Please help with kitchen layout

[EvilKitchen]

I'm losing the plot and the will to live while trying to design the layout for our new kitchen. We are going with DIY kitchens so I need to do the design myself. It should be simple; an L shape with no island (just going to have a big table). Washing machine and dryer going in the cellar.

If anyone could take a look at the three possible designs here and tell me what to do I'd be forever grateful.

For info, I prefer the first one, because it will maximise worktop space. My builder thinks 2, because he thinks the sink will look weird stuck in the corner. And DH says 3

And don't get me started on wall cabinets...

I have a few things that could easily live on top shelves/bottom of a dresser eg cast iron casserole dishes, baking equipment, George Foreman grill, slow cooker, bread maker. Even wine glasses, cafetiere and teapot could go in a dresser. It's more storage for food that I think I'm lacking as I'm not sure how much I can get in the corner cupboard and how easily I'll be able to reach in the top corner cupboard. I'm starting to think a larder on the other side of the room would be better than a dresser.

So your kitchen is 4 metres long? That is quite a big space. Have you thought about an island with the table off the front of it? So either lengthways or sideways? You would have more storage in the island and solve your workspace issue.

Like this

www.houzz.co.uk/photos/45201627/the-snug-kitchens-newbury-showroom-contemporary-kitchen-south-east

www.google.co.uk/search?q=kitchen+island+bench&client=ms-android-samsung&source=univ&prmd=sivn&tbm=isch&tbo=u&fir=QUcwwVODHU4-SM%253A%252CvzdRuJTRVpktxM%252C_%253BTC25JRWcaPyJaM%253A%252CL_-A15QLSHVyVM%252C_%253BnVBcRsmQdmh_7M%253A%252CNhEPL7-KbD7riM%252C_%253BZymXgFm8hWQtcM%253A%252CES5VosY2XTjegM%252C_%253BSGYe2zX2gnfgPM%253A%252CKk_D4POlbxZ0HM%252C_%253BJJVi5G9QJcwN7M%253A%252CJ2tTny07_vqmNM%252C_%253Bdwh7OSK73u_xZM%253A%252CY5XzQRakacruuM%252C_%253BRlMAKO0tUsH4lM%253A%252CFhdO_bPL_fcX1M%252C_%253Bi4LnoU1yKs8KnM%253A%252Cs5TIcRgBKH1KmM%252C_%253B1Hi18cUHB26i4M%253A%252CmdAimlSDZQCLyM%252C_&usg=__rW5zMlKAdCgHpQcwUSpLTH-dG8M%3D&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwilvPuezY_PAhVjDMAKHY-5DEIQ7AkIRg&biw=360&bih=616#imgrc=d0C8hPVwv-KAVM%3A

That's tricky with the chimney breast - could you step it back a bit or step the worktop out a few inches around it? It looks like it only comes part way out anyway.

Not all fridges need a lot of space to open the door - ours is hard into a corner, it's a Bosch and whilst not immediately obvious, the shelves and drawers all are designed so they will tilt slightly and slide out with the door opened back. You can check the installation diagrams on the website but it does depend on the fridge.

I would be concerned there's not enough storage and would go for an island to increase cupboard space and worktop. You could even get an island on wheels so you can move it out of the way against a wall if you need to, say, extend your dining table.

IIRC one idea that used to be used was that of a triangle shape between cooker/hob & sink & fridge cos that is where you will be going between iyswim

Is there any chance of having any Windows on the chimney side of room so that it can be above the sink - just my personal preference of looking out a window from the sink???

Also agree with others have floor to ceiling cupboards or something for storage on 4 wall or under the window even if it is low could put a window seat with storage underneath

THe window bench seat could also be used to sit at table or just for enjoying looking out

You need space to put dirty dishes waiting for the dishwasher to be unloaded and/or finish its cycle. Idealy plate crockery storage at arms length for easy put away.

I would try very very hard to get an island in - mine is opposite my dishwasher and the crockery goes into pan drawers opposite - makes life so much easier. Gives a more modern look too.

I'll go against the grain and say no island. Having lots of floorspace is fab in a kitchen. Dishwasher and sink need to be close together if not you are going back and forth when loading it. Number 4 is great.

Some good tips here www.homebuilding.co.uk/top-10-kitchen-diner-design-tips/

Sink needs surface both sides one for dirty one for clean. Dishwasher and sink as close as possible otherwise it's really messy.

Walking to the fridge is fine. Take stuff out at the beginning of food prep.

We are using a whole 3m stretch of wall for a larder/storage cupboard. It'll only be 400mm deep I think.

What about just two lovely thin, tall cupboards next to the dresser on the door wall rather than proper kitchen cupboards? You could store all dry food in there.

As in, either side of the dresser.

I do think a low window bench would be lovely though. We plan to get one eventually for our kitchen, but ours isn't quite the same size as yours! Ours would be under window but be as part of the dining table IYSWIM

Also if you've got a cellar, does that mean you can store wine etc down there too? And even foods you don't need often. Because of our weird layout, we've got a lot of dry stuff in jars on shelves, so I buy big packs of pasta etc but store in the shed, and refill the jars when needed. So I have everything to hand, without needing a million cupboards.

Option 4 looks best IMO !

Ooh lots more replies, thanks! The chimney breast is actually very shallow, only 220mm, so those are two shallow cupboards next to the cooker and the work surface will come all the way on top of those.

I don't think an island will work as we are going for a vintage kind of look and also we won't have a separate dining room so will need a large floor space to extend the table for Christmas etc. Low storage under the window could work though and yes, there are other places into the house and cellar that things like wine, spirits and tinned goods could be stored.

Thank you all so much for your advice. I think option 4 is the winner and you've given me some great ideas :)

Any chance you could replace the window with opening doors into a garden for an alfresco dining feel ?! Would add great daylight too !!

OnePlan, me and DH have had many many discussions about that idea! I think french doors out to the garden would be amazing, but he is adamant it would ruin the stonework/mullions outside. Plus there is a cellar window below the kitchen window so if we wanted to convert that in future we wouldn't want it concealed by steps. I can see his points so we are leaving it as a window for now and I'll work on him and maybe do it in the future! It's a south facing room and the window is huge so it is lovely and light anyway.

User147, a moveable cart/storage is definitely one option I'm looking into, thanks.