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?

Tumble drier 100% not a 2 in 1
Double oven nice to have not essential.
American Fridge freezer I hated mine. Freezer way to small. Many much better combinations around now. But I'd stick with a fridge and a freezer personally.

I would always get a separate microwave.

So you can finish of something in the oven, whilst warming beans or whatever in the microwave.

Plus microwaves alone are cheap so if they break they are easy to replace. A combo won't be. Microwaves can last from 13 months to a decade.

If you get a condenser tumble dryer it won't need to be near a drain if that helps you to squeeze one in. (You empty the water pot - unless you choose to plumb it in)

Heat pump tumble dryers are the newer type that are more economical to run but take 3 hours odd to dry a full load so you have to weigh up cost versus convenience.

I chose the non heat pump type for the convenience of speed and because, as we usually use the dryer in winter, the heat it kicks out isn't wasted but warms the room.

If cost is an issue you could just leave space for your freestanding fridge/freezer.

We recently upgraded our smaller fridge and freezer to full height fridge and separate full height freezer which I love but they were Britsh Heart Foundation £100 odd each. Don't feel pushed to by a £1000 fridge freezer right now if your budget is squeezed. If you leave enough room you can add on anytime.

Don't know why the weird spacing sorry

Have 2 children and have all the above and love them - however could live without the American fridge freezer and double oven - would hate to be without dishwasher and separate washer and tumble dryer - had combined washer drier when lived alone but separate so much better

Oh so you would go for separates.

I was left separated by my previous owner but found them annoying as they were under counter.

I've never owned a tumble drier. I can't be worked up about a double oven, especially if you have an air-fryer, but I'd go for the American fridge-freezer. Kids reach a stage very quickly when they cluster feed between 5 & 10 pm, raiding cupboards and fridges.

I’ve a condenser tumble dryer and it’s in the kitchen because there’s no where else for it but it could go in a garage. I don’t use it often but couldn’t be without it.
A dish washer is also essential and I’ve only got a slimline from my single days and I wish it was a full size.
Huge fridge I don’t have or need but I don’t have a large freezer part of my fridge freezer so I am looking at an additional freezer. An extra freezer can always go in a garage or utility

Oh I would NOT have separated under the counter :)
Something like this and this

@Orchid7 Unlike others have said I have had a integrated Microwave / Oven Combi - I really did like it and if I only had one other oven I would get one again. As we have 2 ovens I have gone for a basic microwave ( cost reasons )

You need to make the house suitable for the 2 of you now and, plan some things for the future, but I wouldn't be buying a massive American fridge freezer on the hope that in 5-10yrs there are 4 of needing a larger fridge!

If the kitchen space is limited- get a regular fridge/freezer. Do you have a garage/utility or other space that an extra freezer could go in the future if needed?

Washer/dryer combos are dreadful in my experience. If you can- have the washing machine raised up so you aren't bending to the floor to get things out. Again- if you need a dryer in future- do you have a garage it could go in?

Never had a tumble drier. No one should be using one. Such a waste of energy

We have a washer drier only because we dont have space for a tumble dryer, and i couldn't not be without it. Especially if you have a sicky refluxy baby. But cycle takes forever. So if you can fit washer + separate tumble dryer then it will make life easier.

I have a single oven and find it hard whenever we have anyone more than just the 3 of us. Ive just invested in an air fryer to see if that helps capacity wise but ideally planning on upgrading to a double oven when we next do the kitchen.

I have the family size you are aiming for. Oven is counter level and has one main and one smaller oven / grill above it. I mostly only use the small oven and the big one goes on for roast, deeper cake tins etc. Have a washer dryer which works fine. If there was more space I would go for separates. Our house doesn't breathe very well, so need to at least start the drying process off. American fridges are huge, doubt you will need that much fresh food at once.

We barely use one oven never mind two now we have an air fryer. So I’d go single oven plus an air fryer.
I agree with PP that a big American fridge would lead to food waste, I’d just go for the biggest capacity ordinary fridge freezer. Liebherr ones are fantastic, food lasts far longer than any other fridge freezer I’ve had.
I couldn’t manage without a dishwasher or tumble dryer (vented are best in my opinion) , don’t get a combined washer dryer they are useless

Nice.

I like free standing appliances that have plenty of space around.

I’d say yes to all of them. We don’t have a double oven but we do have more than one in a rangemaster.

Instead of a double oven I’d definitely go for a single oven plus an integrated microwave/oven - this is what we have with two kids and it’s perfect. Double ovens mean you just get two small ovens whereas with a single and microwave you get a decent sized single oven plus a good sized microwave/oven.

My husband helps to fit kitchens and they find this is the best combo.

We do have a tumble drier but I only bought one when our 2nd child was about 2 years old, never really needed one before and I only use it now for towels and sheets so could get away without it easily.

Double oven great if you love to cook, there are washer drier and washer dryers, cheap ones are rubbish, I had to have a washer drier when we moved bought the Bosch serie 6 nearly £1000 but it is excellent, and would recommend. American f/f honestly the worst item I have ever brought about 20years ago, really wanted one, all plumbed in filter water, crushed or cubed ice, hated the bloody thing, freezer shelves were useless, .I prefer baskets. Couldn’t wait for it to die, which it refused to do so, ended up replacing it with standard f/f 60/40 split.

Had a tumble drier in a rented house. Only time it was useful was when we had a massive leak above our bed, and I could wash and dry the bedding and duvet before bedtime! We don't have one now - and 3 loads out on the line today, and they will be dry by tomorrow. I'd day not essential.

American fridge - freezer. Never had one. Yes, I'd quite like a bit more fridge space, but not with a corresponding loss in workspace. I'd say they look posh, but not essential.

Double oven. We've got a range style think in this house. Think Christmas is the only time more than one has been used - and we would have just rested the turkey longer if we'd not had the second oven. Nice to have, but not essential.

I HATE washing up, so wouldn't be thrilled at no dishwasher, but it would be ok. I would replace it if it broke and we could afford it.

A dryer, definitely. And not a washer dryer, they are too unreliable. We have an oven with a smaller top oven/grill that is very useful but it is only a few times a year when I resent the regular sized fridge and freezer. They are regular under-counter ones and although I would have a larger one if we had room I'd never have a huge American style one. They cost more to run and I imagine I would spend a fortune on the food shop each week trying to fill it to justify it!

Could you stack a tumble drier and washing machine in a tall unit? I couldn’t be without the tumble dryer even though I dry as much as I can on a wall airer. Do your washer and dryer need to be in the kitchen or do you have an integral garage or anywhere they could go?
Oven depends on how you like to cook. I’ve managed fine with a single with 3 kids.
We used to have an American style fridge freezer and it was useful but really blocked the kitchen. I prefer separate integrated ones.

We have 3 DC, and have a tumble dryer and a heated airer. The heated airer is full of the non tumble dry stuff, it's helpful to have a tumble dryer for stuff like sheets and towels that take up loads of space on the airer. How important that is will depend on whether there will be someone at home to do laundry mid week, or whether like us you end up doing back to back loads at the weekend. The tumble dryer also comes into its own when you have bedwetting / vomiting and need clean dry sheets quickly.

I have 2 single ovens and an American fridge freezer, with the model carefully chosen for internal space. I'd do without the 2nd oven (and instead have 1 plus an air fryer) before I did without the American fridge freezer, but then we only shop once a week and batch cook / eat leftovers later in the week so I need space to store them.

My old cooker was one loved ceramic hob liners in the oven loved it.

I got all of that and its godsend.

my family getting bigger have american style fridge freezer its a must. Even sometimes still too full for my family of 5.

having separate tumble dryer is godsend because having kids means you have loadddssss of laudry. Washer dryer its not good enough not dry enough and crumple a lot.

double oven its not necessarily important but i love to cook so why not.

the most important is tumble dryer for sure and the fridge freezer.