Kitchen Islands and Bifold doors

[Passmethegin11]

Has there been a kitchen extension built in the past few years which doesn’t have both of the above. Most of the kitchens don’t have space for an island and it looks squashed in. Where has this obsession come from? Also painting everything grey!
I’m guessing kitchen islands and bifold doors will be the avocado bathroom suites of the future!

This thread is like the equivalent of saying “chairs! So dull! When will this mad newfangled craze for chairs ever end?”

I'm sitting in the living room looking out at my gorgeous garden where two robins are pecking at berries on the grass, a gorgeous clear view through the bi-folds. I had them open all summer until probably three weeks ago. It's changed the entire feel of this house, I adore them. Didn't go for them in the kitchen as I knew I'd rarely open them as the shadow of the house falls there so it can be quite shaded and therefor cool. Have french doors instead.

My Island has a double belfast sink and gorgeous vintage taps. I only really use it for trays and bulky items, the rest of the washing up goes in the dishwashers. Thanks to the threads on here, I remembered to buy two dishwashers. What a genius idea that was! I never have washing up around.

I didn't go for a grey kitchen, it's entirely white (as I said, can be a shaded side of the house so don't want dull). I'm loving it.

I really don't care if trends date a place, everything dates but the key surely is to buy what you love? My eyes tire of things eventually apart from pretty traditional looks so I do have a lot of fairly traditional furniture/sofa/ mirrors etc.

I was about to make a supposedly ‘clever’ riposte along the lines of oh yes chairs which have been around for thousands of years (If we include settles etc) and then I saw an amazing image of a concertina door in Pompéi (all wooden but definitely multi fold) and then remembered seeing the arabic equivalent of bifold in eg Seville/Morocco (not glazed) and definite stone cooking islands in Pompéi recently also ! Hmmm

If you have a beautiful garden to look at, I think a large picture window with opening glass doors to one side, or alternately grand sliders, can offer a more elegant solution than bi-folds, which can be fussy and untidy to open.

If you don't have a beautiful garden/view to look at, you shouldn't even consider bi-folds.

Islands can be practical, especially if they hold a second sink. But I'd only consider one in addition to, rather than instead of, a kitchen table.

What are grand sliders @Pitterpatterpettysteps? There were regular sliding doors the entire length of our garden view wall when we moved in but, obviously they only open back to half width. I can't see how going back to that is an improvement on opening full width. Mine open very tidily, smoothly and with ease. Maybe they were money well spent after all

I agree with you though, a kitchen table can't be replaced with an island. I am lucky enough to have a vast space so had room for two. Had I not, the island would have had to go but so glad it didn't. The storage it gives is tremendous and it certainly elevates the look of our new kitchen.

@Pitterpatterpettysteps If you don't have a beautiful garden/view to look at, you shouldn't even consider bi-folds.

Definitely agree with the above, you would need incredible views, not just a wooden fence and someone else's house

OP are you just going to quote those posters who agree with your odd comments for the rest of this thread ?

Is that not the done thing, I'm not sure?
Nor did I think my comments are odd, which seems to be the case as plenty of people agree with me.

Well, actually who am i kidding? You're right, it is the "done thing" on MN to only reply to opinions which match your own. No need to engage with the other comments other than to criticise our lack of originality and desire to look at an 8ft fence - apparently

I'm sorry I disagree with you and sorry the forum isn't just an echo chamber with everyone agreeing with you that bi-folds are a great idea in sunny Manchester.

You come across OP as if you think that unless you live in a house worthy of a magazine feature then you somehow shouldn't be allowed to make your home look the way you want it.

I look out on to a fence at the back of my garden. I'll take your advice and just brick up all the windows at the back of my house should I, to stop myself from getting upset everytime I remember how achingly naff I am?

It would not bother me one iota whether someone followed every trend, or decided to make their house look like a living museum, or had leepoard print on every wall. Unless you're selling it then nobody else's opinion really matters.

@itwaseverthus these are the grand sliders

idsystems.co.uk/sliding-doors/grand-slider-2/

Ah thanks! They look exactly like the sliding doors I skipped immediately after moving in I'm a 'more is more' kinda person when it comes to getting the fresh air in.

I'm totally bemused by the idea that bi-fold doors should only be considered when the view is "incredible" . Do sliding patio doors show less of the view?

And as for the poster suggesting more "elegant" ways of displaying the view through a window and glass door at the side, well that had me chortling.

I get the message that some believe that a house lacking the Hanging Gardens of Babylon should be bricked up at the back all together

I’m still waiting for the OP’s design tips for people who don’t have an incredible view and just live in a suburban semi... this perhaps?

BettyBoo that's perfect

@BettyBooJustDoinTheDoo thats very funny. But i won't say i like it in case I'm accused of being a sheep

I didn’t know starting a post about house design would case such anguish!! Many people do agree including estate agents lots of people think bi-folds in wet Manchester are a great idea, each to their own

Do you really think Manchester and above gets no dry weather at all? And do people not open their sliding doors and french windows in these areas too? Fully open french doors could let the same amount of water in as a set of small bi-folds. And sensible people do tend to close their doors when it's raining
You've just got a very negative view of bi-folds, and despite lots of people on this thread dispelling you're myths, it doesn't look like we're going to change that view!

Your, not you're

It's not that you are causing anguish Passmethegin11 , it's that your objections to bifold doors are genuinely funny

“Ah thanks! They look exactly like the sliding doors I skipped immediately after moving in grin I'm a 'more is more' kinda person when it comes to getting the fresh air in.“

They cost at least £20K. Perhaps you should have put them on eBay.

They glide smoothly back in one movement- no fiddling and folding

I might pass OP's quote on to the company we bought our bifolds from - bi-folds in wet Manchester are a great idea

They glide smoothly back in one movement- no fiddling and folding

They sound fabulous. But you do need a very wide building to give space for both the opening and the doors at the side.

The joy of bifolds is that those of us with a small house, or small space, can open it up to the elements and enjoy maximum open space

Africa2go a Freudian endorsement there