Kitchen configuration in new house!

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I've read previous posts at length and would love to get involved to glean some of the amazing thoughts from the hive mind here.

We will be reconfiguring our ground floor, which will include a 3 x 6 extension, and today had our first kitchen design appointment. I have also been playing around with options but I am more spreadsheets than creative!!

Hopefully the pics help, but we will have a large open plan kitchen / casual seating and dining area (with a separate living room, utility and study) - the kitchen will go where the current one is (on the right).

Any thoughts on how we could best utilise the space or any glaring issues with the Wickes design?

On the Wickes image; H = hob, O = oven, Fg = fridge and Fz = freezer.

Just to add, we will be getting quotes from several companies before deciding on who we go with (DIY Kitchens don't do the handleless shaker I am after (boo!)), it was just Wickes who had availability for us 😊

There are 4 corners in the kitchen. I still think the kitchen should be in the new space which is bigger and could accommodate dining or sitting area. Then the bifold doors open to the garden from this area where you can dine in the sumner. This layout for a kitchen is what I had 40 years ago. If you are remodelling (and I’ve done it) you should be stuck in a rut. We moved our kitchen out if it’s position (drainage, water, electrics) but we gained so much in terms of how we use the house and the space.

Anyway - I’ve said my piece!

You should not be stuck in a rut.....

You might be better off getting a proper designer on the job. Karen at OnePlan gets lots of recommendations on here . You can find her on Houzz or I have seen some old posts from on here too ( but nothing recent )

Agree it would be worth getting a professional to look at it. To me it still looks a bit awkward. That seating area with stools really blocks the flow and the gap in the middle feels a bit large. If you don't need the utility door then perhaps look again at an island design but put (more) units along the bottom and right and a smaller island. Alternatively it would be a good spot for a cosy sofa area so it might be worth asking what the cost of moving the kitchen utilities would be.

Is there room to put the kitchen where the corner sofa is now? With the space by the door being a table plus an armchair or small sofa if needed?

Then turn all the old kitchen into a big utility etc & with all appliances in?

I would prefer to cook Im a kitchen open to the living space.

If you have a separate lounge do you need such a massive seating area here.... would you not be better off with larger kitchen and smaller snug like area.

Hob in new layout is in an awful place. And in previous place or wherever you put it do not forget to think about extraction. Especially with a big space you need to suck away the pan smells.....

Its def better but its not right. You know running a couple of pipes isn't that expensive in the scheme of a remodel. You have to have electrics anyway in the new area so that is neither here nor there. You need a serious think. Spending money and not doing it right always seems bonkers to me

In terms of removing walls and remodelling, moving the services does not feel too expensive when it’s justified. Yes. It’s needs to be right. I would then have an island looking out over the garden.

The seating area with stools will get in the way of entering the room. You'll want a clear walkway and view from the door from the hallway. Also agree that a job there is a terrible idea too, you should put it on the right side instead. Also I'd never put a TV in a large open space, it's just a crap way to watch TV with the rest of the sounds from the kitchen. People will turn it up as they can't hear it and then you've just got TV sounds in the whole space even if you're not nearby. I'd put a good sound system in, music works much better in a big open space.

Even more comments - thank you all! Sorry in a delayed response (last minute xmas bits needed sorting!) - I have had a shuffle of spaces... Any thoughts?

I just can't see how best to have an island - I think we will definitely engage with a professional, I just want to have a good idea of things prior as every penny is important for this!

Said it on each post, but massive thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts - whatever tomorrow will look like for you, I hope you have a lovely day 🌲

I do think you really need to be guided by a professional, now the sink is so exposed on the end, unless you're a tidier person than 99% of the population, you'll always have stuff waiting to be washed up or things on the draining board, it'll never look neat. I don't understand having a lounge area at the back of your house and oriented with your backs towards the garden towards a TV. What's your lounge at the front like?

You do seem to like corners in kitchens. You also have tall units in the way of corners which virtually blocks them off.

What I would do is take the kitchen down into the dining area and use most of the long wall and the back wall. You can use the storage in the dining end for things you don’t use as much. Keep taller units in the kitchen end. Think about food storage near the fridge freezer and having a prep/ cooking zone around the island. You need at least 1m to walk around an island.

Therefore the two long walls give you the chance to space out your fridge/freezer from your ovens.

Make the island smaller. If you have a huge dining table it’s possibly not a good idea to add yet more seating in the kitchen area. Put the dining table over to the right under the window. Does it need to sit 8 every day of the week? Is it an extending one? Have folding spare chairs?

I agree that a kitchen planner would help you make better use of space. I have my hob in the island so when I cook, I look out over the garden and it’s easy to plate up on an island and pass it to the dining table in your set up.

Place lounge furniture looking out. But that’s a small detail when compared to the kitchen.

Try these designs out.

Or these.

I'd rotate the table 90 degrees so it's lengthways in your view from the door, run the cupboards in an l shape as pps suggest from the left hand side of the double doors right round to the bifolds then if you've space run an island down the centre of the room, don't waste cupboard space on barstools unless you're sure they will all be used at the same time a lot! Chances are people will sit at the dining table where it's more comfy, most people only need 2 barstools for occasional use.

I'd have the fridge and freezer nearest the doors on the left where you go in as that's what's used most when you're not 'in' the kitchen (for drinks etc) so it makes sense to have it near the doors. I wouldn't have a hob or sink in the island unless it's double depth because of water/oil splashing onto the floor beyond.

You get a lot more storage in a double width island. Useful on the far side for thinks you don’t use quite so much. I have a veg prep sink on one end of my island and the hob around 3/4 of the way down. So prep and cooking is convenient. Fridges, freezer and larder unit are handy.

Well I am going to put the cat among the pigeons here, have you started any of the build yet?
If not, I would change the plans. Dont build extension out so far but take it across the full width of the house. With your current plans as you look at them, I think you are creating an outside area infront of your kitchen to the right of your dining/sitting area that looks lost/wasted or unused. If you were to change the plan you would have more kitchen space. If you are trying to keep the kitchen more separate you could use some contemporary screening.
Sorry, just my thoughts.
That aside, in a previous house, I had a hob in the island ( on the longer side) the oven and fridge were in the run behind me. I thought it worked well. Bar chairs were at the opposite end to hob.

@165EatonPlace - very true and it would mean the kitchen wall could move up and square up the utility and study rooms which would be much better IMO. The utility room will be tricky to fit out with appliances and/or cupboards with the non-square walls

Interesting to hear all the comments, some just don’t suit our style or what we are looking for - but it’s good to hear them to ratify what we definitely do / don’t like 😊

Can you get 3m across the back with permitted development?

Ooh nearly there op. What if you run the units down into the dining area for storage space. Then you can still have the island between kitchen and dining table....cant tell dimensions but looks like there is space.

As in the bit which says stools and sink is the island incase that wasn't clear!