Kitchen must haves

[Towelonthedoor]

So we're going through the process of designing our new kitchen. I want your ideas for your must haves. I know I want integrated bins that pull out of a base unit. Please share your ideas.

Tons of drawers - much more accessible that usual cabinets.

Deep big pan drawers instead of cupboards.

Two must haves for me - deep pan drawers and a waste disposal unit in the sink. Had one at our previous house and it's top of my to do list since moving, I really miss it-best thing ever!

Bin cupboards , as big as possible
Agree with drawers

I also love the pan drawers. If space, try and get a wall mounted microwave as it saves loads of counter space. Make sure you have a random extra junk drawer for all those bits and bobs. We have a tall cupboard unit with a pull out larder which is brilliant. Means we never forgot stuff at the back of the cupboard as all the food is easily visible!

Agree with drawers rather than cupboards. So much more practical. One of my friends has a couple of those larder cupboards that pull out. I would love to have one.
A built in microwave would be nice and save on work surface space.

No to a waste disposal. We compost anything compostible, and don't have proper mains drainage where we are anyway.

One of the the things that irritates me about our kitchen is that the cutlery drawers are too shallow, and are a PITA. so don't get shallow drawers.

Pan drawers. Crockery drawers. Tin drawers. Love my drawers. Plus, love my narrow pull out cupboards either side of the oven - herbs, spices, oils etc all to hand and don't get lost at back of big cupboard.

Use a corner cupboard for all the recycling and a small landfill bin. Also have a dishwasher. Together they keep the kitchen clear, so are invaluable.
Apart from that I reckon it's the design, so that everything is in the right place for you.

I don’t understand how waste disposals can be ok. Especially after seeing fatbergs. Surely putting a load of food waste down into a series of narrow pipes designed to carry water is ill advised? I get it’s liquidised but even so..,

At least 2 ovens both at eye level. Ideally one doubling as a microwave, Dishwasher, waste disposal, at least a 1.5 sink unit. Not bothered about a built in bin as it was the same price as a wine fridge so I went for that instead.

Pan drawers are much better than base cupboards. Work out how you will complete a task when you are working out the layout or making a hot drink could involve zig zagging all over the room. Position crockery storage close to the dishwasher.

No to waste disposals here too - not good for the environment. Pipework is for water or gas, not rubbish, much of which can be composted or recycled anyway.

"I don’t understand how waste disposals can be ok. Especially after seeing fatbergs. Surely putting a load of food waste down into a series of narrow pipes designed to carry water is ill advised? I get it’s liquidised but even so..,"

I agree. I'm surprised they are still allowed.

Larder cupboard that pulls out- I love mine and will miss it when we move.

Lots of pan drawers and somewhere to store the bins/recycling

Deep pan drawers, and pref with a shallow drawer at the top for utensils.

Built in combi microwave.
Pull out units for any corner cupboards. So much better than they used to be.
Lots of drawers.

A pull out larder unit is brilliant.
Basically, no basic under-counter cupboards, unless you specifically need them, or for pull out bins.

Pan drawers, lots of drawers, boiling water tap, eye level ovens, induction hob, microwave on shelf so out of the way, separate larder/pantry cupboard for all the dry goods.

Integrated bins. Combo microwave oven. Large larder storage. Plenty of large pan drawers. Built in cutlery and utensil storage.

Look for the Mumsnet kitchen lessons learned thread. I read the whole thing, and basically did everything it said like a Mumsnet sheep and I've never regretted it. My main takeaways were: masses of sockets (many more than you think you'll need), deep drawers below waist height, an insinkerator.

Way more plug sockets than you need. And some plug sockets with USB cables.

High level cupboards that go all the way up to the ceiling. No space for grease and dust to collect. Also 1 and a half bowl sink and deep drawers for pans.

What is an insinkerator?

Boiling tap and no kettle

Agree pan and crockery drawers are great.

Ensure you don't need to stack bowls or small plates or anything on top of your dinner plates, when you think about it you're accessing the big plates multiple times a day.

Similarly, we have our main pans stored just one-deep in a drawer rather than stacked.

Feels such a luxury to open a drawer, pick out a pan or plate with one hand, nudge drawer shut with knee, compared to having to rummage around with both hands, rearranging stacked items in a cupboard.

Personally we like huge bins, as we are too lazy to be emptying them constantly. We found the under-cabinet ones were all made to go under a sink and were therefore all tiny.

Would have loved a water softener but we didn't stretch to it.

Keep meaning to get one of those stand things to store chopping boards and baking trays vertically in a cupboard.

One thing I would never be without is my plate rack (built-in to wall units)
Mine is a shaker-style kitchen, so it would very much depend on the kitchen style.
The plate rack holds holds almost all my everyday crockery, apart from deep bowls that are (annoyingly) stacked in cupboards.

Loads of things - which is why I'm struggling to settle on a design for this kitchen. It's small, has 3 doors off of it & various other inconveniences. I'm at my wits end with it.

However, I have just had a Harvey's Water Softner installed on a trial basis and that's staying. They'll be taking my cold body out before 'Harvey' leaves. He's only been here a fortnight and already my life is immeasurably better. My bank account will be less so, but you can't put a price on some things.

Though, of course, this is only essential (wish I'd done it years ago!) if you live in a place with hard water. It's very hard here.

I'm a little sad it's not being uninstalled though, as the guy that installed it would be the one to uninstall it and he was very easy on the eye 😂