Redesigning kitchen: has anyone regretted losing worktop space ?

[Aethelfleda]

This is fantasy la-la kitchen designing for the future...

We have three DC, a ten foot square kitchen, and currently have lots of worktop space down both sides.
There is a small fridge/freezer, a standard built in oven, and a dishwasher. We have a small table for breakfast against the front wall and a back door at the back.

It would cost ££ to extend so I'm thinking about redesigning it down the line, we're here for ages (hopefully!). In order to keep all the appliences but allow a seperate fridge and freezer, I'm considering losing one bank of worktop entirely, and putting in a Floor to ceiling pantry next to the fridge/freezer. This would leave about 50cm of worktop for a tea/coffee station on one side, and two lengths about 80cm either side of the new cooker. I'm the only one who does cooking, but three areas with distinct space for drinks vs cooking feels like what we actually use (the rest is taken up with things that could be stored, like chopping boards, spices, etc... IF the storage were better organised)

Does this sound like waaay too little worktop to cope with? Has anyone swapped out to a kitchen with little worktop space and regretted it? Please share!

Er, thank you Wookie: it sounds from your post as if you are an American kitchen designer? Just so you are aware, for many people here in the UK ten foot square is, if not huge, a pretty reasonable kitchen size: the traditional three-bed-semi design usually has a galley kitchen little more than six foot wide (which is why so many people knock through into the adjacent dining room). Lots of lucky mumsnetters have big kitchens of course (or remortgage to extend them). I don't think that will be an option for us due to our garden size. I was trying to get as many ideas as possible to help me get to a best-fit solution : in all honesty this is likely to be a self-fitted Ikea type kitchen with money spent on premium appliances rather than architects/builders/fitters IYSWIM? If we don't spend 20 grand on extending, that will basically pay for the kitchen (in theory!).....

(and sorry if the above post sounded snippy: it wasn't meant to be, but you're right, the perception by many UK people is that "bespoke independent design" is a thing of expense. I'm sure you will argue it's money well spent (and can see how it would be). My OP was to try to get advice from people the other end of the design process who are actually living in their rejigged kitchens, I don't want to change mine and regret it!

hey - wasn't taken as snippy ! - I'm a UK designer, born and bred - and have had my fair share of UK kitchens - but I guess I'm spoilt now as my own kitchen is larger than 10x10 !! it wasn't my intention to offend - just offer a solution.
Personally, if I was considering such a change, I would want to explore all avenues too !!!
... FYI My charges are from £450 to £675 for a kitchen design - so only about the same sort of price as a good dishwasher ! Most people negotiate at least that, if not more, when they shop around with one set of plans - also allows you to truly compare like for like !

Thanks. Well, I've got lots to think about for now.

:-)

Re radiator and underfloor heating - how about a slim tall designer one for the kitchen to save some space there?

We have normal radiators throughout most of the house but a very tall (taller than me) very slim one in the kitchen that just slots down the side of a cupboard.

Also Bosch have a model or two (can't remember the numbers now, I found them the other night) where the standard 60cm fridge freezer is basically a tardis and holds as much as an American style ff. It was a white one, and I was gutted as I really want stainless steel but the capacity on this particular one was amazing.

I have had a new kitchen last year and ended up due to huge fridge and built in appliances with much less work surface that I had envisaged - I have now had my kitchen table ( scrubbed top pine) put on locking casters and use it as a surface for baking and batch cooking and just wheel it back in place for tea and homework - have also had extra draws added to the table and it's amazing how much stuff they take especially kids related home work /craft crap etc

I wouldn't have another kitchen without a full-height larder. Mine is shallow but 80cm-wide with pull-outs.

Think about shelves above the work top to extend the flat space. I had micro, toaster and kettle on shelves in my last house.

A pullout chopping board is a great idea.

Could you put a sketch or photo on your profile?

Ooh, shelves might work well... Thanks primal... i can't Post on profile at the mo as away from my computer on hols, but will try later! Interestingly the place we are staying has a huuuuge work surface that's covered in stuff, and we're using a teeny bit for all the food prep!