Putting in new kitchen!

[Eloisedublin123]

Hi all
I’ve a lovely problem!
For the first time ever in my life I’m designing a brand new kitchen. Not tonnes of money, we haven’t won the lottery! We are remodelling our ground floor, putting in a studio to rent out and as a consequence we are getting a new kitchen in a room where there wasn’t a kitchen before. And a new room leading off it actually which will house a bright sun room with roof lights and sliding doors leading to the garden.
I’d appreciate any top tips. I’ve never had an island and would love one. Would I put a hob or a sink in the island? I’d love a small breakfast bar at the island too. Rooms not huge - it’s T shaped. There’s no window too. Well there will be double doors leading to the garden sun room with sky light but no window for the sink to look out over!
Thanks I’m advance for any tips or things you may have learnt over the years!

You need this thread: MN lessons learnt kitchen thread. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/1554664-The-MN-lessons-learnt-kitchen-thread

Get a cup of tea, it's a long one!

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

this link should work

That thread is really helpful, OP. One of the things I've learnt from it (for when I was doing my kitchen) - is that if the room is big enough to have the hob and sink NOT on the island, then do so, and keep the island/peninsular clear for food prep and/or as a breakfast bar.

This is because soaking dishes left in the sink/drying stuff on the rack doesn't look great when it's on the focal point in the room. But if you have a hob there instead you could have to deal with cooking splatter near your bar seating area and will also likely either need to have an prominent looking overhead extraction fan or a very expensive pop up/internal one. But if it's a smaller room and you have to choose then go for the hob - at least it'll be more sociable when you are cooking.

Also pan drawers where you can, instead of cupboards - because it's a hassle trying to find stuff at the back of deeper cupboards. And preferably choose handles, not knobs - so you don't catch clothes on them (and also can open them with just a finger or two in a emergency if you've got messy hands).