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Original poster

Kitchen layout critique!

39 replies

WorrisomeHeart · 20/02/2019 09:30

Hi all, am starting to plan out the fitting for our kitchen extension. Can you take a look at this and see if you would change anything?
The washing machine will actually be a boiler (there will be a separate utility but we are anticipating that we can’t have the boiler in there because of venting) and that may be a full height cupboard there instead of the shelves. Colour and worktop also to be confirmed. The island is made up of two sets of massive pan drawers and the under sink is a very clever pan drawer set too. The wide pantry has shelves and baskets and the narrow pantry is a pull out one.

The main thing I’m not sure about is the island set up - it almost looks too small for the room?

OP posts:

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wowfudge · 20/02/2019 09:38

I agree the island is too small - looks lost in the space. What do you envisage using the island for?

wowfudge · 20/02/2019 09:38

Also do you have a floorplan showing doors, windows, etc in relation to the rest of the house?

patstar · 20/02/2019 09:41

Agree the island is way too small for the space.
You need a good meter of walking space between the floor units and island. Also what are you having on the far wall - tables and chairs?

wowfudge · 20/02/2019 09:42

With all that space I'd be tempted to lose the few wall units and have a longer island of pan drawers for crockery, etc. We have all the crockery in drawers - one has a plate rack that holds plates vertically - and they are so much better than the old set up of stuff in wall cupboards.

combatbarbie · 20/02/2019 09:53

It is absolutely lost in that pic, I would make it loads bigger and use as food prep area on one side and breakfast bar on other but I have this romantic view of having friends over and we all congregate round the island whilst food is prepped.

Original poster

WorrisomeHeart · 20/02/2019 09:54

The entrance door to the kitchen will be over on the left by the washing machine. The window and doors at the back are approximations of what we’re aiming for, and there are no other entry points. I want the island as extra counter space and also somewhere for the kids to eat, hence the overhang with the stools. I was wondering about making it wider by adding a 300mm unit which is as long as the current set up, but facing into the rest of the room, for things that aren’t used much like Xmas crockery and napkins etc? Just not sure if that would be weird with stools against.

We will have a chaise couch and telly by the glass doors and the dining table at the other end of the room.

OP posts:

Original poster

WorrisomeHeart · 20/02/2019 10:19

Oh and space around the island is at least 1m - I think it’s slightly more by the sink end

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wowfudge · 20/02/2019 11:03

I would make the island about 3 times as long as it is now and have back to back units along a third to a half of it to maximise storage without having to move bar stools/chairs, with seating at one end and possibly around a short end too at right angles so people sitting at the island aren't just in a line.

wowfudge · 20/02/2019 11:13

Don't skimp on the overhang if you intend to use it for dining - 30cm is the minimum and 35cm is even better.

Original poster

WorrisomeHeart · 20/02/2019 11:13

That’s a really good thought wowfudge I was trying to think how to avoid the diner seating look of everyone in a row. Will have a play later. Thanks!

OP posts:

PalmTree101 · 20/02/2019 11:20

Are you going to build a utility cupboard around the WM? Looks kinda silly having a WM sticking out on its own over there.

wowfudge · 20/02/2019 11:23

It's not actually a WM PalmTree - it's standing in for a boiler

iknowimcoming · 20/02/2019 11:28

How many kids op? I'd have the island twice as long and cupboards back to back with overhang for stools on one end iyswim. Also do you already own the American ff? If not ditch it for built in - much bigger capacity wise and will look loads better imo - I don't like how it looks in the middle of that cupboard run personally. Are you able to move your hob onto the island if it's bigger? Much more sociable than cooking with your back to everyone imo

Original poster

WorrisomeHeart · 20/02/2019 17:21

2 kids and I’d planned originally just to have 2 stools but DH wants space for us all to sit up there.
No, haven’t already bought the ff so will definitely investigate that.

Palmtree hah sorry it’s a substitute for the possible undercounter boiler we will have - which I intend to have boxed in if possible.

The other thing I’m not totally happy about is the microwave so am now thinking of swapping that tall microwave unit for another double pantry maybe? And then putting the microwave under the island.

I was toying up with the hob on the island but worried about splashes?

OP posts:

wowfudge · 20/02/2019 18:38

A microwave in the island would be pita though, wouldn't it - at the wrong height for starters? We have the sink in our island, but we don't have anywhere near as much usable wall space as you do - think about extraction as well as splashes if you put the hob in it. I think you could make the layout of the units around the FF, or fridge and freezer, symmetrical and it would look better - shunt the FF to the left and leave the microwave where it is.

Original poster

WorrisomeHeart · 20/02/2019 19:00

Yes probably a pain! We had it like that in a holiday house once and I can’t remember the hassle factor.

So you think FF to the far left by the non washing machine washing machine? I was worried that would take it too far for it being usable when cooking?

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Original poster

WorrisomeHeart · 20/02/2019 19:00

Thanks for all the advice btw, it’s such a commitment so I’m nervous of getting something wrong!

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Shelbybear · 20/02/2019 19:13

That island is totally lost in that massive space. If this is solely going to be used as a kitchen diner (no soft seating anywhere) I would make that island a lot bigger.

I'd be tempted to have the cooker on the island so you can chat with family or guests as you cook. Would probably shorten the number of units at other side. Would need to play around with drawings to see what it looked like but don't be scared to ask for several different designs and more views of the room.

I've just done my kitchen a few months ago. My advice is to get a few different designs from different companies and visit showrooms. Put together the best parts of each design.

We picked one side of our kitchen straight from the showroom. We have pull up wall units that I did not even have on my radar, bigger pan drawers and some bottom pull out units (I added these) but all of which are symmetrical either side of cooker. I think it looks better if similar units either side.

I was a bit disappointed in some of the suggestions from some companies, they really wanted me to say exactly what I wanted, which I did but they didn't give me any good ideas 🙄 so I'm glad we got a few drawings.

Original poster

WorrisomeHeart · 20/02/2019 20:25

Here's the adjusted version - I like the island better like this and I've swapped the ff and pantries around. I've also replaced the confusing washing machine for a normal cupboard :D

Better do you think?

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wowfudge · 20/02/2019 20:53

I meant FF in the centre of the run of tall units will even amounts of talk units either side. Make the island longer! It's still too small.

wowfudge · 20/02/2019 20:57

What's to the right of the hob? Looks like an appliance of some sort.

Original poster

WorrisomeHeart · 20/02/2019 21:07

Ah ok! Lol, will give that a try too.

It’s a dishwasher on the right of the hob.

I’m worried about eating into the dining table or couch space with a longer island. How much movement space between things that aren’t units do you think? Still 1m?

OP posts:

wowfudge · 20/02/2019 21:26

Don't have the dishwasher there - put it to one side of the sink as they'll share the same plumbing anyway and it makes more sense when you think about emptying liquids out of mugs, pans, etc before putting them in the dishwasher. Use the units either side of the cooker for storing pans and cooking equipment.

I'd have the double sided part of the island at the sink end btw as it's great to be able to empty the dishwasher without moving from the spot.

wowfudge · 20/02/2019 21:31

What are the room dimensions and where are you thinking of putting your dining table?

You need 1.2m at the back of a chair (pushed in to a table or desk). Can you do a sketch floorplan and show how wide and long the room is?

lostlalaloopsy · 20/02/2019 21:39

I think the 2 picture with bigger island looks better in the space. I have just finished putting in a new kitchen, the island is 2.2 metres and has the sink in it along with the dishwasher and cupboards, it's a breakfast bar on the other side. My main advice would be is to make the island as big as possible!! Also we have a built in microwave, I would really recommend this as it saves wasting worktop space. I would post a picture but the kitchen is a tip 😉😉

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