Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Flip

1 2

Original poster

Kitchen plan - must be signed off tomorrow but which one?

31 replies

Wallywobbles · 20/02/2018 18:57

Please can you help. I've said that MN gets the vote, and I won't say what I think (at least to start with).

The lovely Karen from OnePlan has given me permission to put these up to the vote.

The 3 first images are with the straight run of units.

Kitchen plan - must be signed off tomorrow but which one?

OP posts:

Thread gallery

Original poster

Wallywobbles · 20/02/2018 19:06

The second three images are the version with an L shaped run of units

OP posts:

Toothfairee · 20/02/2018 19:14

Was just about to say it looks like just one layout ☺

I like the first one . the second one looks too heavy and the fridge looks lost.

Ooooh I know her. She did mine too! She's so lovely.

Diseno · 20/02/2018 19:14

L shape flows better but fridge just looks plonked
mabe case round with just material and no units etc tomake it feel part of the kitchen
would also be better bringing the units to the right of the oven over the worktop flush, much nicer finish and look. maker theses units deeper and can stor m/wave ketter etc
I have done this many times and looks better

notanaturalmum · 20/02/2018 19:15

L shape. There is no such thing as too much counter space.
Unless you don't cook much.
Have you remembered space for the bin. When we did ours we went through all our existing cupboards and planned where the contents would go in our new kitchen. Made us realise we actually needed more drawers and less cupboards.

Wistfulthinking · 20/02/2018 19:17

Karen has done ours too! I think L-shaped as well, but agree with comments about the fridge at the edge without being integrated into the design.

wowfudge · 20/02/2018 19:27

The second one has a more open feel - more work surface, the window isn't built up to and the fridge at the end of a run of base units is not an issue, plus it's not next to an oven. I think that design integrates the existing features of the room better.

Angryosaurus · 20/02/2018 19:42

YY L shaped with integrated fridge

Original poster

Wallywobbles · 20/02/2018 19:55

So we are a big family 4 kids, and cook from scratch. Grow veg and raise some of own meat.

We will have a qooker tap.

The design is aiming to take us into old age so we have to do minimal bending. The block of units on the L are to take 2 mixers and bread machine with the idea we can slide them in and out without having to pick them up. The mixers weigh an absurd amount.

Alternatively mixers can go on the other wall on the shelves behind the sliding doors.

Bins - one under the chopping board and one near the dishwasher which is currently at the end of the island unit (next to the drawers - with plates, glasses, cutlery etc in).

Fridge is an issue because its extra ugly, but I thought it was more use next to the table for getting drinks, milk out etc. Alternatively could swop if for microwave and oven unit in the L shaped plan.

Oven is used for about 6 months a year and microwave is used most days for hot chocolate at breakfast. Rayburn is switched off as soon as its warm enough really - April to October.

OP posts:

butterfly990 · 20/02/2018 19:58

I personally prefer design 2 for the following reasons,

having immediate counter space adjacent to the oven so when you have a hot dish burning your fingers it can be put down quickly.

openess of the plan

make a feature of the fridge, get a colourful smeg :)

Things to consider are where is the kettle, coffee machine etc. going to live. It looks from the plan that they plan to be in the sliding door cabinet. This will be a major pain in terms of filling the kettle with water, grabbing the milk from the fridge.

my own preference for a hob would be against the wall. Firstly to allow extraction directly outside and secondly as your seated companions may not want to be so close to splatter from food cooking, steam ect. Also where would you store the cooking utensils?

These pictures are of one of my favourite kitchens. I love the way they have decorated the alcove area which they put their kettle, toaster in and have a shelf for cups, plates etc.

myrtleWilson · 20/02/2018 20:00

I prefer the first one (I know I'm a lone voice in this!) - I don't like the fridge in the second one - like its been plonked on the end... and the general flow of the first one feels more airy....

PaperdollCartoon · 20/02/2018 20:04

I like the second one, but I think you should get a bigger fridge! A lovely big American double door one would be better in the space

Original poster

Wallywobbles · 20/02/2018 20:23

So I think the consensus is that everyone hates the current fridge at the end.

Because of the amount of cooking, growing we do we have 3 chest freezers that live in an outbuilding. I'm not a fan of any kind of fridge freezer - never enough fridge room. Utensils are in the draws at the far end of the island opposite the rayburn, under the chopping board bit. Along with pans.

@butterfly990 we have no kettle or coffee machine. We use an aeropress and a boiling water tap. The only thing that wont be put away is the toaster.

OP posts:

IhaveChillyToes · 20/02/2018 20:40

If you have 4 children why do you want 2 stools?

Not 4?

Is it cos of age gaps in children or something else?

IhaveChillyToes · 20/02/2018 20:47

Could you get a large fridge with just small ice box for ice cubes sort of thing?

Rather than the fridge/freezer?

Agree much better to put it in a unit or elsewhere otherwise it could look like you had designed a fab kitchen then realised you forgot about fridge/freezer so stuck it on end

GU24Mum · 20/02/2018 20:56

I'd agree that there's no point having a gap between the units and the cooker as in Layout 1. Why do you need another sink on the island though? You won't have much free space - can you live without it?

Toothfairee · 20/02/2018 21:05

Is this a dictated design. ie have you asked for for lots of specifics in the plans. As I have must looked at the initial sketches Karen did for us and they were all very different. And there were five, not just two. Doesn't seem like her style?

Original poster

Wallywobbles · 20/02/2018 21:30

@toothfairee - these are the final 2 lots of sketches. Yes I asked for quite specific things. I gave her quite a lot of plans that I had already worked on. Also where the gas, water, outpipes etc are dictates a bit how things can be.

@IhaveChillyToes - we eat at the table, which you can see in the floor plan. The stools are cos I'm lazy and like to do food prep sitting down. Or so someone can chat to me while I'm doing food prep.

Kids are mostly teens and all help with food prep.

The sink on the island is for veg prep, veg baskets are underneath it and its right by the dishwasher.

OP posts:

CapnHaddock · 20/02/2018 21:34

Second one works better for you using the kitchen and is a more efficient use of space. First one you just have pointless dead wallspace

OutyMcOutface · 20/02/2018 21:35

Can you do the layout of second one but put the fridge/freezer integrated into base level units/where the oven is and move the oven? The sticky outy fridge would drive me nuts but so would the unevenness of the left hand wall-maybe you could find something else to out there if you use the first plan?

IhaveChillyToes · 20/02/2018 21:46

Oke doke I thought you were going to use them for their breakfast etc

I don't have a island so not got any experience with them tbh

BubblesBuddy · 20/02/2018 22:51

I do have a very large island with a round “table” at the end at the same height as the work top. Seats 4. No-one gets splashed from the hob! It is really nice being able to cook and look out into the garden or chat to friends/children. I would hate a hob facing the wall now! You can extract via the ceiling above the hob. You just duct the air outside.

You do need clear space opposite the oven in the island if you can. Also space around the hob. Plating up tends to happen between the hob and the oven on my island so think about how you will use the space and where you might dish up for 6 people.

Also, get two built in fridges. I have two and it’s wonderful! I do not understand why most people have one small stuffed full fridge. I have a small low level freezer with a built in coffee machine over. So a wall of cooling and coffee! The freezer holds enough for every day use and can be replenished from external freezers.

MacaroniPenguin · 21/02/2018 10:35

I like the first one. The second might look better with an American style fridge.

Worieddd · 21/02/2018 10:46

Second one

7to25 · 21/02/2018 10:57

Second

Original poster

Wallywobbles · 21/02/2018 11:04

Final plan. This has been signed off. So differences:

On the short bit of the L I'm going to have a shutter cupboard for storing machines. 1390 high x 900 wide x 560 deep

Bin next to dishwasher on end of bar near table.

Hobs moved to other end of bar near Rayburn

And most importantly fridge is going to be integrated into a double cupboard with plates, glasses, cutlery in pots in the other side closest to table. Easy to empty dishwasher.

Another bin is going to be next to the veg baskets under chopping board.

OP posts:

Flip

1 2