Critique my kitchen please

[Givemestrengthorvodka]

Final kitchen plans for a small and awkward space. We have a 1960's semi with one long lounge/dining room and the kitchen is off to the side - so L shaped, and all open plan. We need to put in a new kitchen and these are the final plans we are thinking of going with from Howdens. It's not my dream kitchen but seems like a good use of space for the next 5 years that we plan to be here. But I've never put in a kitchen before - are there any obvious mistakes here that I'm not seeing?

We would be going for the dark grey sink (photos include both options)
the single oven is a compromise we have to make to get a tall f/f in.
The back of the breakfast bar bit will have a fake door on it hopefully.
And we are getting plinth lights and under cupboard lights too.

Opinions welcome! Thanks.

I think it's beautiful! Lovely use of windows. Love the colours. The only thing I would want is for the washing machine to be covered with a cupboard door.

I think you've managed to get a decent amount of storage in there for a smaller room. I'd stray away from grey for both the sink and the cupboard doors though if you're planning on moving in five years. I think it'll date.

Could you go integrated for the washing machine? I think it'd make the room look bigger.

I think the layout looks good though.

Will the oven door function with the drawer unit at 90 degrees to it. You would certain need to be careful with the handles and which way the oven door opened. Also I would either have all the appliances integrated including the washing machine or not bother covering any of them. At the moment the washing machine sticks out a bit,

I think the layout is good. Personally I was really underwhelmed with the quality of our Howden's kitchen. Have a look at diy kitchens.com - much cheaper and quality apparently better.

Is that the only door to the garden? Have to say it would drive me mad having the garden door right in the middle of the kitchen space like that, especially if you have kids/pets using it and coming through the kitchen area all the time.

Is there any chance of changing that door to a window and moving the door elsewhere? This is less expensive than you might think (especially in a more modern house) and means you get a self contained kitchen area with a nice long run of worktop under the window.

Alternatively could the kitchen go down the other end of the room so the door isn’t accessed through the kitchen area (but moving the kitchen may be more work than moving the garden door).

The only thing I’d say is that the sink seems absolutely massive and takes up so much counter space, when you don’t have that much to begin with. If it were me I’d definitely change that. I’d also go fit an intergrated washing machine if you can. But it looks overall it looks lovely, great use of space and nice colours!

I think its beautiful actually.

I'd watch the oven door next to those drawers, it's not great when something is blocked by whatever is adjacent to it so if you can adjust the placement then do but I appreciate its a small space.

Check the other doors and drawers for opening room too.

I love they grey but its a trend so will date, just something to be aware of, whether it bothers you depends on your future plans for selling.

Nice garden btw is it yours or the background?

Undercupboard lights are helpful. Plinth lights just draw attention to the state of your floor so you need to be constantly on top of floor cleaning. If you know anybody with plinth lights ask them how often they actually switch them on.

I agree with minipie. If at all possible try to move the exterior door to the other end near the radiator. It looks very inconvenient and quite dangerous having it right next to the hob.

Otherwise though the kitchen looks great and I like the design and colour.

Can you move the oven slightly to the right, where that slim cupboard currently is? It's not great having something directly at right angles to it.

Thanks everyone.

Unfortunately we can't move the door. We did look in to that but it's too much of a knock on effect for various reasons so need to just work with the layout we have. It's definitely not ideal but we've lived with it for the last 5 years and it's not been as bad as feared and the new kitchen will actually tuck the hob further away from the door than it is currently, would you believe it!

The designer has assured us the oven and drawers doors won't clash.

And we had an integrated washing machine before but it was quite a bit smaller because of that so been a bit put off putting one in but would people recommend them? Is there good ones out there?

Finally, I've gone for 2 deep drawers (next to the f/f) rather than a cupboard but not sure if a cupboard would be better. What do people keep in these deep drawers?

Thanks all! Ooh and unfortunately that's not our real garden. the window at the sink looks on the bins and next door's garden :( but the rest of the garden is nice!

is there anywhere else in the house that you can put the washing machine? in the bathroom or in a cupboard under the stairs? it is always the noisiest of the machines, so having it in an open plan space is often a limitation.

And echoing a PP, is that the only door to the garden and is there scope to move it (e.g. swap with the windows the other side of the peninsula) so that the kitchen is not a corridor.

Unfortunately nowhere else for washing machine to go so we are stuck with it there. With two DC I've prioritised a bigger washing machine over integration which is a bummer but I think probably the most sensible thing to do.