In need of help with kitchen decisions

[keepingbees]

Hi, I'm hoping to pick peoples brains: We have been renovating our house and have come to the point of doing the kitchen.
It's a modern house, smallish galley style kitchen. Medium budget.
I've never had a new kitchen before and feel lost with all the choices, obviously any regrets will be expensive so want to get it right.

So...does anyone have any wisdom they could share on the following? Pros and cons and any experiences would be much appreciated:

Tiles or upstands?
Work tops (don't really want laminate. We like wood but slightly worried of the upkeep)
Integrated appliances or free standing?
Under counter fridge and freezer or a tall fridge/freezer?
Sink...which material and one that sits under or on the counter? I like butler sinks but DH isn't as keen.

Does anyone have any kitchen regrets that they can advise against?

TIA

I also found it quite intimidating trying to plan a new kitchen - having not done this from scratch before. I so wanted a wood kitchen but due to a dark tiled floor ( original - part of the untouchable listing) and dim natural light decided on light painted style instead ( and it was less costly) with wooden handles.it is useful to get a couple of kitchen company’s to advise and quote. In fact every company advised us against wood for our particular kitchen - it being so dark and full of dark wood ceiling beams.
We eventually did ours ( renovation of an old listed house with lots of awkward room sizes and shapes) using a local cabinet maker and installed by a builder, but i’m Glad I got some ideas and quotes first as it helped me decide what I didn’t like and what was impractical and what we could afford etc. It was expensive by my reckoning, but much less than some of the quotes we received!

Our old kitchen had a 20 year old ikea wood work top which was lovely - until we had kids. The wood needed oiling regularly, leaving to soak in and then polishing off. I just could not keep it up once small children were around, ( I worried the fumes might be toxic) so eventually the area around the ( inset) sink deteriorated and we had to replace that section with granite. The rest (away from the sink) still looked lovely. Perhaps an inset sink was unwise under wood. A fit on top sink might have been fine. The wood was relatively inexpensive.

In our new house we have a worktop made from composite ground up stone which I think is called quartz and that so far seems very robust - but was more pricy than the wood, and had to be supplied and cut to size by a specialist firm on sight.. It’s only 1.5 years old and looks as new still- I love it! We made a couple of mistakes with our new kitchen. One is that the dishwasher when open is too close to the opposite base cuboard when open to squeeze past- if we had put the dishwasher on the other side of the sink it would have worked better. We did a mock up before we decided on the lay out but had to put in an extra support beam- and did not recheck the layout worked after moving things slightly to one side to accept the beam. The other thing I am not sure about is how well our white composite sink will wear ( we have lots of white because the original dark wood kitchen was very dark).

We have a fitted fridge, but it’s a bit small really. Our old free standing fridge freezer held more. We are lucky in having a utility and an old fridge freezer there too. We keep the frequently used things like milk in the kitchen and less used things in the utility. It works fine. We have a long kitchen so in one end we have a tea making area (kids are now teens) with cupboards for mugs and coffees etc, and narrow work surface and power sockets for kettle and coffee machine. This works well for us.

Things I like include the deep drawers opposite the dishwasher to hold crockery and pans- so much easier use than wall cupboards as I am short ( we have very little usable wall space due to beams and windows being in the way). We have some shallow base cupboards ( similar in depth to wall cupboards-) under the tea making station there would not have been room due to a door at this end- for full depth base cupboards here.

We have pale grey green painted shaker units. I was worried dirt would show but it’s ok so far. We got a little extra paint mixed to cover knocks if needed for the future.

I’m sure others will have far better ideas! Good luck!

I'm planning a kitchen too (my third in 6 years, we keep moving house) but I'm still overwhelmed with choice. I agree with PP, wood worktops look lovely but only get them if you're prepared to look after them, otherwise they'll look manky after a while. I'm getting white quartz in my new kitchen. Don't, whatever you do, get black quartz. It shows up Every. Damn. Mark.

Integrated appliances make the kitchen look more sleek but are smaller than freestanding. I had a big American style fridge freezer in my last house and really miss it, if you have the space I'd get one.

I've always had stainless steel sinks, I'm considering ceramic this time but will definitely get inset rather than undermount because the grooves on the quartz next to the sink in my last kitchen really didn't make drying things very easy and I ended up putting a bit ugly plastic drying rack on there anyway which totally defeated the purpose of the streamlined undermount sink. My worry with ceramic though is that things will smash, DH isn't keen for that reason. I guess it depends on how much you wash by hand and how much you bung in the dishwasher.

I'm getting upstands but tiles or a glass splashback behind the cooker. We went without a splashback for a few months and the grease and other cooking stuff just made a total mess of the walls so I won't be making that mistake again.

There's so much to think about, good luck with it!

Thank you so much for your replies - very helpful
This is my concern with wood - I don't want any high maintenance.
We had a kitchen fitter come out yesterday and he said wood is fine as long as you apply several layers of oil and seal it well around joins. But I just don't know. I have a friend who has wood and hers has gone black round by the sink, but the kitchen fitter said this was probably due to it not being sealed properly.
I love black granite but if it marks easily that could be an issue.
Our current kitchen is really manky,
it's cream with black laminate worktops and it looks very 'cold' I think, so I wanted to introduce some warmth. It's a west facing room but doesn't get much sun until afternoon, and even then some of it is blocked out by trees. I'm torn between keeping it light as it's small but not making it look cold.
DH thinks integrated fridge and freezer will be too small but our current fridge freezer does look quite imposing so I'd like something sleeker. We've nowhere to put an American size freezer sadly.
That's interesting about the sinks too.
I might just get a nice stainless steel one, as hopefully we will be mostly using the dishwasher (never had one before!)
I'm still torn on tiles v upstands. We'd definitely have a splash back behind the oven if we had upstands but I'm still worried the other walls would get splashed and greasy.
Its so hard to know what to get!

I'm just doing my kitchen. I'm a complete novice too.
My kitchen is north facing with a tiny window and not much I can do to improve that. For me the importance if lighting and a generally lighter kitchen has forced some of my decisions. Its not what i orinally dreamed of but my dream was never going to look good in my kitchen space. That took me a few months to realise and get my head around. Every now and again I still wobble because although I like what I've got planned and I know it will work well in the space it's not what I would have chosen if I'd had a brighter bigger sunnier kitchen.

I've purposely stuck with a neutral pallet but worry its boring but I guess I change looks by introducing accessories and painting walls. I'm currently dithering if I should stick to cream tiles to match my units or splash out on some green glass ones I love - but will that the me to a certain look for x years ahead.

Everyone I know who has integrated appliances complain about size and spec. My parents are about yo get rid of their integrated fridge after 3 years and turn the space it will leave into a cupboard because it's just too small. They then need to remove the larder unit so they can get in a real life sized fridge. If a couple on their 70s find an integral fridge too small then I doubt a family would love one either.

My friend has integral appliances. She complains about drum size and spin options on suitable washers (she is looking to change her original integrated washer after just 18 months because it's not viable for her large family).

I'm getting a wall integrated microwave because my kitchen is small and I want to maximise worktop space and so far I have only found 2 models that will fit my gap/dimensions in my wall cabinet and also my fit my Denny dinner plates inside!! Neither hit 100% of what I want in a microwave so I'm still looking but ultimately I don't want a microwave on my worktop so will compromise if need be.

I've decided to go with free standing appliances but buying "good looking"ones that kind of match each other. Easier said than done. The ones that look nice have poor performance so not sure how this idea of mine will pan out yet!!

Some one also advised me about placing lighting in the right place. I've been told to have lighting right above where needed not behind or where looks good on the ceiling because otherwise it creates a shadow. In other words, if you want light above your kitchen sink put it right above the kitchen sink. In a standard worktop this will only be 30cm from the wall and probably looks odd on the actual ceiling but will direct the light where you actually want it.

Another friend has said if moving/installing electrics get more than you think. Don't bother with single sockets go for doubles everywhere.

I'm learning as I go. I'm no expert but just sharing what I've come across so far whilst chatting to people about kitchen planning.

Oh I'm having the tiles or upstand debate as well. My family are such a bunch if clumsy messy sods I think tiles will probably be more viable.
I want wood tops too but I've not seen one that looks fabulous 3 or 4 years down the line yet. All the ones I've seen ate black or heading that way around the sink. And despite hell of a lot of regular oiling a New Years Eve curry night has left my friend with a yellow stain on hers she can't get out!! It's such a shame cos the real wood looks and feels so nice. It adds real warmth which is what I want in my dark cold north facing kitchen.

From the start zone your kitchen

Oven - near worktops cupboards around it for saucepans cutlery draw plates and spices herbs cooking essentials

Move to sink dishwasher and washing machine - cupboards for cleaning stuff space for twonpeople to wash up and dry

Fridge and food cupboards

In a galley kitchen I'd go integrated and sleek - avoid shiney as it will show the marks -

Go to a few showroom and look at any features that would suit

Like a fridge that's drawers rather than cupboard

Large pan drawer (these are great)

Inbuild microwave

Large wall to wall cupboards if there's any room for food storage or broom

Where's the bin going?

Shows us a plan?

There was a really long-running post on here a while back
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/a1554664-The-MN-lessons-learnt-kitchen-thread#prettyPhoto
I saved it as it has a load of really handy tips!

Thank you!
Everyone seems to be confirming my fears with the wooden worktops and integrated appliances. I have freestanding washing machine and tumble dryer in the utility area so they won't need to be integrated.
I will try and attach a picture of the floor plan. It's a small basic kitchen, slightly rectangular, with not much leeway for design ideas and features unfortunately. It currently has base units running down each side galley style. There are eye level units on the right hand side where our oven is, but none on the opposite window side - which we are hoping to add in. Fridge freezer is on the immediate left just inside the door. Bin is by the utility room door, nowhere else for it to go really.

If you really like the wood look then you can get some very authentic looking laminate these days. I know some people think it’s tacky but our worktop is my favourite thing about our new kitchen, so low maintenance. We have this one
www.kitchenworktopsdirect2u.co.uk/egger-contemporary-worktops/egger-grey-bardolino-oak-worktop-4100x600x38mm.html
IKEA do a nice one too

If you think you need tiles then you could just part tile up the wall so it’s higher than an upstand but not totally filling the gap between the worktop and wall cabinets.

We've just done our kitchen. In 20 years of owning homes, it's the first time I've ever replaced a kitchen and I was so nervous of getting it wrong and making an expensive mistake, but so far it all seems fine. We have integrated appliances. The only one that is a direct comparison is the dishwasher and I don't think it feels much smaller, we can certainly still fit everything we need to in it. Our fridge and freezer are larder style and huge, we certainly don't find them too small. We have white quartz with a little bit of sparkle and it's great, so easy to clean and hardwearing. We have dark grey units but light grey on the small run of wall units as our kitchen is dark too (north facing).

Thanks, I saw someone on Instagram had lovely wood effect ones that looked real, but the kitchen fitter said it's best to go for real wood. I think I'd rather avoid the maintenance though. I will look at that website, thank you

Definitely go for a tall fridge freezer if you can-constantly bending over can get quite painful. Butler sinks never go out of fashion. Wouldn't reccomend wood (especially around wet areas). Integrated appliances are generally much easier in the eye but free standing ones can add a focal point in a minimalist kitchen if correctly positioned.

I have just opted for a wood effect laminate. The very thing thst when we started thus project I was 100% adamant I wouldn't have. I was happy to consider laminate but not wood effect as u was worried it would look naff.
It's not in yet and maybe it will but the sample felt very similar to wood. I was surprisingly impressed. Time will tell if I've made a faux pad or not.

Getting new kitchen ourselves soon so watching avidly.

Any advice for actual preparing to have no kitchen facilities? Such as kettle/toaster in dining room, no washing machine or dryer, no actual running water. Dreading it :(

My mum had wooden counters for twenty years. They still looked good as new when we sold the house! There are plenty of non toxic oils to treat them so you can do it when kids are around. Also they are so cheap (especially for a simple galley kitchen) that even if you abuse them and replace with wood effect laminate in three years, it will still have been cheaper (even with fitting) than quartz. I love the ikea domsjo sink

DH thinks we need to stick with a tall fridge freezer so maybe I just need to find an attractive one!
It's not so much the cost of wood v laminate- I'd ranger spend a bit more and get what's right. But I keep hearing such mixed things about wood. I love the cold smooth feel of granite and that you don't have to worry about stains and putting hot things down etc. But I feel the kitchen needs a warm colour and I don't want it to look cold. Aargh so many decisions!
The kitchen fitter said the whole thing will take about 10 days (including spotlights in the ceiling and wall skimming or tiling) so I'm dreading having to live around it in chaos. He did say he will work around the oven and sink and only remove them at the last minute. I think the kettle will have be plugged in the dining room or something!

Could you get a tall fridge freezer in the utility and put a washer dryer in the kitchen?

That was the set up when we moved in but it was a pain having to go into the utility every time I wanted milk or something out the fridge, so we cut the worktop and swapped the fridge freezer with the tumble dryer. I like having the washing machine and tumble dryer side by side in the utility, only downside is all the laundry ends up on the floor by the back door where everyone walks in from the garden with muddy feet!

100% not under counter fridge and feeezer. It will do your head (and back!) in constantly bending down to get st the fridge. Hate hate hate UCFridge

Integrated appliances look much better. Up to you if you value the look of the kitchen over ease and cost of replacing them. What appliances do you need? I see you have a utility as well? So just dishwasher? If just a DW I would get an intergrated one for sure.

Im not a fan of wood. Would prefer the laminate wood over real wood! Can you stretch to stone? You can get lovely warm shades if that is your concern.

Oh, defo get as many drawers as you can, preferably all drawers not cupboards. Much better use of space n

I would go for upstanding and splashback rather than tiles

This may not help your decision but I've never had a problem with wooden worktops.

Our current one is thick oak and we just oil it with Danish oil periodically (and not as often as we should) and it still looks great, even around the sink.

We have a ceramic sink and have broken a couple of glasses - of course they were the nice crystal ones which we didn't put in the dishwasher in case they got broken!

could the doors into the kitchn be changed to sliding doors (they can slide into the wall) - you'd gain a lot of space/movement..

Could possibly stretch to stone as
we only need one 3m and one 2m lengths. What are the warm colours available?
We currently have a fridge/freezer in the kitchen, and a washing machine and tumble dryer in the utility. All but the tumble dryer will be replaced and we will be getting a slimline dishwasher. DH is flapping about losing cupboard space but we will gain a couple of eye level cupboards.
There's not really room for a sliding door, as there's not much wall space for it to slide on if that makes sense.
I have been toying with the idea of knocking through to make a kitchen diner, but we would then need to brick up a wall between the dining and living room otherwise it would be all open plan. The living room isn't massive either so it would make it look smaller.
I'm not good with all these decisions!