Kitchen plan - have I got this right?

[notafraidofthebigbadwolf]

I would so love a little friendly advice. It's a little overwhelming trying to get our new kitchen layout right. The builders are due to start after New Year so it's time to decide and get an order in with DIY Kitchens. We're demolishing an old freezing cold conservatory (hooray!) and replacing with an extension to the existing kitchen. The new space will be light with garden views and the old space will be darker in the middle of the house.

My plan is to push the kitchen up to the light end with the darker end for a dining table (and a dumping ground for DH & kids no doubt as it is the first entry to the room) but hopefully this will keep the much desired island worktop clearer and nicer for cooking.

My other big desire is for 2 dishwashers - Mumsnet wisdom - a genius way to actually strive to keep a kitchen clear.

No new appliances, so range cooker and American fridge freezer are what they are.

DH really values easy access to appliances for future maintenance so nothing will be built in. Free standing bins, microwave, dishwashers, etc. No drawers under the sink for easiest access to plumbing. Kitchen top appliances & microwave all by the toaster on the pic.

For the rest, it's all my decision and DH is very easy-going.

Bins will be next to the sink in the corner. Space around the island is currently 110cm to the hob and only 85cm or so on the window side. I think I can live with that as with the window recess it will feel more like 100cm or more. Island seating just one or possibly two stools at the far end, no seating along the island required.

Is this plan OK?? It feels like a one-off chance to get things right and we'll have to live with any mistakes for a very long time...

IMHO & IME ---- Plug sockets - put far more in than you would ever imagine needing

Personally I'd be really upset with a beautifully light area that's used for kitchen and a dark area for dining. Surely you want to sit in a light place, enjoying the view of outside? Also, having had to have bins on show for the last decade, they're horrible to look at and I can't understand why anyone would plan that willingly.

Aside from that it looks as though the kitchen area would work well, the layout between appliances and work worktop to put things down/do prep looks good. Write a list off all extras you need to store or use (cleaning items, broom, serving dishes) and make sure you have a home for them.

hummm
is there access to the garden at the end of the room? can you fit in a downstairs loo.
If there is access at the end of the room i would avoid people walking through my prep space ie, past me at the cooker etc, it's dangerous i would put all my kitchen down one side of the room to avoid this if the room is not wide enough to have an open U shape

Why would you plan around easy access to plumbing? How often would you need access? Drawers under the sink are so easily removed if anything be does go wrong and built in appliances are no different to freestanding, except the door. They still just slot into the hole. It seems mad to have a less beautiful kitchen for the two days a decade you’ll need to fix an appliance.

I also agree with pp about swapping the sitting area with the kitchen. Much nicer to sit with the garden view.

I wouldn’t have bins on show, either. Our are under the sink and it’s much nicer than seeing them all the time.

Is there a reason why the sink and cooker are not along the window side? So you can look out if the window while using them

Is it windows all along the opposite side I can't quite make it out on the plan?

Thanks for the comments so far. The windows on the far wall and the window wall will be mostly big picture windows with a low sill, perhaps 60cm above the ground, so unsuitable for a run of worktops.

I guess I should have said that there are 2 other rooms for sitting by the garden view - and one of those has our main dining table - but honestly, my lot barely remember to open the curtains during the day if I am not there and would rather eat in front of the TV than a view. The garden view and light is for me to appreciate in the kitchen where there are no curtains to be left closed!

There is a fab Facebook group dedicated to all things DIY Kitchens related. Lots on independent designers hang out on there too, and give great advice. www.facebook.com/groups/381845813632207/?ref=share

I'm another who'd swap it round. I'm not sure about the island either. It just seems to be creating a walkway and nothing more

@tootiredtobother Yes, garden access at the end of the room and I don't see a particular squish as anyone making tea or prepping in the kitchen will be on the other side of the island. And yes, there is a downstairs loo off the hall.
@Bingbangbongbash I guess my husband got very tired of the way things were in our old house with very hidden plumbing in the middle of a peninsular. He has a strongly held view at this stage! To be fair, we'll have a decent number of pan drawers on the island and I can see that the cupboard space under the sink could be a space for one or two hidden bins (not built in for that sized unit). I can't really design right to the end of the wall as it's not been built yet and measurements could be off. We also have the low level windows on that wall which I would have to raise if we put units to the end to make space for inbuilt bins. I'm just happy that they'll be in the corner.
The obvious space for inbuilt bins would be instead of dishwasher 2 on the island. I would personally value dishwasher 2 and extra pan drawers more than the bins, I think - but I know most people love the hidden bins.

I think I would move the sink and both dishwashers on to the island and have the fridge roughly where the range is, and the range where the sink is. If you have food and prep together it makes cooking easier, think about using 32" depth cupboards in the dining area for crockery and glasses. Also have integrated bins (mine are in the island next to my second dishwasher).

I agree with this x 1000!

On thing I hate in my kitchen is the worktop we use to plate up isn't attached to where the cooker is. It always feels like an accident waiting to happen as we walk the 3 steps across with pots and stuff.

@skippy67 ooh thanks for the Facebook group! I'll take a look later x

I agree, if you are going to the expense of having plumbing in an island then have the sink and two dishwashers there next to each other. It will also disguise the ugly non-integrated fronts and keep them together.

@Hopeandglory Thank you - I am going to have a good think about your suggestion for the empty space in the dining area. I've been worrying about that space. I guess that you meant shallow depth units?

I love my cabinets I never lose anything but can fit loads in, they are taller base units