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Original poster

Anybody like to give me their thoughts on my Ikea kitchen design?

31 replies

BinarySearchTree · 02/07/2017 20:30

Would love for your thoughts on my design - it's my first kitchen, for my first home.

I'm a bit constrained by the fact that we can't move the electrics around much (we're in a flat so would need a building warrant) - and there's also a great big fusebox hidden in the double wall cabinet next to the tall oven unit!

The door we're going with is Voxtorp (handleless, white gloss): www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/kitchen-products/cabinet-doors-fronts-panels/voxtorp-door-white-art-40273183/

Anybody like to give me their thoughts on my Ikea kitchen design?
Anybody like to give me their thoughts on my Ikea kitchen design?
Anybody like to give me their thoughts on my Ikea kitchen design?
OP posts:
Thread gallery
9
Original poster
BinarySearchTree · 02/07/2017 20:31

More images if they're useful! Smile

Anybody like to give me their thoughts on my Ikea kitchen design?
Anybody like to give me their thoughts on my Ikea kitchen design?
Anybody like to give me their thoughts on my Ikea kitchen design?
OP posts:
Original poster
BinarySearchTree · 02/07/2017 20:31

Oh and we have our own oven - that's why there's a big gap in the oven unit.

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SpikeGilesSandwich · 02/07/2017 20:41

My thoughts are that you've got a massive kitchen and I'm very jealous Envy
Ikea are great though, they did a good job on our teeny weeny kitchen. Plans look awesome, hope it goes smoothly for you. Smile

RaspberryBeretHoopla · 02/07/2017 20:44

Have you got an extractor fan or am I overlooking it?

Congrats on your first home!

Tootsiepops · 02/07/2017 20:52

Do people use extractor fans? I only ask because we're in the process of having our new kitchen installed and I've refused to have one. I never used my old one, so it seemed a bit wasteful to get a new one. If my cooking gets a bit pongy, I open the windows.

Original poster
BinarySearchTree · 02/07/2017 20:54

We're in Scotland, about half an hour outside Glasgow. We found we got a lot more space for what we could afford - but we are quite far away from my family now.

We actually want to sell up in a couple of years, but the kitchen as it stands hasn't been updated since the 1970s/80s I'd say. Shock There is a lot of wooden panelling to remove and artex to plaster over! Am currently talking my (software developer) husband into believing that he is brilliant at DIY and we can definitely do it ourselves. Grin

So I'm trying to find a design I can live with, that will also appeal to potential buyers too. It's quite tricky - but Ikea are definitely the best we've found for our budget. I'm glad you had a good experience with them Spike!

And Raspberry yes, there is a fan built underneath the double cupboard above the hob. I'm currently working out whether we can actually have it extract or if we will have to settle for filter. The layout of this flat is quite strange.

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Original poster
BinarySearchTree · 02/07/2017 20:56

Oh Tootsie I feel the same way! I never use the current one, but people do seem to comment on it if you don't have one.

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RandomMess · 02/07/2017 20:58

Do you really need all the wall units? I only say that because if the make the space visually much smaller and you seem to have loads of low units already?

honeyroar · 02/07/2017 20:58

I use the extractor for getting rid of steam in the kitchen more than smells - to prevent damp.

RaspberryBeretHoopla · 02/07/2017 21:01

Do you have room for a bin? Always baffled me to see new kitchens and then an awkwardly placed bin!

Also, given that it is square, I would want a rolling island or a pull out table ( we had one in our previous kitchen, it was brilliant)

Original poster
BinarySearchTree · 02/07/2017 21:05

Good point Random. I think I could do away with that random open shelving on the far left of that run of wall units, but unfortunately the big ugly fusebox warrants at least the double cupboards next to the tall oven unit - and I'm not personally a fan on chimney extractor fans, so would prefer the 'built under' one above the hob.

A bit like the attached!?

Anybody like to give me their thoughts on my Ikea kitchen design?
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Original poster
BinarySearchTree · 02/07/2017 21:10

Yeah I'm not sure about the bin - Ikea has this: www.ikea.com/gb/en/products/kitchen-products/kitchen-organisers-shelves/variera-utrusta-waste-sorting-for-cabinet-spr-19017618/ - but I'm not sure what cabinet it would fit in.

Perhaps a deep pull out drawer in a 80cm base unit?

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RandomMess · 02/07/2017 21:12

Yes that's better IMHO!

Badgertastic · 02/07/2017 22:10

We have the bins in the drawers under the sink. It is one of my favourite things about the kitchen - sad I know Blush

crazycatgal · 02/07/2017 22:10

If you make a planning appointment, a trained staff member will go through your plan with you and will be able to add things you've not thought of or couldn't work into your plan.

Badweekjustgotworse · 03/07/2017 00:17

Oooh, love these threads!

It's a tricky one because you've got so many windows, natural light is fabulous but obviously limits your wall units.

My one worry is that the full height units either side of the two internal doors will give the entrance to the kitchen an oppresive feeling. I love opening a door and seeing right through the space, instead of having views obstructed. Do you need the one opposite where you have the oven?

I know you said you're restricted with electrics though, but have you thought about maybe just designating one wall to the tall units so you don't block the entrance from two perspectives iykwim?

KeiraKnightleyActsWithHerTeeth · 03/07/2017 00:21

We had a similar layout to you and have an Ikea kitchen. We bought units, made them up and the measurements looked fine but once we put them in place provisionally, the room look crowded. We got rid of the equivalent cupboard to the one you have with the plant pot and moved the tall unit across to where that one was. Much more room for manoeuvre and it has given us a little spot for feeding our dogs.

GreenTulips · 03/07/2017 00:28

My one worry is that the full height units either side of the two internal doors will give the entrance to the kitchen an oppresive feeling.

Me too!

Do you have kids? That big oven when open will hit a kid in the eye if they charge into the kitchen!! And you don't have much space to put thenoven contents down on - where will you plate up?

Can you have a double under counter oven instead?

YorkshireTea86 · 03/07/2017 07:49

Another one that thinks the 2 tall units might be a bit much. Does the one without the oven house the fridge? I'd either move that one down a bit towards the window and get rid of one of the narrow base units or I'd use a mid height unit for the oven so you can see over the top.

DeepInFrance · 03/07/2017 07:59

We installed an Ikea kitchen eight years ago. Love it to bits. One thing I would say is definitely go for as many drawers as you can (not the individual ones but the three that hide behind a conventional cupboard door). They hold an amazing amount of stuff, and you can access all of it easily. Jars of rice, pasta, etc (label the tops). Have you got room for the narrowest cupboard/drawers combo? Fantastic for bottles of oil, vinegars and so on.

RandomlyGenerated · 03/07/2017 08:20

If you go for built in bins, don't have them next to anything that generates heat, otherwise your rubbish gets smelly quickly.

Original poster
BinarySearchTree · 03/07/2017 11:29

Oh yes, I made an appointment - thanks crazycatgal! Smile

Unfortunately where the wall units are now seems to be the best compromise for me - the huge great big fusebox they hide cannot be hidden any other way! So it follows from that, I figure, that they should be 'joined up' at one end with a tall oven unit seeing as I need cupboards at that height anyway - iyswim? YorkshireTea86 If I use a mid-height oven wouldn't I end up looking at the side of the cupboards I have to put in to hide the fusebox?

KeiraKnightleyActsWithHerTeeth - I had considered moving the tall unit to the other end - but it's 60cm deep, and would stick out right in front of the window. It's pretty much wall-to-wall window on that side and it seems a shame/a bit odd to block it maybe?

The tall unit on the other side is the integrated fridge, yes. I considered putting it next to the tall oven unit so the tall units are all on one wall Badweekjustgotworse, but I'm a little bit wary of putting appliances designed to cool things next to appliances designed to heat things. Putting it there would also really limit the 'elbow room' around the hob - and the hob does have to go on that wall because the fan cannot be moved to the other wall; there's nowhere for the extractor tube to go from there really, as that wall backs onto the living room.

Do you think having just a freestanding fridge would make it a bit less oppressive feeling? That's what we have now, and it feels alright to me at the moment. OR, as GreenTulips and suggests I do like the idea of putting the oven unit under the counter - but where would the microwave go? I'm so unimaginative!

We have a baby - I'm hoping that we'll have moved on once she's big enough to go charging about anywhere! Grin And I'm planning on buying a freestanding Ikea trolley/island for the center of the room - it means we can keep the space flexible when we have lots of family round.

DeepInFrance - ooo that's interesting. Why do you think the drawers hidden in a cupboard are better over the individual ones?

RandomlyGenerated - ah, of course! Brilliant tip, thank you. Smile

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Original poster
BinarySearchTree · 03/07/2017 11:53

Or is this what people mean?

I had always thought people would prefer to have an eye-level oven if there's room for it? Or is that not the case?

Anybody like to give me their thoughts on my Ikea kitchen design?
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YorkshireTea86 · 03/07/2017 12:14

Yes you would see the wall units. You could put a shelf over it where the wall units are.
If you already have a tall oven unit there and fridge like that and it doesn't bother you then go for it.