Kitchen planning help

[NeedAHoliday2021]

We’re getting there with kitchen designs and although I initially wanted more drawers, I didn’t like how it ended up looking so this seems to me (and dh) to work best for the space. Having more drawers would lose the much wanted larder so that’s my compromise.

I’ve never done this before so keen to see it through different eyes.

Why would the food be mouldy? Don’t you empty it into your compost bin / wheelie bin each day ?

Yes you can put the switch onto the side of the cabinet. The electrician will mark out where it wants it cut on the carcass and the joiner will cut it and also the side panel. There will be a bit of plastic trucking in your cupboard but that shouldn’t cause a problem .

You can get switches with a flat screwless plate which are very unobtrusive. Google navy flat profile switches.

But check with your electrician.

Just don't go to Wren whatever you do

Ye so would def consider bin combo again. We have small general and compost built in under sink. Wouldn’t want it anywhere else. Compost Food isn’t mouldy as I empty most days outside into garden compost bin

Also small kitchen so the paper/ plastic/metal and glass are stored in separate pantry or cellar.

Two tone doesn’t look unfinished. Our oak floors match oak lower cabinets, so fits in well. But oak higher as well would be ott hence white.

Don’t you empty it into your compost bin / wheelie bin each day?

No, I do it every 3 days ish - work full time with 3dc so daily bin emptying not on my list. Also, it’s lined with a bag and one day of food waste is fairly minimal here. Mouldy probably isn’t the right word but mushed together gross left overs isn’t something I want in my kitchen when I have a fab recycling bin set up in my utility (3 steps from my sink). My mum’s is under the sink and I find bending to it annoying. My utility room one is waist height.

I never said 2 tone looks unfinished - just not a look I like.

Definitely going to revisit the pantry option as that was what I initially envisioned. Designer was really anti with a definite no. I do think my family (looking at dh in particular) will put crap on that worktop so you’ve backed up those concerns

What if you put the pan drawers in instead of the cupboards on the right hand side of the first photo - the bit with the problem light switch?

You'd then get more cupboards without compromising the rest of the kitchen.

Definitely going to revisit the pantry option as that was what I initially envisioned. Designer was really anti with a definite no. I do think my family (looking at dh in particular) will put crap on that worktop so you’ve backed up those concerns

Well that’s because designers are the kind of people who have beautiful objects artistically arranged in their kitchen. Not junk mail, school letters, single gloves, sunglasses, house keys, Amazon parcels, mail for the neighbours that was mistakenly delivered to you and that you’ve been meaning to pop through their door for days and batteries waiting to go to Aldi for recycling .

They also have a formula and set ideas they trot out and make fit time snd time again. The company who made our kitchen did us a design which looked lovely but had little storage and no significant run of worktop. I sketched out what I thought might work, tweaked it a few times, they really liked it (!) and made it for us. You know how you and your family use your kitchen OP, stick to your guns and don’t be told what to have by their ‘designer’.

@M0RVEN have you visited my house?

I’ve messaged the electrician who has done stuff for us before and sent him photos so he’s going to advise.

I'd replace the wall and cupboard units on the right hand side (with the wine and banana) to a double door larder. Then replace your current larder with deep drawers.
It looks like a lovely space

@MochaHoldTheMilkAndCoffee that’s what I originally asked for but space is 85cm with the light switch but if we move that then it’s 100cm so I’ve emailed and asked again with the switch on the cupboard side. I’ll see what they come back with.

Out of interest, when designing, how many times did you change stuff. This is my second tweak and I already feel guilty!

@NeedAHoliday2021 I don't think moving a switch is a big deal in the grand scheme of changing a kitchen - you may need some plastering once a new switch has been chased.

We had two designs in total but now 3 and a half years down the line we are making some (quite big) changes so I wish we had more!

Don’t feel guilty, it’s part of the job. We had 2 designs then a third to match my design, and then one running change because they’d mismeasured.

You can always put the lightswitch on the other side of that same wall (Ie in the dining room)

@TatianaBis there’s a doorway into the kitchen and a separate doorway into the kitchen. Moving the switch to a different room doesn’t work as you’d walk through the dining room to get to the kitchen if you need the light whereas the most normal way to enter our kitchen is from the hallway.

That should say separate doorway to the dining room.

Presumably there’s a light switch by the hall entrance to the kitchen?

If so do you really need one by the opening to the dining room?

If you need one also when walking from walking from the dining room to the kitchen, then could that one not go in the dining room?

@TatianaBis there is a light switch by the hall entrance inside the kitchen. That’s the one that’s in the way and prevents the pantry in it’s current position.

Oh I see. So put it in the hall just outside the entrance to the kitchen? So you can turn on as you walk in.

@TatianaBis sadly it’s all door frames at a right angle with a 1inch gap of wall on the right. The left may be possible but would mean making a hole in the wall to get the wires the other side of the door, then plastering etc. if it was straight forward it would be a no brainier.

Weird auto correct there

It’s not a major job. It can just be filled. If that facilitates a pantry it’s worth doing.

Personally I'd make your larder a dresser and have a tall pull out cupboard next to it