Kitchen plan....any thoughts ?

[DangerCake]

We are getting an extension built. This is the suggested plan. The first tall cupboard is a freezer, the last in the run, nearer the sink, is the fridge.

Never had a kitchen from new before....

Would help if I’d attached the photo

I am also planning a new kitchen. Im on about my 5th design Personally, I would have the fridge and freezer together, and the oven on the end close to counters for when you are taking things in and out to put them down easily. There also doesn't look to be much worktop space..

This might be a silly question, but who designed your kitchen? We’ve just bought a house to renovate and don’t know how you go about planning things like new kitchens. I’d just have done it myself but expert advice would be good

Where’s the wine fridge

Local furniture company who do supply and fitting of kitchens.

There’s also someone called Karen at one plan who gets recommended on here a lot....

I would move the hob and island so that it is central more central, rather than further up one end. With fridge and freezer on one side of the hob and oven and other units on the other. That way you don't have too walk far to anything, and I think symmetry would be more pleasing on the eye.

Also I don't know if the flooring design is what you are planning but I think the grout colour is too harsh and doesn't compliment the cabinetry. I would opt for mid oak wooden floors if you have the budget.

I think not having the fridge and freezer together is just daft, and with that much floor space, I would make the island larger.

I should have explained, the far end is going to be a dinin* room with doors on to garden. The double doors open on to family room.

I think fridge and freezer work better together, and that you need somewhere to put things when you take things out the oven.

Could be cramped if someone is cooking on the hob and someone is trying to use sink

you need somewhere to put things when you take things out the oven.

Definitely. Excellent thought. I hadn't even noticed that when I looked at your plans. It could actually be dangerous to not be able to put something down quickly coming straight out of the oven.

Is the door on the left a main entrance into kitchen...if so...first thing you see when you come in is a sink, a tap and any stuff drying on the side.

Could be cramped if someone is cooking on the hob and someone is trying to use sink

Another excellent observation. Also, are you going to have a dishwasher? It doesn't look like it's part of the island where the sink is, which isn't convenient either.

Can you show us a birds eye view. It looks very long and narrow, too little work surface, I would have a sink against a wall.

too little work surface

I wholeheartedly agree with this. Not nearly enough work surface.

I wouldn't have the sink on the island. I'd rather nothing there but I'd put the hob there if I had to, rather than the sink. All those pots and pans and glasses and drying up that will constantly gather around the sink will drive you mad.

Where are your tea towels hanging and where are your bins going?

Id swap the hob and sink. If the intention is to have people sitting at the island whilst the house chef potters creating master pieces, they may want to be facing your guests/ family whilst doing this. I'd also go for a 2 ring hob. Then have a spare extra portable ring in a drawer/ cupboard to pull out on those once in a blue moon ocassions I need an extra ring. Maximise clean clear work space.

By having the sink against the wall piles of dirty dishes/ pans can be kept more out of sight by use of mood lighting I.e. the lovely clear island all lit, lights off over sink area.

Against the wall, you could also fit a drainer in a cupboard over and use a lift up door so you dont bash your head.

In my last house I went for a double bowl sink for washing up/ veg prep, plus a seperate tiny drink sink with hot water tap over. If you feel flexible about sink/ hob location could have a tiny drink sink at one end of the island. The advantage of the double sink was that I could load one with dirty pans waiting washing and they couldn't be seen sitting at the dining table.

Have you thought about where your bins are going?

Go for loads of power sockets and the double ones with usb plugs either end of the island so mobiles etc can be charged.

I wouldn't have the sink on the island. I'd rather nothing there but I'd put the hob there if I had to, rather than the sink. All those pots and pans and glasses and drying up that will constantly gather around the sink will drive you mad.

Another excellent observation I agree with. The clutter of drying dishes smack dab in the middle of the kitchen would make me crazy

I don't think it's a very inspiring design to be honest.
I would have a much bigger island to give you more worktop usable space and somewhere to put things when they come out of the oven.
Fridge and freezer need to be together.
The oven has been put in the middle of the units for symmetry, not for any practical reasoning.

Difficult to see from the perspective on the plans but I would suggest that there is very little worktop space with nothing close to the oven.

I'd be trying to think how I cook certain meals - get stuff from fridge, chop (where?), start cooking on hob, put things in oven, throw bits into dishwasher... Are there drawers under the job to keep wooden spoons, cooking utensils, pans? Where will the crockery live - will you have to empty the dishwasher and carry everything across the kitchen? If you are cooking dinner can anyone get past? Does it work for two people in the kitchen at once? I'm not keen on having a sink on the island as all of the washing up becomes a focal point.

The flooring doesn't work for me - it looks too 'clinical' particularly for a dining area.

Do you really need an island? I know they are fashionable but there doesn't seem to be much space behind it. A birds eye view would help to see the space better.

We recently had a u-ish shaped kitchen and it's given us much more freedom in terms of where the dining table can go.

Agree with a PP that the seats on the island unit are impractical. If you're hoping to chat to people whilst you're cooking you'll have your back to them. If they are for the kids doing their homework and chatting about their day they wouldn't want to be sitting across from the sink.

The flooring doesn't work for me - it looks too 'clinical' particularly for a dining area.

Yes. Looks like an operating theatre. A wooden floor would soften the look.

What’s the gap between the island and the wall or unit run. If anyone is sitting there will you be able to walk behind them. Overall it looks very unbalanced. I can’t see the point of the island when you could have units along the opposite wall and more generous space in the middle.