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

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.

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.

@ipredictacarrot

Chequerboard i might agree with you..

Oh yes, much better!

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

Another pic. Must get back to work!!

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

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?

"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.

@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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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