26 put in when I did my kitchen - I've used them all regularly, though not all at the same time!