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Kitchen/diner extension - what are our must haves??

52 replies

Piscesmumma1978 · 31/12/2022 19:21

The outside walls are going up and we have a rough plan of where things will go.

It will create a big room. I definitely want a large, curved island.

What are our 'must haves'? We're using Howdens for the kitchen as we won't be going it again so want good quality.

I'm really nervous about planning it and want to make sure we get it right.

Any tips welcome 😀

OP posts:
Sleepychicken · 31/12/2022 20:52

Have you looked at any planning tools? I used the planning tool on diy kitchens to design my kitchen but it was eventually bought at howdons, because you can play about with it so much you can get it exactly how you want it, I’ve had mine done 14 months and I still get a jolt of pleasure when I walk in haha and the layout is perfect for how I use it!

doodleygirl · 31/12/2022 20:58

Really think about how you want to use your space and if its a long term home how that space will be used in the future. Is it going to be well insulated to ensure lower energy bills, a big space is expensive to heat, If you have children how will it be once they are teens and young adults. These were the main things I considered when we did this.

I also got quoted from a few different kitchen companies as they all gave different ideas, often things I hadnt thought of.

Good luck, it will be amazing once finished, just got to get though the build!

PipsM · 31/12/2022 21:00

A corner pantry! The best thing we spent our money on- so much storage and a great use of space.

And more plug sockets than you think you will need! Enjoy!

Catswhisky · 31/12/2022 21:04

Pan drawers instead of cupboards at low level. Large larder cupboards for groceries and one with sockets for toaster and microwave.
Don’t follow trends, go for what you will love long term rather than what is current.

mac1974 · 31/12/2022 21:04

If you have space to create a utility room then definitely do that. We don't have one but they are so good for hiding washing/ironing/coats/sports kit. I'd love one.

RandomMess · 31/12/2022 21:04

2 dishwashers

Drawers instead of cupboards

Avoid having corner cupboards NONE of the space saving ideas for them are great and all cost £££££

Lots of worktop space

Space to put away equipment to keep it clean and tidy

No/minimal wall cupboards make it look small and cramped

The more cupboards/drawers the more crap you keep, be ruthless instead.

Tonsiltrouble · 31/12/2022 21:08

Do not buy a Howdens kitchen if you want good quality. For boring reasons related to my own ordering ineptitude our sink unit came from Howdens and it’s is considerably inferior to the rest of our kitchen which came from DIY.

DazzlePaintedBattlePants · 31/12/2022 21:18

Read this thread:

www.mumsnet.com/talk/property/1554664-The-MN-lessons-learnt-kitchen-thread

I would also avoid Howdens, they aren’t the best and pricing is not transparent. We had a great kitchen from IKEA, with a 25 year guarantee and their fitters were amazing.

SeasonsBleatings · 31/12/2022 21:20

Pull out pan stands in the corner cupboards. We absolutely love ours.

strawberry2017 · 31/12/2022 21:23

2 ovens side by side.
Better then a double oven as you get more space.
Pantry style cupboards
A tall cupboard for things such as ironing board and mop and bucket if you don't have a utility room.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 31/12/2022 21:29

Enough sockets. Enough worktop space which won't be taken up with appliances like microwave, toaster, kettle, coffee machine. I hate those new builds where the kitchen worktops are L-shaped, they always feel unfinished, there is nowhere to actually cook. There is nothing worse than feeling hemmed in when you're chopping. Also, "practice" cooking in your layout imaginings. eg. if you have an island near an oven, "practice" taking things out of the oven - does your bum bash the island while you're doing it.

Where will you put your bins?

Get your lights sorted first as the power supplies need to be put in the right places, and the switches too.

Don't scrimp on appliances, spend the most on them, you can always upgrade worktops later.

If you go with Howdens don't use their taps and sinks etc. Pay more for decent quality taps. I didn't used to think it matters, but once you have a shit tap which wobbles around and feels cheap, it GRATES.

Get a full size dishwasher, don't scrimp on a half size one.

If you have bifolds, consider what you're going to do if it's raining all day but you want to open a window for ventilation.

Consider wall space for radiators.

Piscesmumma1978 · 31/12/2022 21:29

Thank you all! I'm dreading the knock through. Luckily we have a large utility that can be a temporary kitchen.

That's interesting about Howdens. We thought they were the good ones.

Two single ovens is a great idea 😀

OP posts:
CurlyhairedAssassin · 31/12/2022 21:36

Also "practice" carrying a bowl of pasta to "drain" it in the sink. If you have to walk around the island to the opposite corner of the kitchen to do it you're going to get really pissed off pretty quickly.

Figure out how you're going to make a cup of tea if you have a large kitchen - your kettle needs to be near your sink, as does the cupboard with the teabags, sugar etc, AND somewhere to put the used teabags, AND get to the milk.. If you have to go to separate places for each thing it can get annoying quickly.

Pan drawers, pan drawers, pan drawers, the drawers of the gods.

Big wide utensil drawer below your hob.

Plan to put you washing machine in a separate utility if you have an open plan kitchen diner. Dishwashers are fairly quiet but a washing machine on a spin cycle makes you want to gouge your eyes out.

Weigh up whether you want the "real cooking experience" vs "easy to clean" when you're considering gas or induction hob. Gas hob IS probably more like "proper cooking", particularly wok cooking, but I detest cleaning it so my induction hob is perfect for us. Pay more if you do induction, you don't want a cheap induction hob.

CurlyhairedAssassin · 31/12/2022 21:37

Don't have your dishwasher opening next to somewhere you'll be pissed off all the time. eg my parents had a dishwasher that when it opened out they couldn't stand at the sink.

MassiveSalad22 · 31/12/2022 21:38

Ooh exciting 😃😃 we’re starting in April hopefully and so this will be a gold thread for me.

What are you having on your island, if anything? We’re doing induction hob with downdraft and then sink under window (obviously along the wall, not on the island).

CurlyhairedAssassin · 31/12/2022 21:39

Our Howdens kitchen is nearly 9 years old and the units are as good as the day it was fitted. Sink, taps and flooring (laminate), however, are not. Units are fine. I would not use their appliances, or sinks and taps and flooring ever again.

iusedtohavechickens · 31/12/2022 21:41

We have a howdens kitchen and love it, all the units came ready built and we had a local branch to pop to for any damages to be swapped straight out.
We don't have a kitchen diner but just wanted to say we have two Samsung ovens. They can both be used as full ovens or as half ovens so you don't have to heat the whole oven if only cooking one thing. Also the halves can be used at the same time with different temps and timers! Honestly my ovens are my fav thing about the kitchen lol

CurlyhairedAssassin · 31/12/2022 21:44

Don't skimp on the size of sink because "it's ok, we'll have a dishwasher". You will still need to scrub large items like oven trays and oven shelves when you clean them etc. I'm jealous of my sister's 2 Belfast sinks. So handy. We have a one and a half which is just ok, better than a single standard sink at least. But nothing like a big deep one.

PlantsAndSpaniels · 31/12/2022 21:49

Howden units are great, but pricing depends on how good a deal you get with your fitter. Other places may be cheaper for the carcuses but may come flat-packed so you'll be paying someone to assemble.

As for design features... more drawers than cupboards, larder unit (but with separate drawers/ door rather than door that pulls out with drawers attached), more plug sockets than you think you'll need, eye level ovens with worktop next to for getting heavy/ hot pans out.

OxanaVorontsova · 31/12/2022 21:50

Just had a new kitchen and love it - we sit there every day and admire it!

Best bits - floor to ceiling units, pan drawers, huge sink, breakfast pantry, flippy socket in the island, wine fridge, hob with built in extractor (on island), little pullouts for herbs, oils etc below the hob, tall ‘utility’ cupboard.

LillyLeaf · 31/12/2022 21:52

Search Kitchinsider on YouTube, his videos are fantastic, he's a kitchen designer. I'm currently designing mine and his videos have really helped and given me so many ideas, especially practical ones.

MooFroo · 31/12/2022 22:02

Boiling water tap
drawers
plug sockets in island - we had ours at each end
corner pantry unit

definitely look at how you live and will use it - design accordingly

go to an independent kitchen company and design with them if you can to get ideas - the big boys don’t get creative with design ideas!

Notyetthere · 31/12/2022 22:06

Definitely work out where your lights, plug sockets and light switches are going to be. Make sure you spread know that as it is easier to do at 1st fix.

I'm currently lying here in DS' bedroom in our recent loft conversion staring at the light switch in the wrong spot; behind the door instead of on wall as you walk in. I thought electrician had the good sense to understand this whilst I nursed a 3 week old baby but nope.

EL0ISE · 31/12/2022 22:11

Have fewer larger cupboards
620 deep worktops ( or deeper if you can )
plenty recycling bins

vivaespanaole · 31/12/2022 22:41

Integrated bins