Kitchen woes

[chickensafari]

We are in the process of planning our new kitchen and need your help! We have a large kitchen diner but because of the location of two doors and two large windows we're really limited in the design.
The room has a large rustic fireplace at the dining end which we are keeping, and an original low beam which would interfere with tall cupboards, so the kitchen needs to be at the other end of the room.
We've had three designs done now by different companies, and they're almost identical but we don't feel they're going to work for us for a number of reasons;

• lack of storage space once a full size dishwasher/ bin and fridge units are in
• undercounter fridges x2 rather than a tall larder fridge (freezer is in the utility room)
• no upper cupboard near the kettle for mugs/tea/coffee etc
• everyday glasses would need to be kept in a low cupboard

One possible storage solution is having a large free standing larder cupboard in the diner end of the room, and maybe a dresser for occasional glasses and crockery but we wouldn't want to be back and forth too much.

The room is actually much bigger than it looks on the 3D pictures, there is more than 2.5 meters between the fireplace and the door, I can post measurements if it helps.

I know that the space is compromised by the doors and windows but wondered if you clever folks could suggest any improvements to bring us closer to what we want?

Huge thanks

Any feedback on these layouts? Which works best? Thanks 😊

I like the appliance garage idea, as there is currently nowhere on the counter for the toaster either!

I’m just not sure if a double width peninsula would look odd? Would it look like an island attached to the wall?

There won’t be a TV in there, and no need for any non kitchen storage either. I will possibly add a comfy chair or two in there once I’m sure of the layout (if there’s space).

Thanks loads, I will look into appliance garages! Any idea how to spin one to a grumpy old farmer who wants a dusty old freestanding kitchen without any newfangled nonsense in? 😂

I think you need to talk your DH around about the island! The island layout definitely works best. Having your tea/coffee etc at the other end of the room in option 1 will become a huge pain, and the larder and fridge next to the peninsula in option 3 will be quite awkward - imagine that you are plating up on the peninsula when various family members are trying to get drinks out of the fridge, for example. Also, the appliance garage on the peninsula will be awkward to use as they are usually wall unit depth rather than 60cm depth of full height units and appliances. You'll be forever reaching round the larder unit unless you have a half depth larder, but that will look weird next to the fridge....

You have my sympathies, we have an awkward kitchen space with annoyingly positioned doors and I'm going round in circles trying to plan ours.

How about adding a cluster of tall units at the end of the island - either integrated fridge or a "housing" for a freestanding one. On the back, bookshelves or a shallow unit, on the end, appliance shelves like @Acovic's pic.
Also turn the sink round so there is a definite flow from washup area to clean/storage area.

how attached are you to having a range cooker? i had a similar issue - gap of about 45 cm next to a window and in the end put in a cut down cupboard down to the worksurface and then tall units housing oven, integrated fridge and integrated freezer. you only have room for two tall units plus the corner unit. We use the corner unit for the toaster and coffee maker. its a bit of a pinch point in the kitchen but best use of the space. this is what we did

I agree it'll all be a bit awkward with shallow shelving and a full depth fridge and larder @FuglyHouse, best of luck with your kitchen planning.

That looks like a good solution! @NotMeNoNo I'll ask the designer to mock it up and see what it looks like in 3D. I really appreciate the time you've taken to think it through.

I’m wondering if you need to really embrace the whole ‘farmhouse kitchen’ concept rather than a ‘kitchen/diner’ … that is, kitchen round the outside of most of the room, and a big farmhouse table in the middle. Perhaps an armchair over towards the fire, and space for a big shaggy dog in front of it

I agree with spring chicken

Would you consider changing the 2 windows for one larger central one?

You could then put wall cupboards up either side.

My first flat had no wall units. I preferred it. The tea and coffee etc simply went in the cupboard directly beneath the kettle.

If you did do the larder cupboard/tall fridge thing I would have it all as tall doors that when you opened the middle 2 would reveal hidden cupboards and shelves with all your mugs/kettle etc.

I have friends with a 1.5 width peninsula- half depth cupboards on the dining side for the glasses, serving dishes etc. Works well as it’s not island width but gives a decent amount of worktop too.

@Springchickpea I think that's what my DH would be most comfortable with I think, maybe I'm making it more complicated than it needs to be. We have a few shaggy dogs that woud be up for that suggestion! It's just quite a large room so I don't know if the kitchen table would be a bit lost on its own in the middle of the room.

@SpacePotato unfortunately we would have to get agreement from the Council to change the size or number of the windows and that's a battle I haven't got time for. We really do have to work with what we've got. I like the idea of a hidden worktop inside the larder cupboard for toaster and kettle though.

Double width peninsula with pull out sub zero fridge drawers, appliance garage at the wall end and crockery etc on the table side. Plenty of worktop (which I'd say you were short of at single width), storage, and nothing high.

Please? Someone has to benefit from the insane number of hours i spent researching fridge drawers I can't afford!

I agree farmhouse kitchens need to be simple, intuitive spaces where you can see where to go and everything is in easy reach. I don't think it's the kind of space for a sleek minimal look with everything behind doors, and it wouldn't have any character that way.
However everything does still need a home so that it's easy to keep tidy or put the room to rights after meals.
Those big kitchens with an Aga and a huge farmhouse table in the middle are great but IME do involve a lot of walking round the table.

If you get it right your kettle/coffee/breakfast things could all be on the peninsula and then the section near the windows is free for actual meal cooking. Or have the kettle and tea things L of the sink, and the peninsula for spreading out space/baking/unloading shopping.

What you don't want is a huge kitchen where only one bit of worktop is useful and everythign crowds into that space while the rest becomes a dumping area.

I don’t know if it’s already been said but would you consider moving the hob to the island/peninsula?

I know it’s a love/hate thing. I love being able to cook facing the room rather than facing a wall and find it very sociable.

It would allow you put tall units where your cooker was, and you have lots of workspace under the windows.

Yes it’s not easy because your room is large enough for the separation of space into two halves, but the layout is making it tricky. The modern trend for kitchen plus dining space works well in some houses but not all. I think you could have a really good go of it in a more traditional farmhouse kitchen layout, with a big old table in the middle. You will lose the space in front of the fireplace anyway if you choose this option but I think it will be much more pleasing to live in.

Sorry, my brain is too foggy at the minute to be terribly constructive, but I just want to say that my (much much smaller) kitchen has the same problem with 2 doors like that leaving a U to use. So frustrating, but at least you have a lovely fireplace & a LOT more space!!

& secondly I've lived with an under counter fridge since I moved in & was looking fed to a full size F/F when I redid the kitchen. However, last year, due to the pandemic I decided to buy a F/F then instead.

I'd sell my first born before I went back to an undercounter fridge!!

Even though it's in the bloody way where it is now because it's in the old layout, I'm still so happy to have it!

I don't understand why a peninsula but not an island? With 2 doors that would really annoy me not being able to enter the kitchen without walking around the peninsula from one end. Plus islands look nicer!

In lots of homes lately there has been a kitchen table right next to the island. I think without the island the table might look a bit betwixt & between. I kind of think you need the island to create the walkway between the two doors

Fiddle with your design to make the kitchen work for you. Things that don't work will just keep annoying you!!

Have you had an independent, bespoke kitchen designer, maker/fitter design and quote for you? As they are not governed by unit manufacture size anything is possible. They can work with any features you wish to retain or any unavoidable
Obstacles. Contrary to popular belief they aren't always hugely expensive in comparison with the likes of Wren/Magnet etc

PS do persuade DH to go for an island. A peninsula visually cuts a good sized room in half.

If you could make the window smaller by the sink
Move the sink up a bit
Put in a fridge freezer?

You'll have plenty of light with other windows and doors etc

Hi @chickensafari, what if you put your cooker in the island. Then you could put the fridge and larder on that wall. Move the sink to quite far down the length of cupboards and you will have loads of usable counter space and a clear path to put dishes away in a freestanding dresser by the door. You could have room for a couple of cozy chairs next to the fireplace maybe too! People would get used to the very slight detour around the island.

In terms of convincing a grumpy old fashioned husband of things, my technique is to lean in to the foible: islands are actually old fashioned, although in the past they would have been a big table that doubled as the servants dining table. It’s the peninsula that’s a modern invention!

Don’t be using new fangled words like “appliance garage” when you can say “tidied away”, “keeping the work top clear” and “out of your way”

If you feel your table would be lost, would you consider replacing it with a bigger, more solid one that is better proportioned to the space?