Kitchen design

[3kidsandus]

I'm really struggling with designing our kitchen. I've been to 3 designers and all struggling to fit everything in without it looking crammed!!

The length is 4.2m along the back wall.

It just looks like a lot of tall units!!

The problem is that we don't have a utility room so tall units on the right incorporates a 300mm broom cupboard for ironing board, mop etc. Then we have an American fridge freezer (only because I've always wanted the ice maker!! ) a double oven unit and a 300mm larder.

The tall units therefore take up half of that wall space (2100mm)

The option could be to forefeit my fridge freezer for a 60cm one. Potentially getting rid of broom cupboard and storing under stairs??

The sink run is Washing machine then sink unit tumble dryer and dishwasher!

Also, what are thoughts of seating on island being on shorter end?

Any help/critique very welcome!!

@chinup

Island is a metre away from sink. Hope that's enough space??

ah, but where is the duct to blow the steam and fumes outdoors?

Thank you for the mention CurlyWillow !
Looks like you are all done without me !! ( sorry - only just finished work !)
If you ( or any other readers ) ever want me to safety check your own designs - just email them over saying you are mumsnetters and I'll happily cast an eye over the design !
Stay safe peeps !!!

It's on an outside wall so goes straight out?? I think??

Thanks Oneplan!

I'll send a PM!

3kidsandus I have 1.2m between my island and my stove, and on the other side 1.2m between island and cabinets. There isn't really enough space to be honest. If you put yourself up against a hard surface to waist height and then look behind you - you will have about 60cm left (unless you're a lot bigger or smaller) and that's how much space someone has to get by, plus you need wiggle room or they're right up against you. If you can go to 1.2m or 1.3m you won't regret it!

I have a metre between the island and other units / walls (its open on one side, but 3 sides have cabinets / walls) and its absolutely fine.

I renovated / extended last year, and spent a long time planning the kitchen. The layout is not dissimilar to yours. There's a lot of good advice on other threads on here, and I spent time working out how I used the kitchen, moved around it, and how I could plan things to make things easy to put away & clean as I'm lazy!

I went full height units along the one wall, the very top shelves may be hard to access but are great for storing things not frequently needed, and avoid the dust trap above units.

Pull out drawer units are so much better than cupboards for most things. I put my crockery / cutlery drawer directly opposite the dishwasher and sink, so it's really easy to put things away.

People talk about the 'triangle' for laying the kitchen out, but I find that a linear layout works for me. Food comes from the fridge / tall units onto the island where it is prepped. It's then cooked and eaten, then washing up is done at the other end. Everything is within easy reach at the right time.

I have an integrated fridge/freezer and it's too small really. Modern ones achieve their efficiency by having lots of insulation I guess! I supplement it with a chest freezer, which works for me. Having it towards the end of the units near the 'public area' works well as it's accessible without having to push past whoever is working in the kitchen.

Small details I love - at the end of the tall units I do have a small section of worktop and have a tambour unit on it. This conceals the kettle, toaster, breakfast stuff, and can just be rolled down. In the island I have a drop-through bin for food waste. So convenient for peelings or food scraps and tidier than a food bin on the worktop. Also I have a pullout bin under the island - two bins - one for general rubbish, the other for mixed recycling which gets sorted into the recycling bins outside. And under the sink an open 'slot' for tea towels and chopping boards. I did want 2 slots but space didn't allow.

paulox wow, your kitchen looks lovely! And so well thought out! Where is it from?

Also where's your flooring from? Looks like an amtico one that I've been looking at!!

I love the appliance hideout! Great idea for keeping things out of sight!!

To be honest, as we're doing a full house renovation I've called on the services of oneplanonhouzz. Someone on this thread recommended her (thank you!!!!) She's been amazing as she designs kitchens day in and day out so has ideas I would never have thought of!!

Thanks 3kidsandus, a lot of time was spent on planning the layout and trying to make sure that there was a place for everything, and that things flowed. It's just a Howdens kitchen, installed by my builder. Fortunately he passed on his discount. I would have gone with DIY Kitchens, but he persuaded me that it would be more convenient that if there were bits missing, or additional bits needed, the benefits of being able to just pop into Howdens would outweigh the risk of getting delivery and perhaps things being missing, and not being able to complete the job.

My flooring search started with looking at Karndean / Amtico, but I ended up being persuaded that there were better products or with longer warrantys from others, which just weren't such well known brand names. So I chose some flooring from Earthwerks, but it turned out to be out of stock and so my flooring supplier offered me some more expensive alternatives at the same price. So ended up getting this cavaliofloors.com/products-page/conceptline/3037-limed-oak-grey/

Oneplan does seem to have a good reputation on here, so I'm sure she'll help come up with a great layout for you. I certainly came up with things that are obvious when you think about them, but I'd not have thought of them myself, just by reading the extensive kitchen design threads on here.

Oh, the flooring supplier was just a local company - Station Flooring in Didcot.

Thanks!!