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Original poster

Critique plans

61 replies

mumdone · 20/04/2020 17:43

Hopefully you can see the kitchen plans. Utility, playroom, hallway and another lounge are missing from this. This is just our open plan kitchen. We’re not sure if we should add more windows to the left hand side of the kitchen? Either side of the mantle instead of the cupboards. Any other thoughts?
Ignore the colour we would have a light kitchen and the mantle is too much we would on my have a shelf mantle.

Critique plans
Critique plans
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homeschoolchaos · 21/04/2020 07:34

Ok, so the bench seating seems to just be wasting space? If you’re not going to have a table there (and I can’t see why you would because there is plenty of space elsewhere in the room) then you should think about trying to use this space. We have an American FF in this house (a french door one with fridge at top and a big drawer at the bottom - it’s great). We had fully integrated in our old kitchen with separate full height fridge and undercounter freezer which worked well too - if the utility is big you could instead put a full height freezer in there. A range cooker is an obvious choice but I’ve never been able to find one I really like. That said, we’ve had to stop mid kitchen fit because of the pandemic and if we had chosen a range then the hob would be working now. As it is we have no worktop so no sink/hob

Original poster
mumdone · 21/04/2020 07:53

Oh no! Hopefully work will start again soon.
Yes it is wasted space.
I really like those style fridge freezers. We already have another large fridge freezer in the garage. So Maybe we don’t need one in the utility.

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Original poster
mumdone · 21/04/2020 07:54

I do like ranges. I’ve had one in a previous extension however I liked the idea of eye level ovens as no bending down.

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homeschoolchaos · 21/04/2020 08:20

I agree - I’ve chosen separates over a range twice now. Partly on aesthetics, partly on ease of use, and partly because at the time which said that the separates perform better. We have Neff slide and hide oven plus combi micro and they’re great, stacked on top of each other.

Lonecatwithkitten · 21/04/2020 08:22

If you enjoy cooking you have no where enough work space for chopping prepping and organising.

orlarose · 21/04/2020 08:54

Overall I do like it, it is my style. The main thing for me I the lack of worktop. I know that in theory that island is providing lots but if people are sat at the island that is lost. I do know someone with toaster/kettle and all breakfast foods etc in a larder, as far as I'm aware they just slide it forwards so it's clear of the cupboards above, takes very little effort.

Normalmumandwife · 21/04/2020 09:27

Yes is nice. We did something extremely similar 3 years ago...so my thoughts which of course is generally personal preference.

The bench area. I would have used this for working top and more cupboards and freed the sink from the island...I changed ours and really glad I did as the island became a real social space even with visitors. You can't have too many cupboards! Don't forget to make sure you have enough drawers as well....I didn't and miss them

The lantern. Have you thought what direction the sun comes around? Depending on that you might end up with blazing sun at some points of the day with no option for blinds? We ended up opting for a proper roof as opposed to flat as others around us had done similar with lanterns and flat roofs and they just always bloody leak..despite architects telling neighbours they are much better now. We opted for a proper roof, Velux windows and blinds which for 3 months during summer we have to use for the first part of the morning as the sun blazes in and would have rendered it an unusable space

Where are you getting the kitchen....we used DIY kitchens...much cheaper and brilliant.

Enjoy it when completed

Original poster
mumdone · 21/04/2020 09:45

Wonderful thank you. Good advice about sun and windows we had 2x south facing gardens with lots of glass and it is really hot!! Not sure yet when we are going to get the kitchen.

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Normalmumandwife · 21/04/2020 09:50

Oh...and I changed the bi folds to large sliders..I am really glad I did as more streamlined and less to go wrong. We had 4.5 m opening and just 3 panes if glass and is fab. Also avoided the internal blinds....they are really susceptible to failure so have pull across vertices which also work well....ironically going for sliders and pull across saved a fortune

Original poster
mumdone · 21/04/2020 09:57

I love sliders I just want to complete open up the space though.

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Original poster
mumdone · 21/04/2020 09:58

Which kitchen did you get from DIY? We are looking there, units on line, and some bespoke options.

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Soontobe60 · 21/04/2020 10:04

You need as much worktop as possible. We have a built in oven and microwave, and an induction hob on the peninsula. This means that when we need a big area for parties etc, the whole space is useable. If you have a sink in your island, you'll never have this option. Plus unless you're mega tidy you'll always have pots etc on show. Our sink faces a wall, which I was concerned about at first, but it works perfectly well.

Normalmumandwife · 21/04/2020 10:06

Stanbury in grey www.diy-kitchens.com/kitchens/shaker/

Think carefully....although you do have a smaller space, on a gap that size when you pull the verticle blinds back it will take up a good metre of space unless you go for internal blinds. The stack of the doors will also take up similar space anyway. You will have far more doors on bifold as they have to be smaller due to the weight they place on the mechanisms so the view is also compromised. Also the glass is likely to be thinner and more flexible to cope compared with sliders....I know as my neighbour did a similar extension and were constantly in comparing and regretted the bifolds.

After we used them, we saw some negative publicity about DIY but I think it was a blip. Other friends used them recently and were brilliant

Good luck

Cottipus · 21/04/2020 13:15

Our sink faces a wall. It really isn’t a problem- we have a dishwasher and when I hand wash the odd thing I’m looking at what I’m doing rather than the tiles.

Also agree about the worktop run- for perspective this is a 2.4m run and the appliances take up half of it. I know that wall units are out of fashion but I love them- they hold so much and no bending over to get stuff out of the under counters.

I would definitely give over some of the bench seating area to the kitchen. Also, if possible I would leave some gaps in the design for the unexpected - we had to get a freestanding bin and it lives by the french doors as there’s no space for it.

Critique plans
homeschoolchaos · 21/04/2020 16:30

I agree - sink facing a wall is fine, had it in my last 3 kitchens, it’s practical actually, gives you somewhere to lean big trays and chopping boards. Just make sure cupboards above are really high/there aren’t any. This kitchen has a window behind the sink which is a little less practical imo

wehaveafloater · 21/04/2020 16:42

Surely the walkway space is too narrow? I thought it had to be 1.2m ?this clearly isn't so. Personally I prefer to keep the window seat and keep Sink in island .

Original poster
mumdone · 21/04/2020 17:07

No it’s too narrow. This will be changed and pushed back. I’m really doubting the window seat/ will it even get used. We will have an island for 4 a dining room for 8 and a snug in that area alone. Plus we have further reception room...

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OliviaBenson · 21/04/2020 21:12

I think the window seat could end up just being a dumping ground. It would in our house!

OpthalmosVerde · 22/04/2020 08:04

Unless you were putting a table in front of the built in benches surely no one would ever sit on them. Seems a perfect space for more worktop or sink. Where would you do your chopping/prep and using mixing bowls etc?

Original poster
mumdone · 22/04/2020 08:05

Thanks everyone. Yep it would become a drumming ground and I hunk better off as kitchen space. :)

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OpthalmosVerde · 22/04/2020 08:17

Well a drumming ground I could get on board with (image of a hippy drumming circle ‘serenading’ whilst you cook) SmileGrin

wehaveafloater · 22/04/2020 08:51

You should maybe give an independent designer a shout . OnePlan from Houzz or someone else who has loads of experience like she does .

YinMnBlue · 22/04/2020 09:08

I think a worktop next to an oven is essential. Where do you lay your bits and bobs for basting a joint? Put things down before putting them in the oven, put them down when you are moving things around in the oven?

With children or pets in the house you don’t want to be carrying hot stuff about to accomplish simple tasks.

Original poster
mumdone · 22/04/2020 09:19

Great advice everyone

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PlanDeRaccordement · 22/04/2020 09:31

Personally, I am not a fan of putting lounge furniture in open plan kitchens. It looks like an efficiency or studio flat with a sofa bed crammed into the biggest room in a home. You don’t need more seating space with a dining table plus island.

If it were my home, I’d get rid of the sofa and rug and either put in a writing/craft/sewing area for you or a homeworking/school project area for the kids or a large antique dining room sideboard/dresser.