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Original poster

Anyone want to see my kitchen plans and advise?

24 replies

Lioninthesun · 29/06/2013 22:05

Hope you can see a bigger pic than I can on my profile?
Cupboards are going to be dove grey with carrara quartz worktops. I asked for the large laders as we have a huge amount of craft boxes and I currently have a walk in lader so didn't want to miss that - so one is for food and the other for paints/glitters/craft materials. Currently looking at engineered oak for the floor.
So, wise MN'ers, whaddya think?

OP posts:
Original poster
Lioninthesun · 29/06/2013 22:09

Should possibly also explain that the door leading into the kitchen isn't the only way in - where the table set is leads on to open plan L shaped dining room and sitting room and doorway to hallway etc.

OP posts:
bamboostalks · 29/06/2013 22:10

Too small to see.

Original poster
Lioninthesun · 29/06/2013 22:12

Bugger. Will try to re-upload...

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Original poster
Lioninthesun · 29/06/2013 22:19

OK - is that better?

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Original poster
Lioninthesun · 29/06/2013 22:53

I can't get it any bigger that 450 width to upload on here, can anyone help? Blush

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ILikeBirds · 30/06/2013 07:48

The unit to the left of the door as you face it looks odd, don't think it works in that position.

NotGoodNotBad · 30/06/2013 11:07

Table on the diagram shows four seats - is there room for a bigger table if you have people round?

Original poster
Lioninthesun · 30/06/2013 11:12

Yes, the dining room is separate and will be the next room along, so not sure if I will have table and chairs there at all, but might be nice for the craft area?
I was a bit worried about having such a large cupboard by a door too - but that will be the food lader, so it is in the best place? Or is it...?

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Original poster
Lioninthesun · 30/06/2013 11:15

Oh Ilike did you mean the fridge/freezer cupboard? Not sure which left Wink . Facing into the room as if coming through the door the left is fridge/freezer and then oven housing next along.

The craft cupboard is opposite table and chairs.

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ILikeBirds · 30/06/2013 11:51

Left of the door as you face the door, can't tell you anymore than that as it's impossible to read the words. Although squinting I think it might say '? with larder'

I don't think it matters what it is, just a single standalone unit will look strange. It says we ran out of room so we just plonked this cupboard here to me.

Original poster
Lioninthesun · 30/06/2013 13:15

Yes, I see what you mean. The whole wall next to it is free so perhaps I can move it down... It is the lader so could go a bit further away without issue.
Can't get MN to accept a bigger pic sadly.

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fossil971 · 30/06/2013 19:10

It might be just me but I can never see the point of creating that fake mantel effect over a hob with cupboards etc. Perhaps I just spread out when I cook but why obstruct and close in your main working area? (Apologies of course if it is a real chimney breast)

Also how about making the food larder wider but shallower with 2 doors? 450mm deep is a good size. And any reason not to have a range cooker with ovens under since there isn't a natural place on that side to put a high level oven and it looks a bit lost over there near the fridge? Then you could have the food larder in its place and free up on the door side.

The styling looks very nice in the sketches though!

Original poster
Lioninthesun · 30/06/2013 20:06

I do a fair amount of cooking and had asked for a double oven which is what the oven cupboard is for. I kept seeing bad reviews on all types of range cookers and thought an eye-height double oven would fit as much in and be less stress on my back (plus DD won't be tempted to touch it as out of her reach). My initial idea was for a range cooker though, I admit. We have a gas supply going to the hob area now, so it could be done. I just want some good recommendations to change my mind!
Lader would need to be that big though, as I said I have a walk in one at the mo and it is full of tins/jars/tins/packets and the usual pasta/rice etc. I always prepare for nuclear warfare and buy BOGOF etc :D
Re the mantel, I don't have one at the moment but think it helps with the country kitchen look. I also have tiles and couple of Moroccan plates that I thought might fit up there as decoration. It was going to be a real flue but I changed my mind when I talked myself out of a range cooker/aga. Now the flue would need to added to plans and too troublesome!

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Original poster
Lioninthesun · 30/06/2013 20:09

Oh an the cupboards have an extractor fan in them IIRC which is required by law. So it would either be that or a metal one.

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timidviper · 30/06/2013 20:25

I like the mantel effect myself but think it goes well with range cookers, less so with built in ovens and hobs. I have a stainless steel Rangemaster Professional and have been very happy with it.

I redid my kitchen a while back and have found deep drawers to be much more practical than cupboards. I also have a large dresser unit that was built to look as though the base had lots of small drawers like this but, in fact, it is just 3 large drawers, one normal depth, 2 deep

fossil971 · 30/06/2013 21:26

You could get the mantel effect with corbels/chunky brackets that support the shelf/extractor housing but don't come down to the worktop, or stick out much. as here

I had an 1100 Rangemaster which was excellent, they often have roll out shelves and a door mounted rack which helps for heavy things. If you do have back trouble, consider having pull out shelves inside your base units as you'd have the same difficulty. They all have stay cool doors these days I think so should be as child safe as a cooker can be.

I have found a wider but shallower larder to be less intrusive in the room, IIRC ours is 900 wide x 450 deep - more like your craft cupboard by the look of it. Although if you have it in the place of the oven stack I guess you will be looking at a 600x600 one with pulling out shelves?

Sorry, endlessly fascinating subject! Grin

Original poster
Lioninthesun · 30/06/2013 21:34

fossil how funny! I was looking at this one www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/household-appliances/cooking/cookers/range-cookers/rangemaster-classic-110-dual-fuel-range-cooker-cream-06559596-pdt.html but was told it takes ages to heat up? I have the nasty beginnings of arthritis in my lower back and can only see it getting worse, so figure planning ahead is wise.
Do still like these ovens though...hmmmm.
I also like the mantel idea which wasn't suggested unsurprisingly by kitchen company and imagine the carpenter doing the fitting will be used to adding a hob extractor. Will double check with builder tomorrow, thanks!
Still really struggling mentally to give up lader space, sorry!

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Original poster
Lioninthesun · 30/06/2013 21:39

timid yes I have a lot of deep pan drawer around the oven area - although if I go for a rangemaster...gah! Decisions! I bake a lot and currently have a built in dresser full of pyrex/pans/baking bits as well as a separate wall cupboard fit to bursting Blush

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Twooter · 30/06/2013 21:48

I agree with fossil, I would go for a range and have the food storage next to the fridge freezer, and get rid of the current food larder altogether. Maybe you could extend the bit between the table and the cooking bit if you need more storage, but I agree the larder looks odd at present.

Original poster
Lioninthesun · 30/06/2013 21:54

Just thought as well, won't the freezer have to work overtime if next to an oven?
Thank goodness I asked MN! :)

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fossil971 · 30/06/2013 22:24

I think your design has potentially a lot of storage if it's well fitted out. A few things you might try -

-have one of the corner units shelved rather than with a carousel, (2 levels of shallow shelves in it rather than one deep one)
-have door-back spice racks in your larder

  • I think with some shuffling you could still have decent drawer units either side of a range. The narrow door/drawer units and tray space don't have much storage.
  • have a cupboard accessible from the sitting side of the breakfast bar for rarely used things in that dead corner.
  • have a couple of diagonal corner units in the 2 corners between windows, will take a surprising amount of small things.here

It looks like you are having a lovely bespoke kitchen so make the designer work for the money - you shouldn't have to sacrifice practicality.

fossil971 · 30/06/2013 22:25

sorry diagonal wall units as here pic at bottom of page

Original poster
Lioninthesun · 30/06/2013 22:41

Thank you fossil your posts are really helpful.
The breakfast bar does have a cupboard for the bin on the kitchen side but it does look as though there is some wasted space in that corner. I only have the two pics posted so think I need to go back for more and amend a few bits. I have a shelf in a corner cupboard atm but it is a deep one and things do get lost at the back. Maybe a shallow shelved one would be better though.
It is via Kit Stone, so quite bespoke yes. Really want to get it right for the price so going over these details is great.
Not sure about the corner cupboards tbh and was planning on an open shelf (I know, dusty problems galore!) but I want something light so it doesn't look cluttered or block the windows.
Thank you so much for your help!

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fossil971 · 30/06/2013 23:02

you're welcome it's more interesting than the ironing! One last thing I'd say if you like baking definitely don't put an obstacle between that brilliant workspace in front of the window, and your cooker. Good luck Smile

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