Kitchen Design - Very Small Kitchen

[ramblingsonthego]

We are moving into a new property that needs a complete kitchen refit. It is small at 2.99 x 2.37 and a U shape.

I want to cram a lot into it and I am confusing myself more the more I look at it and attempt the design.

We have a tall fridge freezer that needs to be incorporated. We also want a dishwasher, washing machine, tumble dryer (I had a previous thread about stacking these) and obviously oven and hob.

I also want as much cupboard space as possible.

Sadly the space by the window nearest the door is not wide enough to house a fridge freezer or stacked washing machine and dryer it is about 70mm to narrow so it will encroach over the window so it can be only undercounter appliance or cupboard.

Has anyone got any amazing designs or thoughts on how I can achieve what I want or do I have to forgo the tumble dryer?

I have attached the floor plan so you can see the limitations we have.

I think for a kitchen that small, a washer/dryer combi might be the best option - it’ll give you space for another cupboard, ie much needed storage space!
Can you have a wall of tall units on one of the non-window walls? Probably on the wall opposite the door if you want to keep your existing fridge (put that in top left corner) and then it’ll give you valuable storage space.

If that’s an option, I’d go for shelves or tambour units at each end (and maybe between the door and the window as tambour units are only 300mm deep) to keep things off the worktops... it’s easy for small kitchens to seem cluttered.

What’s the upstairs floor plan like? Is there space for a washer/dryer in or next to the bathroom?

Mine (photo attached) is slightly smaller than yours (2.5 x 2.3) and there’s no way I would have been able to fit a tumble drier in. I had to settle for a slimline dishwasher as it was.

The only way you might be able to work it would be to have a tower unit with an oven above another appliance, which would free up some extra floor space.

Stacked washer/drier on wall opposite window, fridge next to it. Try and have these either integrated, or behind a cupboard door. Then continue along that wall with tall wall cupboards that sit on the worktop -
that transitions nicely to the wall opposite the door which has hob with oven under and normal wall cupboards. Then window wall has sink and dishwasher.

Combi washer/dryer. Mine has been going ten years.

Or, knock through and take part of the other room.

Combo washer dryer and slimline dishwasher. Sink under the window. Stacked oven as per previous poster’s pic.

Have you tried the Ikea kitchen layout today? If you put all your measurements in accurately you should be able to play around with the layout and experiment.

TOOL. not today.

I currently have a washer/dryer and it has already broken down after 3.5 years. Just got a new one and really want separates this time around. I did think about putting it upstairs in the bathroom but I don't think there is enough space at all. There is an airing cupboard above the stairs head space but its not large enough for both. Maybe just a drier could fit?

I did wonder if we were trying to cram too much in.

would it be an idea to put the washer and dryer in the conservatory that would free up some space in the kitchen for another cupboard

You've got a big conservatory - could some of it be used as a utility space for laundry?

could you put your washer and dryer under the stairs?

Can you move the door further towards the conservatory end to allow you to fit the tall fridge/freezer on the interior wall behind the door? Washer/dryer (or combi) %can go at the far end from the window.

Is there room in the under stairs cupboard for the dryer? I'd use the conservatory as a utility room.

Depending on how much you cook, you could consider a plug in free standing induction hob that can be moved for more work space when needed. Definitely go for induction anyway. So easy to clean and can easily be used as work surface when not in use even when integrated. Go for a heat recovery tumble dryer. A bit more expensive but cheaper to run and they don't steam or heat up the area so can go in a smaller space, so could go in a cupboard or even bedroom. I have my washing machine and tumble dryer in my bathroom and it's brilliant. Clothes for washing can go straight into the machine, swap into tumble dryer and straight back into cupboards.

In a small kitchen, for the cupboards, consider a whole wall of cabinets (and drawers) only 300mm deep or thereabouts. That's the depth used for wall cabs, and matching doors are easy to get. You can buy them in 600 or 900mm heights, you will have legs on the floor-standing ones. Or you can order them from places like Benjamin James as full-height but shallow cabinets. Fill up any space above with top-boxes, just for neatness and to prevent dust and grime on top. Fix them on Hanging Rail.

If you have deep cupboards, you will lose stuff at the back, so shallow cupboards are easier to use. 300mm or 350mm will fit a large dinner plate (measure to make sure), frying pan, coffeemaker, toaster, ironing board, mop bucket. At extra cost you can have a worktop and working space above it, with a pull-down roller door to hide the stuff.

I'd recomment lots of big "pan drawers" low down.

If you use a competent carpenter or kitchen fitter, they can cut down drawers to fit. But you can order them in a vast range of sizes. Get Blum or Hafele brands with metal "boxes", cheap ones are generally rubbish. Examples

If you have deep cupboards, you will lose stuff at the back, so shallow cupboards are easier to use. 300mm or thereabouts will fit a large dinner plate (measure to make sure), frying pan, coffeemaker, toaster. At extra cost you can have a worktop and working space above it, with a pull-down roller door to hide the stuff.

I think a "tall wall" of units looks best in white gloss or pale colours. Bright or dark colours, or woodgrain, feels oppressive.

Your appliances will be 600mm deep, or a little more with pipes behind, so put them close to the drains and water supply.

You need more electrical sockets than you can believe possible.

Our kitchen is 2.44 x 2.39. We have combi washer/dryer (Bosch, so hope it will last). In the new kitchen we are planning to have a slimline dishwasher, built-under double oven, tall pantry, top box over fridge freezer. All wall cabinets will be tall ones, to maximize storage space, a hood extractor over induction hob will be installed in the bottom of the tall wall cabinet.

Put the washing machine and dryer upstairs. You use and store laundry upstairs anyway, so no need to bring it downstairs into kitchen.

That layout looks the same as a house I know & their washer and drier is boxed in under the stairs.

Fridge freezer on the left as you go in the kitchen, cooker opposite you. Sink under window and dishwasher on the right. It works well.

@ramblingsonthego: in my flat I have CDA washer dryer that is five years old and so far had not problems. Bosch in my current house is just under one year old. What make is your washer/dryer that broke after 3.5 years?

We have a wall of floor to ceiling cupboards which are 60cm deep and house our ovens/microwave at waist height. I'd agree with Piglet John that you can lose things at the back of deeper cupboards but I've put the stuff I rarely use at the back for that reason. If I were designing it myself I'd probably go for pan drawers under the ovens or Kessebohmer larder or tandem units to use the space more effectively.

If you keep your u shaped workspace, look at their Magic Corners - makes getting things out a lot easier.

Would it help if you had a false wall created to house a pocket door or the door hung to open into the hall so you don't have to allow space to get around it?

Do you need the downstairs toilet? If I was pushed for space in my kitchen I'd consider turning that into a utility which would free up valuable kitchen space.

Agree about the Kessebohmer swing-forward larder Much nicer than the rattly pull-outs.

I prefer the Le Mans corner, it has a smooth, quiet action.

[quote Lily7050]@ramblingsonthego: in my flat I have CDA washer dryer that is five years old and so far had not problems. Bosch in my current house is just under one year old. What make is your washer/dryer that broke after 3.5 years?[/quote]
Its a Bosch one. And the bearings went after 3.5 years. Now have another Bosch after they gave me a very good discount on this one. I have had combos for years and just want separates now. Will make life a lot easier.

I wonder if anyone tried to mix different finishes and colours in small kitchens?
I am thinking of having matte off white doors on base units that would be more prone to scratching and gloss grey or cashmere doors on the wall units so they reflect more light and make the small north-facing kitchen look lighter.
Do you think it may work or would not look good?