Kitchen layout

[FeltTipPenny]

I'm after ideas please.

What do you think of the layout pictured? I'm worried there isn't a long enough run of counter space all together. Would it look weird to shift the sink to the left if you were standing looking at it and put the hob to the right along the same side?

I'm open to any suggestions, although I don't want an island and definitely not under counter fridge (can't stand crouching down to use the one I currently have!). I have a big dining table on the other side of the room.

This design was done about a year ago but we postponed and are starting to think about it again now. Just a replacement, no extension.

Thanks!

You spend a long time standing at the sink so a window is great. I think that’s quite nice actually.

Could you put the oven and tall unit on the door wall to make a u shaped kitchen? Would give you a bigger run of worktop next to the hob.

Did you use IKEA design planner?

@lboogy not Ikea, this is a design that Magnet did and printed out for me.

@Primotomb I like your thinking but don't think there is enough space for the two full height parts. There's only about 120cm of wall between the front of the unit and the door frame, plus there's a radiator there.

The other thought I had was to scrap the single top unit on the left of the picture and put some nice open shelves instead.

I would definitely scrap the single wall cupboard if you can. Will feel much more open. A couple of shelves would be much better. You could even put a decorative glazed wall display cabinet there (there’s a few around at the moment in black metal or brass or wood) as a feature to hold any pretty china/glasses etc.

I’d also put a false cupboard above the hob (with the cooker hood hidden in it) just think it will look better with an unbroken run.

If you need extra storage or worktop how about a short peninsula coming off the end of the sink run? Or would that be right where you come in when you walk through the door?

PS if budget allows do change more of your lower units to drawers! Fit so much more than a cupboard and so much easier to use.

PPS the higher oven looks way too high to be safe

Also, I know you don’t want an island, but what about some kind of butchers block or trolley that lives over by the ovens (as a place to put hot items when eg basting) but can be wheeled into the middle or wherever you want a bit of extra worksurface?

@minipie - totally agree about that top oven, we didn't get as far as moving around what the designer put in but they would both need to come down a bit. There would be an extractor over the hob to fill that space.

Love the idea of a trolley behind the door, will definitely look into that.

A peninsula might be ok. The back door is next to where that run stops and then the dining table so I think it could affect the 'flow' of the room. I like the open space we have now.

@FeltTipPenny

The other thought I had was to scrap the single top unit on the left of the picture and put some nice open shelves instead.

I think the layout looks really good and I like the sink where it is under the window. Where is your fridge/freezer, is it in the tall unit next to the built in ovens, or freestanding in your dining area ?

But yes if you don't really need that single top cupboard for storage, I'd get rid of it - either leaving that wall bare (or with a clock/picture) or having a couple of thinner width shelves would still look less obtrusive (but bare in mind anything displayed on shelves is a dust trap!)

@minipie

PS if budget allows do change more of your lower units to drawers! Fit so much more than a cupboard and so much easier to use.

Will think about that too. Along the left we have dishwasher and bins, then under the sink, then towards the corner there's a water softener inside the cupboard. Could possibly put more drawers along the back wall I suppose.

@IamnotwhouthinkIam yes the fridge/freezer is the second tall unit next to the oven.

Ok so everyone agrees with scrapping the single top unit. We have one there currently and now it's bugging me every time I look at it!!

We have the same amount of counter space but we don't have any overhead cupboards on the longer stretch of counter and it feels lovely and open. Ill try and attach a pic.

Is the tall unit between the hob and the ovens the fridge? If so, I'd consider swapping them round so you've worktop next to the oven.

I second having as many drawers as you can - all our crockery and pans are in drawers and it's so much easier to get at things and get them out. I'd consider not having a bin or bins in a cupboard in order to have more drawers. You've plenty of space for a separate bin.

@IstandwithJackieWeaver

Is the tall unit between the hob and the ovens the fridge? If so, I'd consider swapping them round so you've worktop next to the oven.

I second having as many drawers as you can - all our crockery and pans are in drawers and it's so much easier to get at things and get them out. I'd consider not having a bin or bins in a cupboard in order to have more drawers. You've plenty of space for a separate bin.

The designer did the ovens/fridge the other way round for that reason but I got him to swap them. My logic was its useful when you are getting various things out of the fridge and have somewhere to plonk them, or you can put a bag of shopping on the counter and unpack into the fridge. Not having that would annoy me more than having to walk an extra few steps with something from the oven.

We have a very similar layout except we have worktop opposite the sink too (more like a u-shape. And tbh there isn’t much useable worktop between the sink and hob, especially since we have our microwave in the corner.

[quote FeltTipPenny]@IamnotwhouthinkIam yes the fridge/freezer is the second tall unit next to the oven.

Ok so everyone agrees with scrapping the single top unit. We have one there currently and now it's bugging me every time I look at it!![/quote]
I must admit I'm not keen on having fridge/freezers next to ovens (just seems energy inefficient somehow having hot right next to cold). Could you have the tall fridge/freezer unit where the single cupboard and lower unit are on the other wall instead? That would make a nice practical triangle between fridge, sink and hob/oven and it looks like there should still be a bit of worktop space between the fridge and the sink.

The fridge would also then be closer to the dining area too - always handy!

Could you put the water softener in the blind corner? Appreciate it may need some clever kind of rig up to be able to feed it salt and service it, but seems like a sensible use of the blind space if you can manage it.
Alternatively will it fit under the sink?