New kitchen- do we really need a double oven / american fridge-freezer / tumble-drier

[Orchid7]

We're buying a new kitchen and are planning on extending into the current dining area so have more space to play with.

At the moment it's just the two of us, but we are planning on having children (probably 2) so are planning ahead.

In life so far we've got by fine with a single oven, typical size 60-40 fridge freezer, washing machine... but some family members and the kitchen sales people are all saying we really ought to have a double oven, american fridge-freezer, and tumble-drier (realistically this means a washer-drier not a separate machine) because these will be really handy when we have a family.

Obviously none of these are essential but we have the room and the budget.. sort of. But it's not a HUGE kitchen so I don't want to waste money and kitchen space on things we don't really need.

So a question all the parents here - how useful are these things really please?

Double ovens are great
Tumble drier a godsend
I've never had the big fridge but sure I'd love it if I did.
Probably all worth doing if you're creating a nice family home.

I could live without the double oven & American Fridge Freezer but couldn't live without my tumble drier. Especially after having kids.
I would never see the bottom of my washing pile without one.

I wouldn't care about any of those except the tumble dryer.

Oh I don't rate washer driers at all like many others, could you not put a drier above the washing machine?

Skip whatever you need to to get a tumble drier and a dishwasher!

I would die for a tumble drier. Have not missed the American big fridge nor the double oven (the second oven was mostly used to store trays!)

Rarely use our tumble dryer, it’s 18 years old & we probably use it half a dozen times a year at most.
We don’t need an American fridge freezer.
I do like a double oven.

I agree with above, couldn’t do without the tumble drier, do washing everyday now so can’t dry it all on racks. Don’t use the double oven often but we have kids and older parents so when cooking for everyone it is essential.
Our fridge freezer is a normal single width one. I suspect if we had a double we would fill it but that would probably lead to food waste. I do have twice weekly food deliveries though as I can’t really fit a weeks worth in all at once.

Yes, yes and yes.

Don't get a washer dryer, they're the worst of both worlds. You can live without the rest.

We have all of those and couldn't live without them.

Double oven - enables me to cook multiple items needing different temperatures, like a roast.

Tumble dryer - 2 children create so much washing. They're 5 and 7 now so clothes are no longer always single wear but tbh, they are a lot of the time. Do you have space to hang stuff up in the winter?

American fridge freezer - we probably wouldn't need this if DH wasn't a veggie and if my DC ate anything remotely unusual so it's the one thing I'd compromise on.

Ultimately, it depends if you can afford it and have the space.

Once you have children the tumble drier is almost as essential as your bed, your bathroom, dammit your hands and feet!
Middle of winter pooped on sheets and baby clothes - you want your house draped with wet washing? No. You don't. And please try and have a separate one, so much better. But have one.

Oh yes you do need a dishwasher and separate washer and drier.

Oh God, yes, the dishwasher in my house keeps me sane.

This ^

Don’t cook so could care less about the oven but I do have a lovely hide and slide door on mine which my partner loves. Why does anyone need two ovens unless they’re a caterer??

Big fridges just means more space for food to die in. Washer driers are rubbish and tumble driers are expensive to run. I find everything on the airer dries over night so no need for a drier. It’s all just more appliances to run and conk out on you.

We've never had a tumble dryer (2dc) and never missed it, but we do have a laundrette nearby for things like duvets.
On our normal size oven, the grill doubles up as a second oven if necessary, but we mostly only use it at Christmas.
We do have a big fridge freezer (fridge over freezer). This is so much better than our old under counter fridge - not least because it's much easier having the fridge contents at eye level.

Can make do with regular fridge freezer becomes a stretch when batch cooking food for the kids. If you have space somewhere else to put a chest freezer may not be an issue. Separate tumble drier an absolute must, not combined, you want to be able to half your time doing laundry so often both machines are on when doing the laundry. Double oven if one is a combi multifunction and the other a traditional oven I would go for it. Don’t use the traditional oven a lot but enough to know we would not install a kitchen without one especially when entertaining or at Christmas.

Haven't used our tumble dryer or dishwasher in many months.
Family of four, two teens.

Thanks everyone. We will definitely get a dishwasher too.

We really will struggle to fit in a separate tumble drier. What about a heated clothes airer instead?

Also - thoughts on a single oven + integrated microwave/oven combi?

YYN from me

We have a single oven, no tumbler drier and an American fridge. Children are tweens and teens. The fridge freezer is useful but we managed perfectly fine before with a standard one. None imo are essential.

I actually have a double oven but never use it as such. One oven works as a grill or oven but I just use it as a grill. The other one, which is only am oven, I use as an oven.

Having a American Fridge Freezer depends on where you live and how you cook.

My nearest 2 decent sized supermarkets are 6 minutes walk away and when I had my DD on gloomy days in winter travelling further a field to bigger supermarkets was an excuse to get out of the house to go somewhere dry.

Do while I currently use my fridge more I restock things regularly. There as my family and friends, particularly with older children or young adults, at home aways have a very full freezer.

If you plan on having two kids a separate tumble dryer and dishwasher would be my priorities. Followed by a double oven then a different fridge freezer.

Oh btw make sure your fridge-freezer in particular but as many appliances as possible are free standing with space around them. Only because myself and others have been caught out replacing appliances in certain spaces.

Microwave/oven combination. I'd never have one again, they're a faff & it's easy to melt bottle sterilisers!! <ahem>

I haven't had a tumble dryer in years. I don't like the clothes shrinkage or the faff if them. I prefer lined dried too. I have 'almost' dried 3 loads today, it's just finishing off over airers.

if you decide to get a dryer look at the heat pump ones and don't get a combi washer/dryer.

look at the capacity of fridge Freezers. The American style one tend to be wide but not very deep. So not much more capacity. As others have mentioned, a place for food to die.