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.

More storage than you think you could possibly need. All storage under waist-level to be drawers.

Counter space next to fridge.

Counter space next to oven.

Counter space next to sink.

Combi microwave and oven, plus separate oven

Sympathetic lighting: you don't want totally white light (glare off glossy countertops or units if you're having gloss), neither do you want too warm (shadows and dark corners).

Wipe down splashback rather than tiles with lots of grouting - especially above the stove/hob.

Very strong ventilation/extractor fan if you fry a lot, cook a lot of fish or make curries.

A door that can seal in smells but also be left open enough for open plan-ish living.

Seamless countertops, ideally.

Waste disposal - insinkerator if possible.

If you bake a lot, double depth countertop somewhere - either an island (pet hate of mine but some people love them), or at the end of a run ideally next to the oven.

I love my reduced depth cupboards. They fitted in to the awkward space I have, but are so useful. Nothing lost at the back. I also have pan drawers on full depth units.

I also like my side by side larder fridge and freezer. Kind of like an integrated American fridge freezer but fits in with kitchen dimensions.

I do sometimes wish my island was clear for baking, but I find for me, hobs on the island works really well as I can interact with the kids while cooking (extraction via roof above).

Wider opening doors for awkward spaces.

Our current kitchen has this pull out bin which I'm really impressed with. Takes a good 2-3 days mixed recycling which goes straight into the wheelie bin unsorted, and same of household waste. It slides under a metal lid which keeps the smells in.

A tap with a neat pull out hose that you can use to wash down the sink is top of my "want" list, as is an induction hob that you can wipe down rather than awful, fiddly gas rings (got these at the moment).