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

169 replies

AddToBasket · 26/04/2016 21:00

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?

OP posts:
NormaLewisNannies · 03/05/2016 16:17

I have all my appliances on D&G insurance - and although they are now years old, they are all still repairable at no extra cost -apart from what I pay for the policies of course

AnTeallach · 03/05/2016 20:50

We did our kitchen 16 years ago - IKEA - and it's lasted really well. Tap and fridge-freezer have been replaced and we've swapped under worktop cupboards for pull-out shelves behind the existing doors, which have improved things hugely. The fitted units take up one wall and the rest is unfitted, which I like, even if you can't store as much.

What I'd do again: combi-microwave above single oven - fab; Grohe tap with pull out hose, which you can't see when it's stored - how did we manage before?!; fabulous huge Bosch fridge-freezer; 70cm wide hob with 5 rings - never want to go back to 4; compartmentalised waste bins under the sink.

What I'd change: I'd love a tall, skinny larder unit again (no room here); would love drawers instead of cupboards (new idea since the kitchen was put in); two lights you can pull up and down above the table on a kind of pulley thing, instead of a single fixed one.

What I will NEVER get again: AEG fridge-freezer. Had 2 - both rubbish (and expensive)!

AnTeallach · 03/05/2016 20:53

And Norma - I'm jealous! I'd love those pull out oven shelves!

AnTeallach · 03/05/2016 20:54

oops mrsmortis obvs getting too excited at the thought of them!

JulesJules · 04/05/2016 08:20

We had a new kitchen last summer.

I love the ovens - there's two single ovens built in, the main one is a Neff slide and hide. The door slides under when you open it, they also do telescopic shelves which slide out. The top oven is slightly smaller, Miele which is a second oven, microwave and grill.

The hob is Neff gas hob. ( I've had Neff before too and never had any problems)

My choice of cupboard range was influenced by being able to have a slide out larder cupboard, which is fab. It's great to be able to see everything at once and no scrabbling about in the back of a cupboard. Also wanted cupboards that went up to the ceiling. These go nearly all the way up and the top few inches is plasterboard, painted the same colour as the doors and ceiling (cream) which looks great. No dusty grease trap on top of the cupboards.

Big drawers for plates and one for pans rather than cupboards.

Pull out recyc bin in a thin cupboard.

Kitchen bin is on wheels so I can move it to where I need it.

I thought I'd really miss the 1.5 sink I had before - there wasn't room in the new layout - but I don't, I got a JosephJoseph washing up bowl with a little plug and handles here and I don't miss the half sink.

Two cutlery drawers.

Only other integrated thing is the fridge freezer, the washing machine, tumble drier and dishwasher are all freestanding - cheaper and easier to replace.

In previous kitchens I've had real slate / tile floors which look great and I thought I'd miss, but I prefer the Amtico I've got now, warmer underfoot and things don't smash when you drop them.

Glass instead of tiles, no manky grouting

JulesJules · 04/05/2016 08:24

Oh and I love the under cupboard lighting - good task lighting and nice ambient light in the evening.

seriouslynoidea · 04/05/2016 11:29

Miele appliances, v v expensive but only flagging just a bit now after 15 years, worth it. Love the big fridge with water and ice. Love love the pale sand coloured granite worktops. Should have gone for bigger than standard oven as we are a family of 7 and often a few extras. Waste disposal in sink a waste of money. Island in the middle with sink etc and bar for a couple of stools is great. And if you have a big enough kitchen I reckon it is essential to make a space somewhere in the middle of things (in our case where the bar stools are) for the 'family computer', an old fashioned concept but essential for keeping as eye on the use of the Internet. Little ones may run off with their iPads and stuff but I put Kidslox on them and the most reliable connection is from the computer, they have to ask to be logged on too. A bit more peace of mind.

JulesJules · 04/05/2016 15:00

Old kitchen had a waste disposal in the sink, we never used it.

Whatthefoxgoingon · 04/05/2016 19:51

I use my waste disposal every single day!

Ramona75 · 05/05/2016 12:31

Can anyone recommend a good waste disposal system? A friend of mine is looking at getting one in her kitchen. Also, are they easy to fit and does it have to be done by an engineer?

Anotherwriter · 05/05/2016 22:25

Be careful with waste disposal units.
We had one installed to find out the pipe wasn't big enough to take the waste down. The smell, inconvenience & mess wasn't nice.

PigletJohn · 05/05/2016 23:35

I saw a fantastic prep bench, with worksurfaces, chopping board, spices, oils, waste bin, knife racks , pans etc, that was on big wheels and rolled out into the room for sociable cooking. Also you could walk round it like an island or a peninsular.

Ever since, I have been trying to think of a way to use one.

glassgarden · 06/05/2016 08:42

💖Pull out larder👍

AddToBasket · 06/05/2016 10:14

PigletJohn, that sounds fab. Can you remember where it was from?

OP posts:
areyoutheregoditsmemargaret · 06/05/2016 10:32

Oh, pigletjohn if you could remember where you saw that it would solve a huge kitchen problem for me!

PigletJohn · 06/05/2016 11:34

it was actually built for a stage set. I will ask the set designer if she still has a photo or sketches, when I see her. She may well have based it on a real kitchen.

You can't easily include plumbing or electricity, though you could have floor sockets if you wanted.

PigletJohn · 06/05/2016 20:24

I've found some photos now.

It was basically a rectangular kitchen unit, maybe 1500mm long, worktop, chopping board, prep sink where you would perhaps peel stuff and then lift it out to empty, bin under, implied storage under for oils, vinegars, wines, herbs, spices, knives, wiping cloths, pans (if it was me in real life I'd have a centrepull paper towel dispenser feeding through the worktop).

The front of it was made to blend in with whatever unit doors you had, and the back (where you stand) was open like a bar or shop counter for access to the stuff.

In real life you might also have put an ice bucket on the top and had glasses underneath; again, like a bar, maybe plates too.

Swivelling rubber-tired wheels with foot operated brake, set back from the edges to not show, 150mm for ease of rolling.

Front and sides dressed up with cornice and mouldings. It didn't have a real plinth, it stopped short of the floor so it could roll about without scraping. It must have had a braced timber frame because ordinary kitchen units are planted on the floor and fixed to the wall, so not expected to have any stresses of being trollied around.

Looking at the photos I see it enabled the rest of the kitchen to be fake. As it was a stage set it had to convey an impression rather than be totally practical.

You could of course make it to any design and size you wanted, but I think 1500mm is the maximum you could roll single-handed.

In my mind it was longer, perhaps I was thinking of a peninsular I had at a previous house. You could have a wider top and bar stools if you want. I think the idea was to bring the food prep area towards the living area, then push it back to the wall when no longer wanted. In real life it would be an island or peninsular that did not encroach into the room space when not in use. You could make it look like a sideboard if you wanted, and put your serving dishes, drinks, sorbets or puddings on it for when the staff were sent out.

areyoutheregoditsmemargaret · 07/05/2016 13:27

thank you!

mrsmortis · 12/05/2016 15:40

AnTeallach - it's a John Lewis own brand oven, so not a ridiculously expensive one. It might be a while until you need a new oven. But at least you can keep it in mind...

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