Another DIY kitchens one...

[TiddleTaddleTat]

Finally ready to get our kitchen renovated. It's a shocker of bare plaster and exposed wires, 30 year old B&q cupboards and laminate worktops whose colour I can only describe as regurgitated doner kebab.

Was hoping that Howdens would do us a design and I could compare them with DIY kitchens but the bloke failed to show up for to measuring due to admin cock up. So I think we will go with DIY so long as we can get a decent fitter. One we had planned to use is great but AFAIK only installs Howdens. He's also booked up for 1yr+ so all is not lost.

Thinking about getting the Norton door in tern white. This is my plan so far. Tiny kitchen and we are going for just a run of cabinets and appliances with open shelving on the other side and sink in front of window.

I've heard that DIY prices are going up by 10% at The end of the month so plan to purchase soon. Had better recheck my measurements...

We had a great experience with DIY. Have you used their online planning tool? That will show you which cupboards can fit where and gives you a shopping list too.

@FantasticMissFox thanks I haven't actually, will check that out.
What order did you do everything ? We have space to store if they have to be delivered and stored before installation but not sure if the fitter might want input too? Struggling to even get people to quote lately because of COVID and Brexit madness impacting demand

Where will your bin/recycling go?
Are you happy with your sink/oven/fridge triangle?

It's a tricky one about the 'work triangle' as due to layout the fridge needs to stay tucked into one corner. It's a newish fridge that fits the space well so am loath to move it. Only thing is that there are three doorways that intercept the route to the fridge which is a pain.
Bins, we have one under sink at the moment and previously recycling was behind external door to the drive but this drove me mad. Am now putting it under cupboard opposite external door. Testing out this position now to see if it will work when we go for the real thing.
Bit unsure about tall oven unit - sorry my diagram is a bit crap. Essentially it would be next to dishwasher (non integrated) so some worktop to the left. Then sink on the right by the window.
It's such a crappy little space, in an ideal world we'd extend but no chance of that for now.

I'm a bit hmm about the 10% price increase. I rushed to place our order for a small kitchen in early March because the website said the same thing. When I priced up a second, larger kitchen in June U couldn't see any differences. Surely they sant gave increased by 10% in March and be planning another 10% in August

Good quality kitchen though. Definitely use their online planning tool:

https://planner.diy-kitchens.com

@ChequerBoard good point. Maybe it's a false economy for me too, as it would probably be a mistake to order before a fitter has quoted and given any thoughts etc. I will have a play with the planner this week, thanks.

Use their online planning tool before you order anything, it's really good and takes into account stuff you might not consider when doing paper plans. For example shows if a drawer and cupboard will clash when opened, widths of walk ways , plinths & pelmets etc.

I think I have tried the online planner tool before and gave up as nothing seemed to work! I've since switched my plans to a single run rather than tight galley so we will see...

We ordered a kitchen before a rumoured price rise earlier this year (March?), ages before we needed the kitchen but we wanted to lock in the price. I think there genuinely was an increase subsequently as we're finally getting near our actual delivery date and I had to change a 500mm wide larder cupboard to 400mm wide and the price
of the unit went from £99 odd to about £115 (with a further rise in the cost of the door).

The planner doesn't seem to work on tablets or mobile phones, need to use laptop/chrome book.

@fringeneedsatrim oh thanks! I did try on my phone and nothing worked, but meant my plans didn't work every appliance I tried to position wouldn't stick in place because it said I didn't have enough space. So I gave up!! The kitchen is certainly in a tight spot.

On the "kitchens lessons learned " thread there's lots of recommendations for using an independent kitchen planner . Ie someone with experience. I'd say that's even more essential with a tricky layout like this.

I've had a go with the DIY online planner and come up with this. Thoughts very welcome!!
I have a potential kitchen designer to do a plan but wondering if it's worth the cost? Would be about 5% of the cost of the whole kitchen to get a design. It's such a limited space I'm not sure there's much else that can be done.

Pics

I've spent most of the morning piddling about with DIY kitchens planner too and come to the conclusion I need to re-measure the room!

looking at your plan you seem to be a bit short on usable work surface for food prep/chopping. Once toasters and kettles go in there it might get a bit crowded?

Does the sink need to stay in that position because of drainage and is there a window in front of the sink?

If not I'd consider having 2 tall cabinets in that space with the oven and microwave / warming drawer at eye level in each.

ChequerBoard
Interesting proposition... but there is a window there unfortunately (in front of current sink). I don't think anything else could go there due to drainage.

There isn't much work space, agreed. It's a tiny kitchen! At present there is a washer dryer next to the dishwasher but I'm hoping to move that up to a cupboard in the bathroom. We have the cooker and oven opposite the run of cabinets at the moment and it's a nightmare if anyone opens the dishwasher or needs to use the sink. This design is simplified a great deal.

I wondered about putting a drop down table on the wall opposite the run of cabinets for additional work surface when required...

Panda we have relocated the toaster into the dining room next door. I've made a 'breakfast' section

Is the nib wall next to the fridge freezer removable? If that went you would have optional as to how to use that space - possible have tall oven housing there?

Likewise what's in the corner - are those two doors into other rooms that are needed in addition to the door in wall c?

C*hequerBoard
*
Thanks for your thoughts. The doors on walls A and B are both essential unfortunately , leading into the dining room and hall respectively. These are the only routes into those spaces so can't change at the moment. There used to be a door into living room from the hall but has been bricked open and so the small kitchen became a thoroughfare.

The small wall next to the fridge is likely to be supporting the top of the stairs above. I suspect it might serve some purpose... but can ask whoever comes to quote for the job about whether they think it can be removed.
The issue with placing an oven there would be the same though, as there is an external door on wall C to the drive so having the fridge there is somewhat safer than an oven due to risk of people walking into open doors, hot things etc.

Bumping for the evening crowd. See and critique my plans please !