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Original poster

Kitchen appliances & positioning

66 replies

Sunisshining12 · 04/07/2020 13:57

Hi all, after your opinions please:

Option 1: 2 ovens + microwave + coffee machine in a grid/quad with full height larders either side.

Option 2: 1 oven + 1 oven/microwave combi (side by side), full height larders either side & coffee machine elsewhere.

I feel like the coffee machine gets a bit ‘lost’ in a grid & want it to be a bit of a feature.

But then I’m not sure what an oven/microwave combi is like in reality. Can’t get my head around it having no turntable. Are they as easy & quick to use as standard microwaves?

I have small kids & do an average amount of cooking I guess. Have family over weekends.

Warming drawers: good or never use?

Dishwasher - 1 or 2?! Does anyone have 2 & regret it?

Hose tap or standard tap?

AEG, Neff or Siemens? Or Miele if budget allows?

Opinions & advice welcome :)

OP posts:
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intheningnangnong · 04/07/2020 14:39

We are have group of 4 - 2 x single , 1 x combo, 1 x coffee, plus 2 x warming drawer as I often use my oven to keep stuff warm. 2 x larder cupboards either side.

I’ve used a combi before and they work well.

We will have 2 dishwashers as I cook a lot and there is always stray stuff that gets on my nerves.

I want 1 large bank of tall cupboards and then all lower to max out work surface and the quad group made the most sense.

intheningnangnong · 04/07/2020 14:42

Hose tap definitely.

We will have a prep sink and hot tap ‘cube’

Full height fridge and full height freezer too, but counter height wine cooler.... or I’d just have no liver left!

TimeWastingButFun · 04/07/2020 14:49

No way could I cope with just one oven, and a microwave is very handy. I would do away with the coffee machine and have a really nice cafetière and good ground coffee.

Original poster
Sunisshining12 · 04/07/2020 14:50

@intheningnangnong - thanks for replying, sounds very similar to our layout! Problem for us is we have a 1.9m wall that needs to be ‘used up’ with full height fridge, freezer and ? Either full height wine cooler (but that is A LOT!) or coffee machine with drawers underneath - which then breaks down the quad! Any ideas?

OP posts:
TimeWastingButFun · 04/07/2020 14:55

Also, I've had a combi microwave but wouldn't again. You can't use it as a microwave for ages after using it as an oven as it's so hot inside, and as it's so small any food can spit on the ceiling while in oven mode and it's really hard to clean. I'd choose minimum 2 ovens plus separate grill/small 3rd oven if possible and separate microwave.

TimeWastingButFun · 04/07/2020 14:56

Dishwasher a must, but two seems excessive. We have a butlers sink and old fashioned single mixer tap but regret not having a hose tap.

intheningnangnong · 04/07/2020 14:58

I’d have 2 x fridge! I would also have a full height wine fridge and learn to live with it Grin

I did find a beer dispenser by CDA that fits in a hole the same size as an oven.

I’d want my drawers near the ovens though

pinky987 · 04/07/2020 14:58

I would not have a microwave/oven combination again as our microwave function doesn’t heat up enough for most things. I would choose two ovens for definite

LesLavandes · 04/07/2020 15:01

Warming drawer is brilliant. Never use my oversized coffee maker

intheningnangnong · 04/07/2020 16:36

@pinky987 that’s interesting. What make was it? We are having a new one and although I mainly heat up my breakfast, I want it to work. The one I’ve used before was fine.

Original poster
Sunisshining12 · 04/07/2020 17:34

If I go with 2 x ovens + a microwave it means I would have to have the coffee machine there too really. Not sure how else to go around it. Or have 3 appliances in a row but larders reduce to 300 each instead of 600 each?

The full height wine coolers look fab but don’t think I’ll ever have 120 bottles in! Was thinking coffee machine between integrated f/ff. possibly half size wine cooler below?

Thanks again!

OP posts:
Original poster
Sunisshining12 · 04/07/2020 17:35

Does anyone have 2 dishwashers?

OP posts:
pinky987 · 04/07/2020 19:35

Ours is Bosch and the max temp it will run at is 600 otherwise for any higher it will only run for a couple of seconds then reduce temp. It is only a year old so it is a new one.

pinky987 · 04/07/2020 19:35

With regards to dishwasher we just have one.

Original poster
Sunisshining12 · 04/07/2020 21:39

Argh - another issue, if we move the coffee machine it will need to be quite shallow (as there is a pillar). Max 370 deep x 500w. Do these exist integrated?!

OP posts:
intheningnangnong · 05/07/2020 08:20

Put your plan view & pics up.

I doubt you’d get a non standard machine. Everything is modular.

We are having our entire wall built out to hide a steel. It’s bang where my hob lands and totally messes up the layout to move it

Happydaysforever123 · 05/07/2020 08:30

Definitely get a warming drawer, they're brilliant. I've got a neff combination microwave oven with no turn table, it's perfect, I use the highest setting frequently. I haven't got space for two dishwashers, but if I had I'd have two like a shot.

Hopeandglory · 05/07/2020 09:52

I have 2 dishwashers, 2 ovens and a microwave in a cupboard. As I have a sink in the island with a dishwasher either side of it my island is always clear. I spent ages planning how I use the kitchen and would not change a thing. Full sized intergrated fridge and full sized intergrated freezer, bin drawers, waste disposal and boiling tap also brings me great joy.

My0My · 05/07/2020 10:22

We have a built in coffee machine but be warned, it goes wrong a lot. It has the most used manual in the house - the fault finder page. It’s a Miele Nespresso. It’s positioned between my 2 fridges and above my freezer. It has 2 drawers below it for storing the coffee and cups etc.

Other things that are vital in a big kitchen: two sinks. One for veg prep, another double for everything else near the dishwasher. At least two built in bins for separating recycling/waste. An induction hob and two ovens. My new one is a Miele and my older one is a Kuppersbusch but that’s now the equivalent of an antique!

My wine fridge (Leibherr) is in the laundry room. I’m not a fan of looking at it all the time. It’s wonderful though and it’s built under only.

My big tip is two fridges. Also a larder unit with shelves where you just have standard cupboard doors to access it. Mine is around 900 wide. Don’t have a pull out one. I have crockery draws below it. It looks attractive and I’ve had a pull out one I ditched.

I have a combi microwave. Yes they are as good as a turntable one. Way easier to clean a flat bed. Mine is a Neff and its 1000 power is great. Goes down to 90 for defrosting. Yes, they are hot after being an oven but that’s to be expected. It’s built in and it’s excellent. I don’t generally need it as a microwave after cooking in it.

My0My · 05/07/2020 11:11

One last thing: we have a Miele dishwasher. It’s built in and you barely know it’s on. It’s dBa is very low so always go for a quiet machine. In our holiday house we have an AEG dishwasher and it’s noticeably noisier.

PigletJohn · 05/07/2020 11:55

No prob with a combi microwave here, it's quite a large one and fits a 600mm cabinet.

Around your ovens is a good place to keep pans and utelsils, depending how tall you are you may keep some in a cupboard above or pan drawers below. Pan drawers can have a hidden pullout drawer for utensils and junk. The cupboards above ovens get warm so are not suitable for most food products as it will shorten their life.

IMO a coffee machine doesn't belong in the same tower as the ovens.

WaffleCash · 05/07/2020 12:46

The one thing I'd consider with a combi microwave is how long they last. I know my parents and a couple of work colleagues have ended up with combi microwaves not lasting very well (talking 6 years ish) and not being fixable (or cost so much to fix it is ridiculous) and then struggling to get a replacement to fit in the gap that looks ok alongside the existing oven.

My0My · 06/07/2020 01:19

I replaced my old microwave combi and didn’t have a problem. Same size was readily available. My old one lasted 12 years. I thought that was poor but I’d be mad at 6 years. Like everything else, buy high quality.

We actually keep breakfast cereals above the oven! I don’t want pans of cooking dishes above my head. The meusli keeps perfectly and no, not hot. Not even warm. A well insulated oven keeps the heat in the oven!

BlueCowWonders · 06/07/2020 06:58

@Sunisshining12

Does anyone have 2 dishwashers?
Yes me! 2 slimline dishwashers. I think I'd go for slim and full size if I were redoing the kitchen. Family of 5 and I never hand wash

Also 2 ovens plus combi microwave

I wouldn't have built-in coffee machine- friends always complain how it's always going wrong

Thesuzle · 06/07/2020 07:05

Have i read it correctly You are thinking about having larder cupboards both sides of the cooker etc arrangement ?
Where are you going to put a hot oven dish if not straight onto a work surface next to the oven ? Or are you going to turn around completely and put it down behind you ? Just thinking of small people whom lurk behind you, and the dangers of carrying hot oven trays and pans any further than you have to .