How much worktop do you have?

[BauerTime]

I'm having a struggle between full height units so I can have my oven mid height instead of under the hob, or another cupboards width of worktop.

If I have the oven mid-height, then I will have about 3 and a half cupboard width of worktop, plus the bit in the corner (so worktop but not able to stand against IYSWIM), and there will not be a bit of worktop that is longer than one cupboard width with the exception of the corner bit which will join 2 of the bits together if that makes sense.

We get along ok with this set up at the moment but it's v cluttered. My new kitchen will have less stuff on the worktop as it will have more cupboard space but I'm wondering whether I should just have the oven under the counter and have a bit more worktop?

I'm on the app - so can't see if you've added a sketch too - but if you are questioning it - then I think it might be tight - might you be able to have one of your under cupboards on wheels with a extra worktop on - so if you need more worktop you simply slide the mobile unit out ? Alternatively add a pull out worktop in a drawer ? Or a fold down table top that flips up when you need it ?! Difficult to help much more without more of a vision of the space etc - but hope this helps a bit ?!

I haven't added a sketch as I'm a technophobe and wouldn't lknow where to start!

Hmm bit on wheels you say? That sounds interesting. You see I could fit a bit more worktop if I turn the L shape into a U, but I want to avoid that if I can as it would cut the kitchen diner in half and then getting the table in would be a squeeze. But if it was on wheels, then it could go somewhere else and be pulled across if we need it. I'm just not sure where else it would go when we weren't using it.

I'd look first at what you are likely to have out on your surfaces, most of the time anyway......
In my kitchen that's :
toaster, breadbin, microwave, kettle, coffee maker, compost container, radio, fruit bowl, and either a pile of washing up, or a space where there is normally a pile of washing up.

Now, if you put them on the space available, and then think of things that come out sometimes - slow cooker? food processor? scales ? bread maker ? etc. - how much surface does that leave you to work.

I sacrificed some worktop for larder cupboards but the only item I have out is the kettle.

Think about when you're dishing up food, 4 dinner plates is 1.2 metres. Add this to space you need for appliances etc.

Well we manage now, this is the thing. I'm not planning on having anything on the worktops bar the kettle and tea/sugar canisters. The microwave would be built in but if we have the oven under the counter it will have to sit on the worktop so would take up the extra space. I could put it in the utility room instead but then I lose worktop in there.

I think I just have visions of my perfect kitchen but the reality is it won't fit into the space. the reality is that it we have extra worktop it will probably end up filled with crap and so if I sacrifice my mid height oven and end up with a dumping ground I'll be annoyed with myself.

At the moment my kitchen has no drawers so all cooking utensils are in pots on the worktop as is a knife block, plus the toaster (which will be relegated to a cupboard in new kitchen), plus other stuff I have no cupboard space for currently such as bottles of squash and cereal boxes, us the microwave. If I get rid of all this clutter then what do you need work surfaces for? Cooking and making a cuppa right? Is that enough room?