Kitchens - what did you spend money on that you now wish you hadn't bothered with.

[AddToBasket]

I'm looking at new kitchens. I need to replace pretty much everything.

Just wondering what is worth the cash and what didn't live up to how expensive it was?

things i love

• granite worktops (look fantastic and really stand up to abuse!)
• american fridge freezer with water and ice dispenser (massive and i drink more water now)
• extra cupboards for small appliances (clear worktops are far easier to keep clean and tidy)
• Massive induction cooker (easy to clean and lots of space for big family meals)
• lights under wall units (worktops much better lit)

Not worth it

• Half sink (never use it)
• extractor fan with curved hood (looks fab but keep hitting my head on the low part of the curve)

I inherited my kitchen but,

Best:
Dishwasher (Can't believe someone said dishwasher was not to bother with)
Stainless steel work surface, indestructible, looks good, can put hot things on it, practical
Two ovens, one of them a combined oven/microwave (don't want to have a separate microwave as only use it for porridge, christmas pudding and heating up coffee
The Bosch appliances - two ovens, hob, dishwasher, washing machine, fridge have been problem free

Worst:
I don't use the spraying hose tap thing
Foil coated kitchen doors - the coating peels if any water goes on them - I'm looking at you IKEA
The flooring we have is pretty crap, I would say to spend on that and get something really good.

Yes to granite work tops, love them, look fab, little maintenance and great for rolling out pastry! Also I have narrow pull out drawers between and either side of ovens, so use them for stock, oils, sauces etc. I've got a split dishwasher with too and bottom that I can run separately or together. Love my American fridge freezer with ice and water. Also have big deep drawers not cupboards, so easy to store pans, dishes. Lots of sockets, including on ends of islands. I have an extractor that is built in and comes out of worktop when you need it.
Don't have boiling tap, but wish I have. Same as usb points - great idea.
No to plinth lighting, never use it

Saw someone mentioned small drawers being out of fashion and missing them.
I originally had two sets of drawers (600mm and 400mm units). Each one was 3 drawers. Within a month I was back at Ikea replacing the 3 drawers in the 400mm unit for 5 drawers - it was quite easy to do but it did cost more and I had to do it myself but it was quite easy. As long as you have big drawers for things like pans etc small drawers are useful for things like freezer bags, rarely used utensils etc. (I know I'm probably odd but I have tools in a kitchen drawer - hammer, pliers, screwdrivers to save trekking out to the shed for a screwdriver to change a battery etc)

I did think about getting the wire drawers in cupboards/big drawers but I think that would be annoying as you would have to open the door and pull the drawer out -two actions instead of one.
I haven't got but am planning on getting in my new kitchen the drawers under the sink units - think that would be really useful -better than rummaging around in the back of a cupboard.
My big tip is planning - think about what you do in your kitchen and plan around it.
Think about making a cup of tea...what you need - cup, tea, sugar, hot water, milk -where they will be on how easy it will be to get them
In my current kitchen I have the dishwasher next to the sink -handy for tipping liquids etc in when filling, rinsing really mucky plates etc. On the other side is my pan storage, baking tray and cutlery drawers. In the wall cupboard above is all my crockery -plates, cups etc. Means it is really simple to empty the dishwasher straight into the cupboards (my parents have to carry everything across the kitchen...)

Same with a cupboard for spices/salt/pepper/oil ours is right next to the hob -so if you are at the hob you can just reach into the cupboard for them.
We don't have a massive kitchen but I think planning is even more important if you do - you don't want to have to walk for 2m to fridge (and back again to put away) to put milk in your tea or to get some eggs for an omelette and then 2m the other way to get a pan...
And lots of sockets ... so you can move things on counter tops.

We redid out kitchen last year.

I love:

• boiling water tap
• warming drawer
• granite worktops
• deep drawers for pans (with little drawers hidden inside of the top drawer for cutlery etc.)
• breakfast bar/peninsular - we knocked kitchen and dining room together and having a peninsular means DD sits at it and chats/reads/watches while I'm in the kitchen without getting under my feet like she used to

Not so sure about:

• combi oven. Hoped to use it as a second oven, but it's not that good as an oven so only really gets used as a microwave. It was very expensive as a microwave.

Wished we'd had space for:

• a big fridge freezer with ice dispenser

Oh and under cabinet lighting. Can't remember when I've ever turned it on

Gosh I use mine all the time. Maybe my kitchen is quite dark!

I've got Neff appliances and they are lovely. Don't get a fridge with a water dispenser unless you are really going to use it as you lose room in the fridge.

My kitchen needs replacing (it's been in place since 1992) but changing the sink, tap and appliances gave it a whole new look for £2k as opposed to £10K plus.

Power points think how many you need and double it

^^under cabinet lighting. My wall units run next to a big window, so if it's too dark to see the counter, then it's because it's dark out so I'd put the kitchen lights on.

Gutted this is in chat. Just buying a house with imperfect kitchen and plans to tackle it in 3 or 4 years time when we can hopefully afford it.

OP Any chance of persuading HQ to move it to another topic so i can come back to it then? selfish

I'm totally sold on the boiling water taps. You guys should get commission.

tits if you open the thread at the beginning and select all the page (Ctrl A), right click and copy (or ctrl C) you can paste it into a word doc - you get loads of the side bar stuff ( blogs info etc ) on the first couple of pages but then you get the whole thread underneath ....

I don't like my Magnet kitchen, mainly because the backs of the base units aren't full height. I dont like the way the units and trims were fitted, but, I cannot fault the quality.
I don't like my Neff hob, oven, combination microwave.
I love the under hob pan drawers.
Yes to think of how many sockets you need...and then double. Yes to having some of them with usb sockets. But (and I don't know the answer to this) think very carefully about where you plug in appliances...and how to get to the plug in an emergency. Or how to remove appliance for service.
Yes, yes, yes to condenser drier.
Yes to five/six ring hob. I was persuaded not to have one due to gas/hood regs, and have regretted it every day since.
Yes to 1 1/2 bowl sink.
Plenty of room for basic herbs,spices and oils next to hob, also space for heat mat here, and next to oven.
Fridge near kettle for milk in drinks, fridge near toaster for cold butter on hot toast.
No to integrated coffee machines....they still need frequent top ups up with water and coffee (and the dregs emptying out!).
Yes to doing something different with kick boards....heaters behind? Oven tray storage? Or covered in reflective material so it looks as if the units are 'floating'.
And not everybody's choice, but think about a TV aerial point. And/or radio/wifi speakers.

I am place marking having just agreed with DH that if I get my new job (which means a significant pay rise!!) that I can have a new kitchen next year!!

We have a pretty big kitchen with adjoining utility so it's a big job and I want everything changed.

Loving so many of the ideas on here!

The electrics in my new kitchen (7yrs ago now!) were done by my electrician brother. I have sockets behind the appliances but I have isolation switches on the walls - so if I want to defrost the fridge I just flick a switch above the work top.
The only problem with that (and having lots of sockets) is that influences what back splash you can have....I looked at stainless steel and glass ones but the amount of cutting out for the sockets would have been a nightmare and I was told to go for smaller tiles as well for the same reason.
(Although I like my tiles...after much dithering and leaving to the last minute I couldn't find any I liked so bought v. cheap plain pale grey ones as a stop gap ...the fitter suggested using black/dark grey grout with them and I actually love them. And they are easy to clean - the black grout never looks as grubby as white ...and I do have a stainless steel back splash behind the hob...)

If you get the chance pinkvici22 get a1000mm wide 3 drawer pan drawer with high sides. They are absolutely amazing and you can fit loads in them and nothing falls out!

I've asked MNHQ if we can move the thread. Too many good ideas here.

Glass doors in cabinets, never again, I don't want to see my over stuffed cupboard:)

Love - induction hob. Granite worktops. Huge drawers and larder cupboards. Tambour unit - great for hiding stuff.

Don't like any more: combi oven. Cream cupboard doors.

I had to completely redesign my kitchen when I moved in as there wasn't one (!)

I have no experience of this or DIY. Im glad I didn't pay extra for drawers for my pans. I have two tall cupboards, one for cleaning stuff and it has a freestanding set of plastic drawers inside for all the crap ( birthday candles etc) and one which is a dry store.

I have wooden work tops which are lovely and I also have a space for my tech stuff/ box of useful things, and I wfh there. I have a mirror and ledge for my make up should someone handsome bang on the door ( wastes wishes)

I have a freestanding fridge freezer and dishwasher because the price to integrate was insane and actually it looks nice:) but I painted it a mad colour and there is bunting, fairy lights and all kinds of bizarre art I like on the walls:)

LED lighting strip that goes under one of the units. I think some people have said they don't use it but I love it! Not too bright and much more economical. It's the only one that gets left on during the evening, for when we pop in from other room for tea and snacks.

As someone mentioned, best thing is a 150mm (or similar) pull out unit. Fits in all the small spice jars on top shelf, bottles of olive oil and vinegar on the bottom. So useful when you're in the middle of cooking. I'm really glad we did it, as it was added to the design at the last minute when we realised we had a bit more room than originally thought.

We'd managed with a slimline dishwasher but very pleased I insisted on a full size as most saucepans, roasting trays etc also get stuck in there after a soaking in the sink. Oh, and biggest sink you can fit. Small, modern ones are rubbish for people who actually cook!

I would have loved a warming drawer but no room!

Oh yes! Forgot one other thing.

Below the sink, space for a pull out bin, two bags in there, one for recycling and 1 for other rubbish. Space beside for some cleaning sprays and food compost caddy.

NO big, crappy rubbish bin on the floor somewhere! I hate them, always get dirty on the outside, there was absolutely nowhere unobtrusive to put it in open plan kitchen/diner so I love having all the bins out of the way. Can still fit in a few days' worth of rubbish so not constantly trotting outside.

Hate our induction hob, will go back to gas as soon as possible. It can't cope with all 4 rings at once. It looks gorgeous though.

Bagel was the bin something your kitchen fitter supplied, or did you find it somewhere?

I really want one for our kitchen, but DH will be ikea-ing it, so I'm have to do a lot of rummaging about to find out what smaller details I want, and where to get them!

We had an induction hob in the holiday cabin I was in at Easter - i wasn't impressed, I think i'll stick with gas. Too much faff and touch panels and took fecking ages to boil the pasta.

Make sure the worktop has enough overhang over the units so splashed water doesn't run down over the cupboards around the sink area.