Designing a new kitchen: top tips

[MeeWhoo]

I am really excited to be able to "design" a new kitchen for our flat, but I don't know where to start. I know what kind of surfaces and materials I like, but I am not sure about the shape, and, most importantly, about what I need to do to make sure it is functional and that it will help me be more organised. So, wise people of MN:

What is your list of must-haves in a kitchen?
Anything you regret, would change about your recently fitted kitchen?
And finally, kitchen islands, good or bad idea?

TIA

All the big kitchen suppliers from B&Q up to Smallbone of Devizes have kitchen design services, so this is probably the best way to go. Measure your space, think about what YOU want (this is very personal and depends a lot on how much and what kind of cooking you do, whether you need to have your washer/dryer in there, whether you want a dishwasher, what kind of oven, etc), then spend some quality time in kitchen show rooms and decide what you like in terms of look/cost and then consult with a designer to put together a kitchen.

The luxuries that were "worth it"

1. Big kitchen island
2. Deep drawers for plates and pots and pans
3. Insinkerator (you'll never wonder what to do with half eaten bowls of sloppy cereal again! And surprisingly affordable)
4. Proper mixer tap that is controlled by one handle (you can get the tap on, and get the right temperature all with your elbow! Nice for when handling raw meat.)
5. Pyrolitic oven (never needs cleaning again! Not common in UK, bought at JL)
6. Pull out larder (seems to be a tardis)
7. Oversized kitchen sink rather than side by side sink (so easy to wash big roasting pans)

The stuff we didn't really need:

1. Under the counter lighting (never turn it on)
2. Soft close doors (who cares?)
3. The second sink in the kitchen island (the very definition of redundant, there is a third sink in the laundry room for heaven's sake!)
4. Second oven (we use it 5 times a year. Great for Xmas, but that is once a year)

The stuff we didn't buy and don't miss

1. warming drawer
2. steam oven
3. wine rack (we just don't know that much about wine and therefore don't need to lay down much of a collection)

Must haves - (buy the best of each item that you can afford - as will work better and last longer that way ) dishwasher, oven or ovens, hob, hood, sink, tap, good size fridge and freezer.

Good to haves : pantry cupboard for most of your food shopping, waste disposal like ISE, fridge with ice maker, marble or granite area of worktop for pasty making, and extra dishwasher, somewhere for someone to sit and chat to you while you are cooking ( island is good for this )

If you have room for one : an island with seating if possible - but ideally you'd need about 1m clearance all the way around it. If its freestanding and moveable you can get away with smaller gap - but it's not ideal.

My personal favourites : self cleaning ovens pyro is most efficient, induction hob - as all the pros of gas but easy to clean, cooker hood that ducts out rather than recirculates - as it does get rid of the cooking aromas that way !
Different height worktops for different areas - as I'm tall and so is my DH we have all our worktops taller than standard - and we also have a taller area for chopping and a lower area for pastry rolling.

Mistakes - well best place to make them is at the design stage - as they can be easily corrected here !! so spend lots and lots of time really thinking about what you want where - get opinions from people who know what they are doing.. People with years of experience in design rather than sales driven people will be better placed to help you .

Never compromise on safety !!!

( small note to the person who keeps reporting my posts as breaking the rules - read this properly before you hit report - there's nothing whatsoever 'advert like' in this !!)

Thanks for asking this MeeWho as am designing myself at the mo and loking for tips. Its such a minefield - all I am sure of is that it will be a painted kitchen and everything else is up for grabs.

Think about your lighting. We've just done our kitchen and our electrician encouraged us to add in 4 different zones. I thought he was building up the job a bit but I love it - makes a huge difference to have spots in some areas, task lighting elsewhere and nice dimable dining lighting. Feels very professional.

electric plinth heaters are good to add a blast of warm air while you make that first, early morning cuppa !!! ( speaking from experience on this slightly chilly morning !!) :-)

Plinth heaters... How do they work? Part of central heating

myson do a range that plumb into your heating - or you can get simple plug in electric ones too !