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Kitchen - what do you wish you had done/included that you didn't

49 replies

strawberry2017 · 24/02/2021 07:46

We are due to renovate our kitchen in May and we are at the final stages of planning and then I need to purchase appliances.
My question to you is, what do you regret not including or doing when you had the chance?
I want to make sure I've thought of everything before we finalise things.
Smile

OP posts:
121hugsneeded · 24/02/2021 08:27

If you go through the 'kitchen lessons learned' thread and copy paste all the bits that are relevant to you, that's what I did. Found good appliances, my independent concept planner, where to look forward worktops etc etc .

saffire · 24/02/2021 08:29

Having a big double fridge freezer! I would've loved one of those.

solicitoring · 24/02/2021 08:32

I'm following this with interest as planning our new kitchen.

Things I know I want
Boiling water tap
Big pantry like cupboard I'm going to design the whole kitchen around this.
Space for all the gadgets eg sandwich toaster so they are not stacked on top of each other. I plan on writing an inventory of stuff we want to keep and coming up with somewhere for all of it. Likewise shelves the right height for the food I buy.
Clever bin / recycling. I need to research this but the recycling currently makes me depressed
Extra big fridge
Proper vegetable storage
Space for coffee machine so I don't have to move it to empty out the grounds.

Bubbinsmakesthree · 24/02/2021 08:36

Mistake I’ve made more than once is not planning the bin/recycling.

strawberry2017 · 24/02/2021 08:55

@121hugsneeded any tips on finding it? I've tried searching on the name you gave but cannot locate it? X

OP posts:
thelegohooverer · 24/02/2021 11:19

Make yourself a BIG cup of tea!
lessons learnt

murbblurb · 24/02/2021 12:39

I had an idea of fancy bin/recycling, but saw kitchens where it is built in. A right pain as extra door to open and three separate containers to take out.

Hence we have a rubbish bin and a recycling crate in a space under a counter. Recycling gets sorted outside, our council only asks us to separate paper/card anyway. So just one crate to take out, plus the bin liner when that is full. Much easier.

regret is not standing over the installer as we didn't spot all the screw ups. The tap was fitted off centre to the sink and the water only just goes in the half bowl. This is after ripping out the aerator.

MrsMoastyToasty · 24/02/2021 12:44

Paid more for RSJs and underpinning when we built the extension that the kitchen is housed in, so that we would not have needed to retain a central support pillar which is slap bang in the centre of the room.

strawberry2017 · 24/02/2021 17:55

@thelegohooverer thank you I'll give it a read once the kids are in bed! X

OP posts:
VeniVidiWeeWee · 24/02/2021 18:02

@strawberry2017

It's here:

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/1554664-The-MN-lessons-learnt-kitchen-thread

VeniVidiWeeWee · 24/02/2021 18:03

Beaten to it.

LittleOverwhelmed · 24/02/2021 19:28

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Pigtailsandall · 24/02/2021 19:32

We bought quite a basic kitchen but expensive worktops. I'd say invest in good worktops that last. We also got a good carpenter to come in at the end to add finishing touches and personal details - so the bog standard kitchen actually looks pretty unique!

strawberry2017 · 24/02/2021 20:54

@LittleOverwhelmed how are you having the 2 single ovens? I'm curious about this over the double oven option.

OP posts:
LittleOverwhelmed · 24/02/2021 21:39

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Earlybird00 · 24/02/2021 23:03

We had a larder built into one of the chimney breasts it holds so much and everything visible and easy to find

Kitchen - what do you wish you had done/included that you didn't
Loofah01 · 25/02/2021 09:54

Food waste and compost bins. I did the usual standard and recycling bins and just plain forgot about food waste and compost so now have two caddies sitting on the side of a new kitchen!

WinterIsGone · 25/02/2021 10:55

We have a walk-in larder, and I wish we'd put in a light!

MaryLennoxsScowl · 25/02/2021 11:12

Agree on getting a decent worktop with more big standard cupboards. Mine is solid wood and cost the same as the IKEA particle-board laminate, but I can sand out scratches and oil it if I want. I wish I’d paid more attention to the floor before installing the kitchen - should have done that first!
Are you working with all new items or do you have to work with any appliances etc you already have?

MaryLennoxsScowl · 25/02/2021 11:12

Sorry, that should say bog-standard!

Qc16 · 25/02/2021 11:36

@WinterIsGone

We have a walk-in larder, and I wish we'd put in a light!
Something like this would be good for your larder - many other options out there. www.auraglow.co.uk/ag585-auraglow-drawer-cupboard-lights-with-proximity-sensor-twin-pack-1683.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAst2BBhDJARIsAGo2ldU6v1GQDm8JtVR-fipcjrs8CAR12KQdc_GLdTo4BuHpo2Zy_rsCaRQaAl-HEALw_wcB
MariaAngustias · 25/02/2021 11:45

I have a kitchen with wooden worktops - look lovely but they are a right pain to keep looking good. They are for people who don't want to actually use the kitchen. Kitchen was in when we moved but I would love to change for composite.

Tianatiers · 25/02/2021 11:48

I wish we had left enough space for a massive fridge freezer! Ours is always jam packed and things are always falling out on me when I open the door. I feel like we need a bigger one but we only left enough space between our units for our tall thin one with fridge on top and freezer under.

mrsalfstewart · 25/02/2021 11:54

A waste disposal - gets rid of all leftover food (which is a lot as my 5 year old barely eats Confused!)

fruitbrewhaha · 25/02/2021 11:55

A place to towels and tea towels to hang up. Mine just loop over the oven handle.

Lighting is important. Builders will try for millions, you may need less but think about where the light will be in relation to you standing at the sink or using the worktop.

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