If you were planning a new kitchen...

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...and you had a reasonable budget, which are the things you would now do differently or include?

For example, I know some friends who opted for two dishwashers, reasoning that you typically only use a small number of items daily and so it makes sense of literally moving these from a clean dishwasher to table and then back to be washed in the 'dirty' dishwasher. Makes sense to me. Plus you would never have to have dirty dishes building up after family gatherings.

Also know some people who opted to have an extractor fan near the hob (i.e. on the same level as the hob rather than above), and they swear by it.

Another family had a cupboard they kitted out as a small bar area.

What would be the things you would change or include if you created a new large kitchen/diner/open area?

Think about things that are often overlooked:

Accessible storage for condiments, spices, salt/pepper and baking stuff. I love floor to ceiling units that pull out on castors for easy visibility and accessibility.

Storage for tea towels and 'utility' things.

How will you use the kitchen? E.g. I'd want my tea/coffee/cereal/bread storage near the kettle/toaster. I'd want saucepans near to the hob, etc. Think about everything you do in the kitchen from start to finish of the day and ways to make it easier (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, cleaning, laundry).

I once saw an episode of grand designs where a woman had designed what she called a 'pivot kitchen' where the fridge, hob and sink were positioned within easy reach of each other to make food preparation easy.

If you have a large workspace, consider having two sinks a distance away from each other. One large/double sink near the dishwasher/utility things and one smaller sink for things like filling the kettle and washing salad, etc. A friend has a system like this and has installed a flexible hose with adjustable spray nozzle for washing food and filling pots and pans without having to move the pan beneath the tap.

We designed our dream kitchen this time last year and we are now loving it a year on. Things we did which have been game changers.

Big Island with the hob on one side, and all the utensil/pan/cooking stuff/plates in drawers underneath. Prep space with everything you need right in front of you, then shove it all in the pans right next to you.
Ovens behind, fridge behind, sink behind. Perfect.

Our quooker tap is a complete and utter game changer. I couldn't live without it.

Little snug at one side of the kitchen. Great for our little girl playing with her toys on the rug there while I'm messing about in the kitchen.

Oh and induction hob.
Amazing and so easy to clean.

We've just had a new kitchen - decisions I'm delighted about include:
Two ovens (stacked), separate hob, built in microwave at eye level, pan drawers, pull out bin cabinet, dishwasher placement near sink and biting the bullet and taking the new kitchen floor throughout the whole ground floor. I'm also pleased to have used a fitter who project managed it too so I didn't have to find or coordinate the separate trades.

Decisions I'd make differently now I'm 4 months in: I didn't realise how small the integrated fridge freezer would be. I still have the old freestanding one in the utility room which has to take the overflow. I went for 1.5 sink but it feels small and I might change it to single bowl. Finally, the quartz worktop looks gorgeous but stains really easily - tea, tumeric, accidental ring from a glass of ribena, etc it's not practical for a family kitchen - who wants to be worrying about using the worksurface?! I'd go for a worktop I could confidently beach.

the quartz worktop looks gorgeous but stains really easily - tea, tumeric, accidental ring from a glass of ribena

I thought that might be the case, I went for laminate that looks exactly like quartz for that very reason - not because I was being tight, as the kitchen fitter implied 😂

Not put wood worktop around the sink! I love our wood and have a double width island which looks amazing and because of doesn't get wet it needs very little doing to it but the sink is a nightmare. Instead i would have one of the types with a moulded sink so no sealant to go horrible and of course no wood being damaged.

Otherwise, as many pan drawers as possible. We've drawers in one side of the island and cupboards on the other but wish we had gone all drawers.

Oh and think about plug sockets. Ours is just far away enough from the hob to mean the stick blender etc doesn't quite reach so either need to use an extension or take the pan to the socket. Pain in the bum.

• A waste disposabl unit in the sink - life changing!

*Double sided draining board sink. Like this:

https://www.qssupplies.co.uk/bathroom-furniture-shower-taps/254236.htm?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIi9-BhvT5_QIVJu_tCh0YmgikEAQYASABEgJrDfD_BwE

*Carousel cupboard in the corner to be able to get stuff out.

*Double oven so you can use a grill and an oven separately.

*Bookshelf for cookery books and deep enough height to take the deepest books you own.

*USB charging sockets in an accessbile place maybe with a shelf for mobile phones etc.

• space to store a step stool out of the way for getting to higher shelves/cupboards
• pull out larder unit like this (we have one and I wouldn't be without it.

https://www.handles4doors.co.uk/hafele-centre-mounted-soft-close-pull-out-larder-unit-for-300mm-cabinet-width.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIqfqxn_X5_QIVCOrtCh0OcQgzEAQYASABEgLeBfD_BwE

• wine storage if you don't have space elsewhere.

• slot for trays/chopping board storage.

I'm embarking on reconfiguring the house.

New kitchen will be the largest room in the house and contain a partitioned and separated prep kitchen where I can do all my 'smelly'/greasy cooking, saving my actual kitchen diner from sticky residue and smells.

Getting rid of suspended kitchen units and having larder style units instead.

We have had our new Kitchen up and running for 6 months now.
Love our corner walk in larder - perfect for vertically challenged people!
love all the deep drawers (4 sets).
No regrets about two separate sinks- a larger one near the dishwasher, a smaller food prep one in island opposite our drinks station (so also perfect for filling the kettle.)
What I really regret is not having another pull out hose- tap on the larger sink too. They are not only great for cleaning fruit and veg, they are also good for cleaning sinks - really easy to clean all corners quickly without wasting water.

Range oven. Pan drawers. Built in bin. Taller wall cupboards. Composite sink

Just got a new kitchen having had a new one at our old house over ten years ago. Things I've learnt from experience:

Not quartz worktops - right pain and hated them. Laminate is much better and easier to maintain than wood.

Think about your lifestyle (do you entertain, have small children you need to be able to see from kitchen, do lots of batch cooking) and then plan accordingly. We've gone for freestanding fridge and freezer as integrated loses so much space.

Think about how much cooking you do and what sort. We had a range cooker in our rented house and it looked nice but wasn't great to use. We've gone back to a 60cm double oven.

Storage - we've aimed to be able to keep as much stuff away as possible so toaster, chopping boards etc all have cupboard space.

@RidingMyBike

How does the toaster have cupboard space? Don't you use it every day? So do you have to keep getting it out?

@Fifiesta I'm interested in the corner walk in larder. Is this a fitted thing/pre-design gernerally availalbe? Do you have a link or a picture? or was it made bespoke for you?

We only use the toaster for weekend breakfast so just get it out those mornings. It sits on a tray in a cupboard below where it plugs in, so very easy to get out.

It depends how much worktop space you have but in the week I use that space for doing packed lunches so wanted the toaster out of the way.

We had a new kitchen fitted a couple of years ago and my three main items I’m so glad we had fitted were pan drawers with integral concealed cutlery/utensil drawers, a double pull out bin and a pull out larder.
We had under cabinet lights fitted but only on one side and I regret not getting them all the way round, I wish we’d had more sockets fitted by the breakfast bar for things like our Alexa and for plugging in chargers although we have USB sockets in all the plug socket plates.
The only appliance we kept from the kitchen we ripped out was the induction hob, which is bloody brilliant 🤩

@RidingMyBike how disappointing - I was imagining some sort of built in toaster situation! I thought almost everyone used a toaster every day!
thanks for replying though as it would have troubled me with excitement that I could have some sort of built in toaster arrangement

Drawers instead of cupboards

Pull out larders

plan as prep, cook, serve and make sure cupboard space matches this. Spices near prep, plates near serve etc

Height - I'm tall and if I could I would lift the whole worktop/sink up by 4-6 inches as I feel like I'm hunched over it

Lighting - my lights are behind me which is useless if I'm wanting to prep stuff! I would have lights under the top units I could switch on and off so ambient then targeted work lighting

Taking notes here for dream kitchen planning

My kitchen is compact though so no room for all of the design elements mentioned so far!

My two top picks not mentioned here (that i can see are)

• a washing machine and washer dryer. I essentially have two washing machines so always have a light and dark on the go.

-an xxl kitchen sink. I actually put and soak pans trays etc properly. Also doubles up as baby bath / mini dog salon / giant wine cooler when having parties

This is in the plan for my new kitchen because we have limited worktop space and I’m very pleased to hear it also works for blocking the cut through for small people because the kitchen would be a cut through otherwise!!

OP my non negotiable was pull out tall cupboards so I can see everything. I’m sick of losing pasta/tins/etc at the back of the cupboard. I also want a pull out towel rail but I don’t think we’ll be able to squeeze it in :(

@SirTarquin I've seen pictures somewhere of a larder style cupboard done as a breakfast cupboard. So has some work surface and a toaster on as well as cupboard and shelves for cereal, crockery etc. That way the toaster is easily accessible for daily use but you can just shut the cupboard door on it.

A separate side board with glass doors to display all your nice china and occasional dishes.

Kitchen must haves ( my original list given to kitchen company )

Larder unit
hidden fridge

Butler’s type sink ?
Built in oven
Lots of storage / drawers
Island / peninsula unit
Display shelves ? Book shelf ?
Plate rack or good alternative
Broom / ironing board cupboard

work starts May 9th 🙀🙀🙀

We love our pull out bin which houses separated
refuse and recycling.

Also love the tap with option for normal flow or shower flow - surprisingly handy to generate a bit more pressure.

We had ours renovated last year.
here’s what I love best:

• butler sink with second stainless steel sink in utility off kitchen
• large pantry cupboard with pull out shelves so I can see everything easily
• pan drawers underneath the double stacked ovens
• more drawers for all utensils and pans underneath hob
• induction hob
• built in pull out bin / recycling / compost under the chopping counter
• large American style fridge freezer (this is a total game changer)
• loads of cupboards
• display shelves for nice crockery etc and cook book shelves
• plug sockets on both sides of hob
• usb phone chargers above sideboard

and unlike some of the pps, I absolutely love my quartz worktops (haven’t found them to stain yet…) - they are so easy to keep clean and looking fab

and yes to not putting wood worktops around the sink - keep these for dry areas only