Planning a new kitchen - some really basic advice from people who love their kitchens!

[Pollycazalet]

Am really at the beginning of the planning process.

Current kitchen is 10 years old, falling apart, from the dear departed MFI. Bought a cheap one because we thought that we'd have moved by now. Hollow laughter. We can't afford to move. So we're now looking at an extension and a new kitchen. I\d like to earn from our many mistakes last time.

I don't know where to start with units. Our current ones are terrible quality, all sorts of issues and have rotted at the back. Where can I find good quality mid-price units?

We made a massive mistake and got a wood worktop when we're essentially lazy people. What's durable and stylish but not hard to keep looking nice?

We've also got an extractor fan that's a filth magnet and constantly blowing bulbs. I'm not sure it does any more than blow muck around the kitchen. Are these essential?

Flooring advice. We have tiles - many are cracked from dropping things. We're not only lazy we are also cack handed.

Any advice would be fantastic. I feel a bit overwhelmed.

You need this thread: MN Lessons Learned Kitchen Thread

Great thread !! Takes flipping ages to read ! Top tip - copy and paste any bits you want to remember into a note or word doc as you read it !!! :-)

For the worktop, we got good quality laminate and I am delighted with it. No maintenance, can put pans down on it, easy to keep clean.

If you have the time to plan it all and do multiple trips, do IKEA (we did and are delighted with our kitchen).

That thread is great.

We also spent time planning what would go in each and every cupboard before we settled on our design.