Kitchen design help please

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Would be very grateful for any help or comments on this kitchen layout.

The fridge is in the tall unit furthest from the cooker. The microwave and toaster etc would be in the breakfast cupboard. The other tall cupboard is food storage. There are 2 dishwashers next to the sink. Range cooker is in the chimney breast. Laundry and freezers are in separate utility room. Sofa and freestanding unit by french doors are far smaller than pictured.

Is there a way to add more than 3 photos

Thank you very much

Nice colour. Imagine making a cup of tea and a meal there. Does it work for you? Have you got room for a round or oval table? It all looks very square.

It’s a long way to walk to your fridge. I presume you’ve tried putting it somewhere else and come up blank?

I think your prep area (you have a prep sink - jealous! ) is too far away from the cooking area. Have you considered swapping the two sinks around? That way the prep area is by the cooking area, and the washing up area is near the area that produces the most washing up. I'm not sure also about having the fridge so far away. It's convenient for milk and mayo at the table, but that's about it.

Thanks. We had actually hoped for a round table as that is what I was used to from having a separate dining room but am thinking of waiting until the kitchen is done and then seeing what size/shape works or getting something extendable.

Should have mentioned that the breakfast cupboard should have been pictured with bifold doors.

Or is what I'm thinking is a prep sink actually a boiling water tap?

I have paid a lot of money for this design and there was no other suggestion of anywhere for fridge unless I have two or an undercounter one. However all breakfasts/lunches/tea/coffee etc would be made in/by breakfast cupboards (microwave/toaster/sandwich toaster/cereal etc). Only need to get ingredients from fridge to cook dinner.

It’s looks nice no question, but I’m imaging cooking and serving in there and it would drive me nuts.

Where are you doing your food prep? Island? Because it’s not huge. Where are you serving? Have you space to lay out eg four plates and serve onto them near the range? Plus the fridge is miles away and there’s two obstacle between range and fridge (island/table).

Have you designed it around having range in chimney area? I think you could get a far more usable kitchen if you didn’t design around that. Though I’m guessing your probably pretty attached to that…

Dilbertian - Yes it is not a prep sink it is boiling water tap for tea/coffee making beside the breakfast cupboard. it could be positioned nearer the breakfast cupboard but wasnt sure about the position of the bi folds when open - I need to decide and also if it is a sink or just a drip tray. I have never had one so need to see options. Ideally a cold water tap too for getting drinks. The butler sink at the other end will be a double and 2 dishwashers so we should be fine for sinks. Utility is other side of fridge and has a double sink too!!

womanity - no issues with serving as I have never served meals onto plates, I never even considered space for doing so. Yes designer designed it around the chimney which is original. It could be removed with a lintel and then could have high up ovens and induction hob but it is a period house and everything else is done in period style so it would be very out of keeping.

I am only going to fridge to cook dinner and usually just one trip to get all ingredients and one to put back so hasnt been driving me mad. However i am concerned about how small the island is. Currently we have 960 x 2400 in that space. Designer has reduced it to 600 x 1840. We know it is tight at the moment if 2 people want to pass. However love it when I am alone.

Could you use left hand alcove for fridge? Or left hand wall space next to door?

And I’d consider making the island a bit wider so it could be food prep/serving area whilst you’re at the range. If there’s not enough room you could even make it a small peninsula, coming out the window wall.

I keep cross posting with you - I’m not disregarding what you keep saying!

Or, you could switch it totally around so dining area is near your chimney area and you can put kitchen in the dining end and actual kitchen area can be more traditional triangle. (I know there’s lots of other considerations with that, I’m just looking at a plan!)

womanity - I tried the fridge by the door and hated it. I havent tried it in fireplace alcove but I really want some sort of symmetry either side of fireplace and for it to be the period feature of the kitchen and having anything tall beside the chimney pillars would totally ruin the effect. I would still have to have another fridge by the tea making as I have about 20 cups of tea every day (work from home) so there must be a fridge by kettle or boiling water tap as that is most important thing or I would get really frustrated.

womanity - We had considered woodburner in chimney and dining table at that end but designers couldnt fit tall fridge/high level cookers into other end as too many doors/windows.

I'd have one or two under counter fridges near the cooker and then use the large cupboard for more storage. I use the fridge all the time whilst cooking, getting things out and putting away. I'd hate to have to carry everything to the end of the room and back each time. That's why there is the classic triangle when designing kitchens, between the sink, cooker and fridge/freezer.

wishingitwasfriday - I have had the fridge in the position on the plans since start of covid/working from home and it has been great as we make breakfast and lunch by the fridge and the 20 cups of tea a day. I only cook dinner once a day and take all ingredients in one trip - plus have to pass fridge to get to freezer in utility to get more ingredients. Key thing is that tea making is by the fridge (which it is) as 20 return trips from kettle to fridge per day would drive me totally crazy.

Agree fridge looks an unnatural place in such a large kitchen. Not really designed for a chef! I'd prefer fridge drawers near where I'd be prepping and an under counter near breakfast/ tea area. Looks annoying if you are cooking and there's other people making tea etc.

Tbh I don't love the design, its not a particularly attractive or practical layout. I don't think there is much flow, could you lose the wall cupboards?

What does your island contain? Where is the bin? Where is your spice rack?

Couldn't fireplace be a fireplace with dining table in front and breakfast area to the side? Then kitchen at the other end with island other way around.

If you've been living with this arrangement and it works for you, then ignore our comments about the location of the fridge.

It sounds like the island is always in place?

Typo: already in place

Actually looking at your first picture again, i'd put sofas, next to the fire, dining table in front of the double doors. Kitchen in the corner to make it more social, you can talk to people at either end when cooking but neither are getting in the way!

Thank you. No I dont love the design either and spent a huge amount of money on it. I think a designer did try sofas by fire and dining by french doors but i think the problem was there is not enough space in corner for "main kitchen" as you cant get much run of units due to window and door so it was just a huge island and not any better. If the utility door wasnt there by fridge it would be great to have kitchen there but I cant move the door as it is the only way in.

In the plan there is one bin by sink and one on island. spice racks in drawers to left of cooker. No designer has ever mentioned drawer fridges - that sounds great if it exists. My only experience of undercounter sinks is awful.

Not sure you can still get freestanding drawer fridges.

My parents had a bosch one and it was awesome - no more lurking horrendous-ness at the back...

I googled after a thread on here recently and they had been discontinued.

However you can get integrated ones - liebherr do one as do some of the other brands.

buywiseappliances.co.uk/catalog/product/view/id/1547/s/liebherr-uik1550-integrated-fridges/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwiqWHBhD2ARIsAPCDzakM186wPLYOEeAVg2UJ_QcNlbdD-rs8OuAnFhprs83kxkEfIrsn-D0aAnMyEALw_wcB

If you don't know liebherr make miele refrigeration ( a tip from my kitchen designer).

The door between the fridge and sofa is in constant use as it is the only door to the much used garage, utility and playroom and also another exit to outside so a kitchen couldnt have ovens/cooking in the walkway of that door.

I think your kitchen design looks too long...

Any chance you can consolidate the kitchen at the end with the range cooker - maybe a U including the wall with the door and an island or peninsula coming out from the wall behind the armchair?

I have a tonne of storage behind my island (I hate breakfast bars) and if you put a small sink on the island you could have all your breakfast stuff there either underbounter or in an on-penninsula tambour unit.

Table could then rotate through 90 degrees

Mauve - sorry not sure I understand but it sounds interesting. What do you mean by the armchair? Thank you