Kitchen help

[ipredictacarrot]

I've asked for advice on here before but have since completely changed the layout for my new kitchen. Would appreciate some advice on the following - upstands vs splashbacks - can you have both and are glass splashbacks any good? Are built in microwaves any good - I like the idea of keeping it off the worktop but seems too high up if built in. Layout doesn't allow for a radiator - it is a south facing room and opens to dining room which will have a radiator. Will this be enough? Are the 2 full height cupboards next to the fridge out of place - could change these to wall and base units but feel this worktop wouldn't be used much so better to have extra storage. Also having a nightmare trying to pick colours/ worktop but I'll worry about that another time! Thank you

[Newnormal99]

I'd add a top box over the ff and have unit either side. It will look more part of the kitchen.

[FuglyHouse]

Your layout is almost identical to the current layout we have. Although the peninsula is useful as extra workspace, it's a bit of a pain walking around it to get to the units and fridge on the other side of the room, especially when people haven't put the stools back under the breakfast bar. It becomes even more of a nuisance as the space between the tall units and the peninsula is the main route to the dining space, so everyone gets in each others way at mealtimes. In addition, the circulation space between the sink/hob/peninsula is awkward, so two of us trying to cook together becomes difficult as we're constantly bumping into each other. Add DCs trying to get water from the tap and it's a nightmare.

We're redesigning our kitchen at the moment, and we won't be having a peninsula that divides the kitchen into two areas. It's just too much of a pain to use and annoys me all the time.

[ipredictacarrot]

We've actually had 2 FF for most of last year and I found it quite annoying and a lot more stuff went to waste as it was forgotten about. I do know a couple of people with 2 fridges so might consider it. Thank you!

[CantHaveTooMuchChocolate]

Just a quick left field thought as understand the folk who say the FF is possibly too far away, could you add a small built under fridge somewhere near the hob/sink? You’d lose a cupboard, but gain more cold storage? Probably a daft idea but just wanted to add it into the mix anyway! We did that (but have a smaller FF), I keep cooking items in the built under (veg, butter, etc), the FF has more drink, etc.

[ipredictacarrot]

I'm scrapping the built in microwave! I know the FF is a bit 'out' of the kitchen but I think moving it into the U would be too much of a compromise on the workspace. It's such a huge improvement on the current kitchen that I hope it won't annoy me, but i will have a really good think about it and play around with the planner a bit more.

[parietal]

our kitchen has a high microwave about the oven and it is v annoying. I have to stand on a stool to clean it if something spills, and a child can't use the microwave to make hot chocolate or do simple cooking that they could do safely with a low microwave.

I agree with pp that your fridge is too far from your main cooking area. I might shuffle things up so that the main U-shape of cooking has

• peninsula
• sink with DW under draining board
• corner cupboard
• hob with oven under
• microwave under worksurface
• fridge-freezer

and then just have LOTS of storage on the other wall, including a bit of worksurface for the kettle / toaster and space for mugs & hot drinks etc. serving plates and baking things can also go in the wall of storage.

[AZisgreat]

@BlueMongoose

"A microwave on top of a double oven is usually too high"
Agree with butterfly990 on that. We had one of those when we moved here. I'm 5' tall and I couldn't see into it, in fact could hardly reach it. I certainly couldn't use it safely. It was one of the first things we ripped out. Of course, it might work if you're taller than I am.

In the first picture the double oven is lower so the microwave is not too high. In the later picture the microwave is not shown and it would be too high for most people.

[BlueMongoose]

"A microwave on top of a double oven is usually too high"
Agree with butterfly990 on that. We had one of those when we moved here. I'm 5' tall and I couldn't see into it, in fact could hardly reach it. I certainly couldn't use it safely. It was one of the first things we ripped out. Of course, it might work if you're taller than I am.

[NoraEphronsNeck]

@ipredictacarrot

This pic better shows where the fridge is in relation to the window, and I will definitely try to find a fridge that isn't so deep!

Have you thought about splitting the tall cupboards so you have one either side of the FF with a top box over?

[daisypond]

I think the ff is best where it was originally at the end of the row if it can’t go in the main kitchen. If you move it to the middle of the row it’s even harder to access. I like it with the top box and I think looks-wise it is fine at the end of the row.

[ipredictacarrot]

Another pic. Must get back to work!!

[ipredictacarrot]

I think I'll swap the hob and dishwasher too. Thanks everyone for your comments

[ChequerBoard]

@ipredictacarrot

Chequerboard i might agree with you..

Oh yes, much better!

[QuitMoaning]

And forgot to mention, I have glass splash backs and I really love them. They were not cheap but cover the entire wall the sink is on (hob is on my island).
The splash backs are soooooo easy to clean.

[QuitMoaning]

I like the look of your kitchen but I think your placement may make life difficult. I think your dishwasher is a long way from the sink and I think the bins are a bit far. You will use the sink, dishwasher and bins together a lot.
I also agree with previous posters, your fridge is a long way from the action and will also become annoying.

[ipredictacarrot]

Chequerboard i might agree with you..

[Ozanj]

Polished venetian plaster looks good too. But I’d still have clear glass splashbacks behind the hob and a little above the sink.

[ChequerBoard]

@ipredictacarrot

Pics attached with top boxes - looks better? Also a version with all tall units at the back - I think I prefer just 2 tall units.

I think it would look better if you place the fridge and the top boxes in the middle and balanced it with 3 tall units either side.

[ipredictacarrot]

Pics attached with top boxes - looks better? Also a version with all tall units at the back - I think I prefer just 2 tall units.

[ipredictacarrot]

The adjoining Room will be a dining room possibly with small sofa.

[minipie]

What are you doing with the back part of the room (not shown on the kitchen plan)?

[ipredictacarrot]

This is my floor plan. I am ok with having all tall units across the back wall, and originally had two oven Units there but decided I'd rather have the ovens in the main kitchen and not in the way of the route to outside. Just thought I didn't need all that storage and drawers / work surface would be more useful. Planning shelves above the sink so the corner unit won't look so odd. The little wine rack between the sink and peninsula is just because there's room and makes the corner of the sink less tight against the peninsula. This could be a cupboard instead of wine rack.

[AZisgreat]

@minipie

You’ve got a room that’s big enough to be a kitchen diner but you’re laying it out in a way that means you can’t have a kitchen table. Are you sure about this? Obviously it’s your choice but seems unusual!!

Sorry to be questioning the whole layout, I can tell you’ve been around and around on it!

This. I hate bar stools and would do some sort of normal height table arrangement even if you have a separate dining room.
Yes to maximising cupboard space. Built in microwaves are fine until they need to be replaced and then sizing can be an issue. Probably best here to have it built in as it is over the oven so not too high.
Yes to needing some kind of heating.

[minipie]

Can you post a floorplan that shows the whole room (including the door into the kitchen)? It ought to be possible to have a better layout whilst still having a breakfast bar and big window.

[ChequerBoard]

If you haven't already done so, I would strongly recommend going to see a local kitchen showroom and getting one of their designers to help with your planning.

I thought I knew exactly what I wanted, and was going to kitchen places for quotes but the suggestions from one showroom in particular have been really valuable.

I think you know there are several areas where your layout needs work to be optimised. Personally, my new kitchen is a big investment and I want to get it as right as I possibly can.

I would look at:

• Moving the fridge/freezer - it's tacked on where it is and spoils the line of the units
• Moving the hob - it's too close to the corner and the line of wall units is interrupted oddly by the hood, having a single wall unit in the corner looks strange
• agree with others the peninsula isn't making the most of the space you have and is an odd shape with that wine rack in the corner
• why have that odd little worktop on the back wall? Doesn't look very useful, maybe better to have all tall units along that wall - maybe think about moving the oven housing to be part of that tall run or having two oven housings in that running and putting one main appliance in each?
• think about lines of symmetry around the kitchen, you have a lot of odd bits at the moment