What you love most in your kitchen?

[Celeste777]

Hi :)
I'm now designing a new kitchen. It's a decent space (was the kitchen and diner originally) but we are certainly not on a luxury budget so boiling water taps for 1k are not on the radar.
But I would LOVE to know what you love in your kitchen that it's worth me thinking about, I've never before had the opportunity to design a kitchen and so I'd like to get it right but would really appreciate advice of those who have been there and done that,
Thanks so much for your time :)

Yes to this

My AGA

Just had ours done, love it all but especially the wine fridge and the breakfast pantry, the flip up socket on the island and the hob with no hood are also amazing 😍

What is this?

The quartz worktop has draining grooves cut into it that channel water into the sink. It's v attractive and works.

But what if you have a butler style sink with normal worktop

Motleymop look back up at the picture

If you have a large 2 bowl sink you can drain in the second bowl. And hide it all below the worktop level!

Can you tell me more about these? I've always been told they were purely aesthetic, which is what local trades have said too - are yours deeper than usual? And how do you find them to clean?

Don’t have laminate worktops, they always look awful.

What's an induction venting hob ?

I just don't really like worktops either sparkly bits or bits at all in them. I don't think I've ever seen a worktop I really like.
Wood is out because of the maintenance and quartz is mega ££££ isn't it?

@SarahAndQuack We have only had the quartz since Friday so not really had experience of cleaning the grooves much yet. The grooves are shallow then get deeper toward the sink then the water runs and drips into the sink.

We will probably end up with an ugly plate rack standing on them but I'm holding out for clear space still for now.

@Octopusmittens snap!
Away from home ATM and am missing its warmth and convenience.

The pull-out bin with compartments for all recycling and food waste has changed my life! Seriously.

Granite worktop. The worktop is the bit that you look at and takes the hardest wear. We economised elsewhere to have an indestructible granite worktop in a pattern we love which looks as good as the day it was fitted 8 years ago.

Shallow appliance cupboard housing blender, food processor, toaster and toastie maker. They are all permanently plugged in, the door is hinged to fold back out of the way and I can just slide the one I want forward onto the worktop.

Quartz worktops, big fridge/freezer, two ovens (one above the other), built in appliances and bin. Island with hob and built in wine fridge/USBs. Underfloor heating. Bendy tap like a PP mentioned!

We have blue macaubus quartzite, which is a kind of granite and I love it. It has all the good properties of marble combined with the durability of granite. Our kitchen is a year old and it's by far the best worktop I've ever had - photo of the island slab attached.

Other things I love, like PPs, deep drawers instead of cupboards.

Quooker (sorry!) - ours does sparkling water as well, but is actually in the walk-in pantry instead where we have the coffee makers, tea etc.

Induction hob and one separate gas wok burner

Flat ceiling panel extractor fan instead of range hood
www.westin.co.uk/the-collection/ceiling-series/stratus-air/

Enormous deep ceramic sink - not a double which I find annoying because they don't have room for big trays and pans. We didn't do drainage grooves because we had them in our last house and I hated how they always seemed to have hard water build up in them. Things that don't go in the dishwasher just get washed, go on a tea towel on the counter and then get put away. If you're doing a ceramic sink, I do recommend getting a rack for the bottom to keep heavy pans from scratching it.

The Insinkerator. I honestly don't know how we lived without it. You never have to fight to keep muck from going down the sink and clogging the drain.

Underfloor heating

I know you don’t have room but the side by side oven / microwave / warming drawer is amazing. I am short and the stacked ones just don’t work for me.

“Boiling water tap - it is amazing and worth every penny.I live live live my oak stools from cox and cox

This. Tucked away in the pantry.

Nothing atm, getting an extension in new year, cannot wait to just have more space.

Not putting your bin under the sink!

such a simple change but it saves so much gaffing around when someone is doing the dishes.

Likewise

Large island with sink and dishwasher,, pull-out double bin, extra storage cupboards.
Quartz work tops, nothing stains them not even curry or fruit.
Deep saucepan draws, built in fridge/freezer.
All appliances integrated
Double oven
Extra height top units
pull out swivel draws in corner unit
and my kitchen is white...we have a large family room and like kitchen to kind of just blend in with the white walls.
Writing this makes me appreciate that we spent a long time in planning with the kitchen designer to get it right.

If the drainer is just for cups and little bits then Joseph Joseph do a couple of drainers that are just a tray - keeps the neat look.