Thoughts on this potential kitchen layout please?

[LivingInABuildingSite]

We are mid build on a rear and side extension.

I’ve done the usual and been to a few kitchen places for ideas.
I’ve decided I’m getting my kitchen from Howdens as the builders use them.

But I find the B&Q system easier to tweak while sat at home.

So I have some screenshots of the potential layout and would appreciate any constructive ideas about the plan.

Things to note:

I want custom build open shelving on the left hand side as you go into the kitchen, I’ve put glass fronted units there for now to get an idea of shelves.

It may be unclear but I’m carving out a corner for a pantry, behind the custom shelving.

I’m hoping to fit a tambour (sliding upwards door) in front of the pillar near the door to the utility and put the toaster and coffee machine in there. That’s dependent on where exactly the utility door goes though. If I can’t fit it there I have a homeless toaster and coffee machine!

Any thoughts and ideas?

That works for giving extra useable counter space. And I don’t need the sofa space at the far end so moving the table along is fine.

Not sure it solves the old dead kitchen space issue though?

(Also, not sure until they strip stuff out how much pier wall I have to keep that might stick out in the middle space, not sure how to describe it.)

I half wonder if that dead space might not become clear until you are living in it.

My own kitchen diner is a similar shape, but without so many doors which helps. In my extra bit I have a nice sideboard on one side and a sofa with coffee table on the other, which works well for us. On our case it's because the utility room is kind of carved out (imagine the space was once a rectangle, then the builders took out the bottom left corner for the utility) and we actually really like having that wee seating area. No TV or anything, just a comfy place to perch and faff with a phone or book while you (or someone else) is cooking.

Thanks for all of your replies, I really appreciate it.

I try and think of human behaviour and the realities of life vs ideals. I know we need a dumping ground when we come in, bags, keys, etc. So I’d put a counter on the right as you walk in (with a drinks fridge cos why not?!) without higher up cupboards, so maybe a mirror or artwork.

I have to hide the gas meter on the left hand side so put some base units there, then thought I could get bespoke shelving above for random shite we’ve accumulated over the years but far enough away from the cooking to not get greasy.

Hoping that the dumping ground pulls you into the room and then you’re at the island sitting down before you notice the dead space.

I had planned to get the space built then figure it out but with underfloor heating and plumbing and gas etc it does need mostly deciding earlier than I’d hoped.

TBH, as long as you're not putting any plumbing over there (which it sounds like you aren't) then if you put the units and shelves in and don't like it after a year - it's not a catastrophe. A bit annoying, but not going to cost a fortune to remove!

True, it’s only hiding the gas meter which could be boxed in another way later on.

It’s a pain having so much space but not feeling like I’m using it properly. (First world I know!)

If the dead space is the sort of rectangle into the kitchen, what about floor to ceiling cupboards that you hardly notice, so they seem more like walls and part of a corridor.

The cupboards could be for more long term or general storage, not necessarily kitchen related.

You could maybe have a small table in front for keys etc.

Or it might be a good place for a piano.

Do you have a plan of the entire downstairs, to put it into context? I’m thinking I would put the utility room in the old kitchen area and have the extension full width. But then the planned utility area looks like some sort of partial add on to the side? So not sure that’s possible?

At the moment your 6m width of extension isn’t enough to have island, stools, dining table and sofa. I would plan on 3.5m to allow clearance to walk behind someone on a stool, which requires the dining table to be much closer against the opposite wall (and the same orientation as the island).

The width of the rear extension isn’t 6m (the bifolds are 6m) the extension is 9m wide (external).

The utility isn’t allowed to come as far back (planning) so does step in a bit. I wouldn’t want to walk through a utility area to get to the extension, that would be weird, but not sure that’s what you meant.
Plus I can’t wait to get washing machines etc out of the main living area.

There won’t be a sofa where there’s one on the plan, the b&q lady put one there, I’ve deleted it now. I don’t need it as the tv room (family room on the architects plan) is right there and open into the rear extension.

Can’t remember what other questions there were.

Oh yes, the floor plan, here it is.

The wall between the extension and utility has to stay.

3.5m clearance behind a stool seems pretty big?

Your floor plan looks very similar to an episode of your house made perfect 2/3 weeks ago, might be worth looking at those? I've found that show quite handy for visualising floor plans. It was a family where the male designer went to a terrazo plant to make tiles/ worktop inspired by the beach, if that helps find it

The floorplan really helps. Looks like you have loads of space but some of the plans (downstairs shower room especially) are very pokey for such a generous space.

I think I would split the old kitchen space in half, making the kitchen side into a walk in pantry, accessed off the kitchen, and the stairs side into a beautiful cloak room for coats, shoes and bags etc. - maybe a bench for putting shoes on, and perhaps a desk for dealing with post, parcels etc. I would access the downstairs loo from here, rather than the kitchen - at the moment you have four doors between the hall and the downstairs loo, which is bordering on ridiculous.

PS - I meant 3.5m minimum from the back of the kitchen (utility wall) to behind the stools - if you’ve got 8m+ internal space, then heaps of room for the dining table beyond it.

Maybe something like this?

Knobjockey - have watched a couple of episodes now, great programme. Not found the exact one you mention but will keep looking thanks.

Anaconda - thanks for that, interesting to see different ideas.
At the moment, I’m keeping a corridor past the downstairs loo and shower to allow access to the garden - otherwise no access as a semi.

The shower is a minor thing perhaps just for washing a dog (we don’t own a dog 😂. Yet.)

I have got rid of one door, the door from utility into the corridor, I don’t need that one. But I take your point.

I quite like the idea of the pantry nearer as I have said to DH he will have a long walk from the oven lol.

Just not sure how it would feel walking towards the kitchen like that though, too much like a corridor?

I have a hob on an island for the same reason as you and it works well. I wouldn't give it up. A friend called it my command post. Also have a breakfast bar attached to the island (T shaped rather than L) even though we have a separate dining table and a sofa. All three seating areas are well used.

However having had a tambour unit with appliances in I think you need to consider whether or not you have open worktop space in front of the unit. It looks like you don't. If you need to bring them out to use them then it's handy to put a plug at the back of the cupboard and pull them out to use only when needed.

Thanks Mumski.

I was hoping to plug the toaster and coffee machine in inside the tambour cupboard, with a gap above before any shelves so I don’t even have to pull them out, if that makes sense?

I doubt I’ll end up with it though as I’m worried there won’t be space once the doorway into the utility is in place. But it seems a bit mad to have a huge extension but no home for the toaster!
DS1 (15) said just put it in the middle of the island, hmm.

Maybe this, then? You’d have to watch the space between the corner of the island and the pillars (again, hence the need for proper scale drawings), but it’s a way of utilising more of the old kitchen while keeping it cohesive with the new extension. You could even put toaster etc on the pantry shelves - keep it all out of sight.

If you don’t need a shower downstairs then I’d have the downstairs loo in the hallway, and not out in the utility. You could always get a hot tap plumbed in outside, near a drain, so that (potential) muddy dog could come through utility and be hosed off with a warm hose outside.

You have a massive area to work with. I think you need to find a purpose for the area at the bottom.

If your kitchen main run is 4.5 metres, that's long enough, especially with a large island there too. But the amount of tall units reduced work top. I would reduce the amount of tall units to increase worktop and not to have worktop anywhere else. How long is your island? 3 metres?

Maybe you can use the bottom area as storage / cloaks / pantry / reading nook?

Thanks Anaconda - parts of that definitely make me think.

Unfortunately the foundations are already in for the side extension bit so I can’t move the walls.

The loo is currently under the stairs off the hallway.
This in fact is the whole reason for doing any building work as the ceiling under the stairs is so low my DH can’t stand up straight in there for a wee 😂
His only stipulation was that we got a downstairs loo he can stand up in!

We are going to get hot water taps put in along the side, possibly two, one at the front for a filthy dog and one at the back for paddling pools.

In terms of tall cupboards Mothergoose, I have a tall fridge, then two units with the ovens in. Then the unit that I’m proposing using as a tambour/toaster home. Can’t get rid of any tall units unless I lower the ovens and I want the eye level ones.
The island is long, I think 3m. With the hob in the middle that should give 1200 either side of the hob which seems like plenty of counter top to me, admittedly in a line but near where you’re going to cook so should work?

I have my hob in my island and love it, no problems with oil splashes etc although we have a pop up extractor behind the hob so that prevents that I guess.

I'd question whether you'll use 6 barstools regularly enough to justify losing the cupboard space and be worth their inconvenience (looking messy, being in the way of hoovering/ mopping etc). When we planned ours I originally wanted 4 chairs as there's 4 of us, but the kitchen man said think really carefully about how often they'll be used and the maximum amount of people who'll sit there at any one time, we did and went with 2 and it really works well as very rarely do both kids sit there together, most often it's DH or me whilst the other cooks, so it really would have been a mistake to have had 4 chairs.

Thanks Iknow for the hob reassurance.

I don’t own ‘proper’ stools atm, so can wait to see how we use the two old things I’ve got and add more if needed. There are 5 of us but like you say all 5 won’t sit there as 1 would be cooking, it’s more for when we have family around.

As I’ve got loads of storage, I don’t need more cupboards, the only thing would be having an overhang counter that I’m not sitting at. Could move whatever stools I have around I guess.
I’ve put some looking out as I’d rather look out at the garden when I’m sat there.

I really need the walls and doors built so I can get the howdens guy here to measure what’s actually going to be there rather than theoretical.

With today’s weather (currently chucking it down) things will have been on a go slow out there though.

Anaconda - I’ve just checked to be sure and I can move the walls in the side extension.

So, I’m considering ditching the shower now (will need to run this all by DH) as I don’t think we’ll use it for us or a dog, given hot water taps elsewhere and it’s going to feel poky.
I like the vibe of store/utility but do need to consider where I might put the loo.

I like your plan just need to think about it. I really really want a walk in pantry.

Will go back to my drawn on plan and rub out some stuff and try again.

Thanks though you really got me thinking, as did everyone.

Here’s my version, not entirely to scale.

I’ve sent it to the boss builder guy for his thoughts.

If I can mover the kitchen doorway a bit further towards the back of the house and open the original doorway a bit that would help I think.

I know if I used a pocket door the pantry would be more space efficient but I have an irrational dislike of sliding doors.

If I ditch the tambour idea and just have an end of counter there that might look better to the eye too, just up to/around the pillar.

Don’t know where toaster and coffee machine will end up though?

The loo won’t have a window though. It was due to have an opening skylight as no window possible before either. Just a dark loo, not sure. Could maybe put a high up window out into the utility or is that too weird?

Actually thinking of moving the kitchen door even further into the kitchen, so when you open the door you aren’t faced with the end walk of the pantry.

So an open ish hallway extending to the toilet door, then a bit of wall (end of pantry) then the door.

Hopefully builder coming on Monday morning to discuss the door movement.