Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

Would anyone be willing to cast their eye over my kitchen plans?

32 replies

Daisybell1 · 28/06/2013 09:38

I have had kitchen plans drawn up (which I love) but would someone be willing to 'sanity check' them for me?

OP posts:
Quangle · 28/06/2013 09:46

sure thing. Looked at your profile and saw some beautiful crochet but no kitchen...

chickensaladagain · 28/06/2013 09:49

I know a thing or two about kitchens, what do you need?

Original poster
Daisybell1 · 28/06/2013 10:00

Thank you, photos are up now Smile

As a bit of background, its an old farmhouse (working farm). The plan is to move the kitchen from its current small spot, over to the other side of the house, knocking through two rooms to create a kitchen/family room.

Most of the budget will go on the structural works (RSJs, insulation, woodburner) etc etc so I am limited. Although I can manage solid wood units, I can't stretch to granite etc worktops (and I have a farmer at home all day leaving teabags all over the surfaces so I can't risk wood either). I'm reusing my existing dishwasher, and moving the kitchen tap too (I am that tight in the budget)

This is the laminate that I like - in reality its a much warmer colour and I like a bit of sparkle.

A great designer has drawn up the plans and I love them. But is there anything I've missed?

OP posts:
Quangle · 28/06/2013 10:08

Looks lovely Envy Grin

Only two comments - I have a thing (it may be just me) about coming into a room and having something bulky right there as I open the door. I always like to have a bit of breathing space beside the door iykwim. But that would mean losing what looks like a larder cupboard and I don't have one of those and wish I did so maybe that's not possible.

Also can't see where the dishwasher goes but from experience, don't put it in a corner! If it's in the corner, when it's open it blocks all the cupboards you want to get to to put stuff away in.

Original poster
Daisybell1 · 28/06/2013 10:16

Thank you, good thinking.

I know what you mean about the bulky thing there but we're a bit restricted - on the far side of that door is the remains of the wall supporting the RSJ.

But I've just checked the door and it has hinges down the left side so would mask the bulky units (does that make sense?)

Dishwasher is in the middle - mine is currently in the corner and I share your pain!

OP posts:
ILikeBirds · 28/06/2013 12:40

The 3 plans uploaded don't match each other. The wall with the hob is different.

I don't know why people put in a lovely kitchen but keep a huge ugly fridge on display but understand that's personal taste.

I personally wouldn't like to have my hob and oven so far apart and i can't tell from the drawing if there is worktop space alongside oven to easily place a hot dish on.

FishfingersAreOK · 28/06/2013 12:41

Looks lovely, Just a couple of practicalities - where are you planning on putting:

  1. You bin(s)
  2. Hang your hand/tea towels

Also seriously think about having a tea/coffee area - we have the coffee machine on the work top next to the fridge (door opening the right way), opposite the sink and with the mugs/cups and tea coffee in the cupboard above. Love it. Making a drink if efficiency itself. Sounds silly but in our old kitchen everything was a bit spread out and it was a faff

FishfingersAreOK · 28/06/2013 12:43

Arghhh just spotted a potential flaw in the plan - your oven is right next to your fridge. Will mean your fridge is working over, over, over time to keep things cool. Really need to be apart!

Original poster
Daisybell1 · 28/06/2013 12:44

Thanks ILikeBirds

Yes, the wall units with the hob is different - I'm thinking I prefer the taller glass fronted units on the other picture.

I understand what you're saying about the fridge freezer but we are at the top our budget and it was new last year so I can't justify changing it or paying for the bespoke work to box it in.

My only requirement re the oven was for it to be eye-level, hence where its ended up. There is worktop space next to it though Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
Daisybell1 · 28/06/2013 12:47

Fishfingers - crossed post.

Point taken about the fridge/oven thing - I'll see what kitchen designer is building in between the two.

That's a good idea about a tea station - the farm runs on the stuff.

Good point about bins and teatowels - time for a think!

OP posts:
BoundandRebound · 28/06/2013 12:48

Where are you putting washer dryer clothes that go in and out and bin

Is sink big enough

BoundandRebound · 28/06/2013 12:51

Do you have enough work surface next to oven to immediately put something hot down or something bulky before popping in oven

Fridge should not be be next to oven IMO can you swap it with the drawers on other side

You need space for a bin. Could put it in a cupboard as pull out

Aetae · 28/06/2013 12:58

Does the cooktop hood vent outside? Just a personal bugbear - I find open plan kitchens smell less if they have a proper ventilation system, eg to outside like this.

It also looks a bit awkward to have that one cupboard recessed on the fridge wall, is there a reason it's like that? It looks like it might be hard to get to as well? Corners are difficult though!

Did you think about an island at all? Could help solve the tea making station question?

charlieandlola · 28/06/2013 13:02

I think you need to have a built under oven, under the hob.
You will go through a fair few fridges if you have a fridge freezer next to an oven ( unless you don't cook)
It will also over time, drive you mad having oven and hob on opposite sides of the kitchen.

Totally agree with a "tea triangle " of cups, cupboards, milk, tea spoons and compost pot/insinkerator.

I personally hate built in bins as they are generally too small to be useful, and have a huge brabantia with a lid you can take off, which I move around my kitchen to catch the mess as I go.
But you do need somewhere for your tea towels as I loathe tea towels hanging off oven doors etc.
I realise I am in the minority however.

ILikeBirds · 28/06/2013 13:57

i would explore what a 3/4 high unit to house an eyelevel oven at the end of the run to the right of the hob would look like.

Glass units in the left hand corner look like they would be awkward to access.

FishfingersAreOK · 28/06/2013 14:12

Single high cupboard with oven in it in the gap opposite the door. Equal larder doors to pull out either side of the fridge. Evens up the look of the fridge - moves the oven from next to the fridge?

Original poster
Daisybell1 · 28/06/2013 15:37

Thanks all

Until the most recent design, there were no wall cupboards on the same wall as the hob as I really wanted the feeling of space. So its been a big leap to even have the cupboards. Going non-symmetrical will be another leap Grin

although wouldn't this be glorious

The cooker vents outside, no problems there.

The recessed cupboard is interesting - there would be a decent amount of worktop there, however I have also been wondering about something like this bottom right picture...

OP posts:
Original poster
Daisybell1 · 28/06/2013 15:41

More answers:

Bound - the washing machine is staying in the current kitchen which will be split into a downstairs loo and office.

Sink is a 1.5 bowl which is plenty for me.

We're not quite big enough for an island (and I thought the MN view was that they become a general dumping ground...)

Charlie - I'm afraid I really struggle with the low level oven I've got. I hate it Sad

OP posts:
ILikeBirds · 28/06/2013 18:50

This thread seems to have gone missing from the list of threads in property but I can find it on the threads I'm on list?

Original poster
Daisybell1 · 28/06/2013 18:55

ooh weird!

it's in the property section when I look on my phone. I don't think I've accidentally deleted it Shock

OP posts:
Talkinpeace · 28/06/2013 19:19

OK, I'll be boring here as the owner of a ground up kitchen
American fridges (and I'm American) are great for letting jars go rancid at the back.
Why the big hood : get an integrated and have a useful tray cupboard above your hob
move the fridge to by the door, get rid of the integrated stuff and have a free standing

and last but utterly first
get an island .... we did 2 ikea wall cabinets back to back with 30cm drawers throughout and it was the best thing we ever did
pictures on the Talkinpeace2 name

Sleepwhenidie · 28/06/2013 19:29

Are you planning on putting a table or anything in the middle? If so it will impede access between fridge and hob/your main worktop....

I would be inclined to movethe ovens in a unit to the right of the hob, next to the pillar...free up some worktop to the right of the fridge...

If it was me to be honest I would go for an island too...use the existing hob wall to have ovens in wall units left of where the hob is now and fridge freezer to the right, hob on island (but I love my island and its definitely not a dumping ground). Everything functional close together...

What are the room dimensions?

moondog · 28/06/2013 19:34

I don't like islands. The idea of a big permanent lump in the middle of the room freaks me out. They will also date fast.
Laminate a good move-much more durable than other stuff and cheaper and you get some great ones now. I don't like those big fridges and agree with stuff to near do. Just had my kitchen done over. In the old one there was a unit by the door and God, it is so much better without it.

Original poster
Daisybell1 · 28/06/2013 20:09

Thanks for the recent comments Smile

I haven't thought more about an integrated hood as until a couple of days ago I was stamping my foot refusing to have wall cupboards on that wall. As I said earlier about the thought of putting the oven up there, I'm going to have to do this in baby steps.

The room is currently 4m x 4m. There will be a 2.3m wide opening in the wall opposite the window linking to the family room. I'm planning on having a table, but probably just into the family room.

I am worried about an island - the budget is extremely tight and I'm simply not sure I can afford the units. Plus we are a very 'dumping' family - neither of us are tidy and I know it will get covered in papers, tea cups and a pile of farming stuff you really don't want in your kitchen!

OP posts:
Tizwozliz · 28/06/2013 20:16

I'm not sure this helps but not having any wall units along one wall was one of the best decisions we made Smile

Swipe left for the next trending thread