I invite your comments on my kitchen plan (with photo)

[kitchenplanner]

I'm planning our new kitchen atm - it's going to have IKEA carcasses and Naked Doors fronts. This is the plan. It's not a big kitchen, made worse by the fact that we want a range (90cm) and double Belfast sink (80cm). I'd say these two things are non-negotiable.

I find wall cabinets quite oppressive. I'd probably rather not have any at all, but have been persuaded to have some in the left corner. Storage is hopefully not an issue, as we also have a separate pantry, and a utility room.

The thing that worries me is prep space. Is there enough? Should the sink swap with the dishwasher to create a bigger prep space?

Please do let me have your comments!

I would bin off the f/f and the wall cupboards completely. Use that corner for prep space.

Put the f/f in the pantry since you have one..

Dishwasher probably moves easily enough. There’s already electricity there.

Depends where your water comes in and your floor construction. Most things can be done but IKEA units go right back to the wall so no gap for running pipes. Pretty much all others have a service gap.
If your building is old and walls not true, can make fitting difficult

Oh I forgot that about Ikea units good point

Who is this drama alpaca you speak of! I've been dramalamma for years! 😁 I think you got really unlikely then! Or maybe I got lucky but honestly they should have more idea than this.
Dishwasher should be easy enough to move - it's basically same plumbing asa sink plus electric. Shouldnt be a bother if you're having any plumbing and electrics done.
I think your fridge freezer is the issue - it blocks the view. Could you put it in pantry? That's what I'm doing with ours but we're still at the knocking down walls stage so I can't vouch for how it's going to work yet!
and I'd put the range at the end where the dishwasher is - a range like that has to be the star of the show you want it to be somewhere everyone can admire it rather than tucked away in a corner.

I had read - on here no doubt - that the service gap issue wasn't really an issue. Is it? I've had an IKEA kitchen fitted in the past (albeit in a 70s ex LA house rather than Edwardian this time) and didn't have any problems.

Ikea units don't have a service gap but you can run pipes/electrics under them where it's covered by the kickboard.... that's not what it's called... plinth? That right?

Haha drama, I'll get the right camelid next time. The FF can't go in the pantry sadly. It'll have to go next to the window if I want to free up that dark corner like people are suggesting.

Everyone has been so helpful. What I'll do is mock up a few alternatives later this week and come back. Please stay right here! I might start a new thread but I really hope to see you all again. Thanks so much.

I wonder about the larger work space,where you are most likely to do prep work being so far from the fridge. That doesn't bother some people, it would me. Single sink would solve that if you took away the left hand sink. Do they do half sinks? We didn't have space for a full double but have one and a half. The half is useful for draining cooking liquid from pans/washing veg etc when you've water in the other sink for washing and draining chopping boards, pans won't fit in but you can drain one over it. Some manufacturers do chopping boards which fit over the sink to provide extra work space but I don't know about IKEA .

Think about where you will have power points, and have plenty of them. We have double sockets with USB charging points so you can charge phones etc without unplugging the kettle/microwave etc

Looking forward to seeing some
Alternatives! If it helps, I must have done 50 designs for our kitchen and the one we've ended up with is completely the opposite to what we thought we'd have at the beginning but it feels right - the first 49 didn't quite feel right! You'll get it right and it will be worth the effort.

We have a Stove range. The large hob space is undeniably handy but the oven space is really not great for big family gatherings as the three individual ovens are too small and the warming drawer is hardly ever used to wasted space. We struggle to get a big turkey in the largest oven some years. And we're quite keen cooks. We have a big kitchen space-wise but when we eventually redo it we'll get a fitted oven instead. So I wouldn't be too wedded to the Range given the limited space you've got.

Tpmum but I'm struggling to find an oven that has multiple compartments that are all sizeable without going above 60. The 90 Stove or Smeg or whatever is the best I can find.

Should add I am a bit over bending down to access our Range too. Could you use tall units on the left for two fitted ovens (more practical cooking capacity) freeing up more workspace?

As a wise poster elsewhere on here pointed out recently (and apologies, I've forgotten your name), the service gap in Ikea cupboards is inside the cabinet - I was in the shop today and can confirm that the inside cupboard depth is 510mm approx whereas the full external depth is 600mm.

The back panel on the Ikea carcasses is only decorative anyway as the units hang from a suspension rail, as I'm sure you already know OP!

Very similar to my kitchen space. Definitely move sink to the right. Honestly that’s enough prep space. Because of plumbing our surfaces are slightly deeper than standard- def recommended if possible.
Also hate cupboards here. But I have a wall mounted cupboard above sink that actually is a dish drainer wherever put rinsed cups etc and it’s a game changer to be honest. Then wall above prep area has nothing to create feeling of space

I’m registering for updates!! So many things to say… but will wait for next instalment

@dramalamma

Looking forward to seeing some Alternatives! If it helps, I must have done 50 designs for our kitchen and the one we've ended up with is completely the opposite to what we thought we'd have at the beginning but it feels right - the first 49 didn't quite feel right! You'll get it right and it will be worth the effort.

Where did u do the mock drawings out of interest..?

Ooh some great thoughts here; for what its worth I agree you need more prep space.

I think you'll go potty ( )trying to cook a big Xmas dinner with so little counter space!

In addition to the marvellous replies you've had already, you can get these wooden boards that fit over sinks to give extra prep space when the sink isn't in use.

My kitchen is smaller than gourds but I couldn’t cope with your plan! It looks like the kitchen of someone who doesn’t cook. I don’t think you’ve made best use of your space, what room is this in and why does it only go on one wall? If it’s in a bigger space, why don’t you have a narrow island to give some countertop space for the actual cooking—I don’t see where prep is meant to happen? I’d do a 1.5 sink absolute max. Could you do glass instead of open shelves, just get a similar effect but without the sticky ick? Your oven also looks crammed in the corner, I don’t think it would feel comfortable or relaxing to use—you want space around you when you cook. It’s also more like a cramped like shape than a triangle

I'd never have an oven/grill at low level now - i find it's much better to be able to to stand and open an oven door to take out a heavy tray with a roasting chicken in it or to be able to check on a pizza or cheese on toast, etc I'd have an extra wide pan drawer under the hob - ours has the work surface stepped out around the hob so the drawers are actually deeper as well and it adds a bit of a design feature to the look of the kitchen. Our pan drawer has 2 deep drawers at the bottom and one shallower drawer at the top for bigger cutlery - rolling pin, scissors, spatulas, wooden spoons, skewers, etc. we have a smaller separate drawer for the small cutlery - knives, forks, spoons, teas spoons. I'd have a draining board instead of a 2nd sink TBH. Where does the microwave, toaster, coffee machine, kettle and radio go?

I think the hob is a bit close to the corner TBH - I'd move it away other wise if you're standing at it cooking you are possibly in the way of other people who might want to get in the cupboards in the corner.

We didn't want cabinets in our previous kitchen but did need storage space so we went with over fridge (bridging(?)) units high on the wall and a lit shelf for jars and bottles below each one. Gave us somewhere our crockery could live without getting covered in dust and grease but without the oppressive feeling of wall cabinets.

I don't think your kitchen works with the range where it is. If you bring it closer to the middle of the room and change to a single sink with a drainer you can get more work surface space by maximising the corner near the fridge. You have problems getting to anything you have stored in the corner as the entrances to the cupboards are too small for a le mans/corner space organiser.

I was set on a range till I used my sisters. Didn’t like the bending down,the ovens weren’t that brilliant a size to use. Much prefer double oven in a tower.

Zinnia I've vaguely heard about the suspension rail but figured it was something for the builder to worry about. Do I need to worry about it too?