Your perfect kitchen

[ItsRainingPens]

If you could design your perfect kitchen, what would it look like?

DH and I currently have a galley kitchen, which, since we both love to cook is totally inadequate. Amongst other abominations, it has virtually no worktop space and the oven is directly next to the fridge, meaning it heats up and fills with ice whenever we cook. Opening the dishwasher door blocks anyone from moving through the kitchen. I love to bake, but struggle to find space to roll pastry out. My stand mixer lives in another room, as does the microwave.

We are looking, in the next 5 years or so, at having something built and would love the kitchen to be the heart of the house. How would you do it? Who does the best clever kitchen storage solutions? What are your golden rules? I'd like to create a diagram I could present to an architect.

I have just designed my kitchen and I absolutely love it, I used a small local independant company and they were amazing from start to finish. There were certain things I wanted which I couldnt have but they were great at explaining why and offering alternative solutions.

Thanks Zero. What are your favourite features in your kitchen?

The dream version would be

Huge wood frame multi folding doors and one end that opens as a normal door would) across a big room, that opens onto a beautiful patio/garden, huge oak trees etc
with top quality glass/insulation. so very little heat loss. Utility room off the LHS wall, with a back door.

kitchen on the left with a big island -short end facing the garden, long side facing the open room.lots of storage, hideaway cupboard for kettle etc.

BACK RHS couple of sofas, log burner, bookcase, 6/8 seater informal dining table near the front RHS.

gorgeous wooden floors, big rug in cosy corner. Couple of washable runners along the bifold doors.

NO sink/HOB/ etc on the island.

Big bay windows with seating at the other end.

modern vertical radiators.
big fridge/freezer
dishwasher(s)
good size sink
plenty of cupboards.

....chef.

Mine is ok but very short on worktop space and power sockets. We have an extension lead running along the worktop and a revolting glossy varnished pine butchers trolley which must be about 30 years old.

I'd have loads of power sockets including some USB points for phone charging etc.

A fitted fridge and dishwasher rather than freestanding units.

A range cooker by La Cornue (will never be able to afford this)

A bin that you pull out from under a counter rather than freestanding- with separate bin for recycling

Open shelving for plates and bowls

More drawers - I only have two in the whole kitchen

A shelf up high for the microwave to take it off the counter

A wine rack

In a dream world, two dishwashers so you can load between them

A cafe curtain at the window instead of a manky roller blind

Beautiful high quality handles instead of 90s steel ones

Some of these I could achieve now but haven't due to laziness and lack of funds.

It definitely has to be the worktops, there are 6 of us here and the kitchen we had before was a nightmare, not enough worktop for 6 plates when serving up. Also the large hob and double oven for same reason as above, sometimes I am cooking for up to 10 people so it was very much needed.

My kitchen is U shaped with the third side facing out to the room, and I extended the work surface so there are a couple bar stools on the other side. I can stand in the middle and by pivoting can reach the sink, hob, cutlery, pots and pans etc. I have to take a step to reach the fridge as there is a supporting pillar in the way.
I love having everything close at hand. I want the dishwasher next to the sink, I want the crockery and cutlery drawer near to this too. I want pots and pans stored near the hob. Spices, oils and cooking sauces in wall cupboard near the hob.
Drawers rather than cupboards. No washing machine in the kitchen. Boiling water tap. A tall cupboard for vacuum, broom, shopping bags etc.
Everything integrated (I have a range so that is freestanding). I don't like handles so mine have a lip. Definitely have bins integrated! I have a dual one for rubbish snd plastic/tins (paper and card are collected separately here so go straight out front into the bin).
I want to be able to see another room - my kitchen is where the middle room would be in an extended terrace. It's all open plan, with glazed doors to the living room. Opposite the kitchen is a piano and larder cupboard which houses the coffee machine, toaster, and stores placemats, napkins and table linen, candles, snack foods. The drawers underneath house my Christmas and wedding china. As these are only used very occasionally I don't mind them being outside the kitchen. The extension, which the kitchen is open to. Had the dining table plus a big comfy armchair. A display of house plants and the dog bowls. The dead corner cupboard has a door in that side to store pet food (so right next to the dog bowls).
I wish I had underfloor heating but this can be hard to retrofit, and as I kept my flooring was an expense too far.
Look on Pinterest and put together a selection of features and styles you really like. Think about what you like to cook (lots of pastry? Maybe a marble countertop). That sort of thing.

There is a kitchen design tips and hints thread on here somewhere with a huge list of things people have liked about their kitchen.

Thank you all - didn't know about the existing thread.
Gorgeous kitchen Zero!