Kitchen and space dilemma

[RM2013]

We moved house a couple of months ago. The kitchen diner is long and narrow and currently in a U shape. The diner end has a bay window but the kitchen end can look quite dark.
the current layout doesn’t give us enough storage and we are having to store things on top of units which makes it feel very cluttered.
we are trying to decide how best to create the best layout and use of space.

ideas so far

• gloss units to help reflect light
• Under cupboard lighting
• light worktops
• smaller table - poss round to extend to oval when needed for additional seating

the one thing I’m not sure on is appliances. We need to fit oven, hob and we currently have a freestanding WM and TD. Would love a DW but think would mean sacrificing on cupboard space.

we don’t have a utility room or anywhere else in the house where we can put the WM/TD.

Prefer the look of integrated appliances but means getting rid of the ones we have already so adds £ to overall cost. Considered a combined washer dryer but reviews are that they have less capacity and are less efficient. Considered using a larder cupboard to house them stacked (but would lose worktop space)

Photos attached of floor layout and current kitchen plus a couple of basic plans I’ve done

Ive done a couple of basic designs online but feel like I am going around in circles

any advice? Would I be mad to stack appliances or go for a combined washer/dryer.

size of kitchen overall is around 16ft x 9ft

Can you show us your best layout so far? I would try to squeeze a small dishwasher in there somewhere, they’re worth their weight in gold.
It does look like a dark room at the kitchen end (albeit a lovely one!).

@Binfire thank you. Yes we had a slimline dishwasher in our previous kitchen but were able to store the freezer and tumble drier in the garage (can’t do that here as garage isn’t attached the the house and we can’t have power running into it) so although this room is a similar size to the old kitchen it just feels smaller.
the room gets a lot of light and sun through the window at the dining end but the kitchen end is dark which is why I am thinking light or gloss units with some clever under cabinet lighting will work well

have a couple of plans saved but struggling to attach to this post but will upload them if I can

Can you put the washer and dryer stacked under the stairs or is there a cupboard upstairs they would fit in?

Could you have a wall of floor to ceiling cabinets along the main wall with everything in maybe with some pocket doors which open up to reveal the sink and hob? Is it about 5 units wide?

I'd be tempted to extend the kitchen worktop the length of the room. Then you'd get far more light for working. Smaller table to compensate. And smaller chairs, those look huge for that space.

@Geneticsbunny we have built in shoe storage under the stairs which we don’t really want to lose so not sure that’s an option. There is a large airing cupboard and separate storage cupboard on the landing but don’t think there is enough space in either of them - the airing cupboard houses the very large hot water tank. The other I will measure but have a feeling it would be too narrow

@tinselvestsparklepants the table was one given to us and it’s very large - much bigger than we probably need. It worked well in my r previous kitchen due to the shape of the room but not so well here. Yes the chairs are large and we probably don’t need 6 as there is only 4 of us here most of the time. Extra chairs just needed when we have guests which is only occasionally.
Have been looking at smaller options as we may need to move the table across a little if we add extra units along the one wall

You can get cupboards all the way up to the ceiling to avoid the dusty clutter on top.

This is a 3D version of the plan. For some reason I can’t attach a photo of the floor plan

Would a round 4 seater table give you more space? Get an extendable one if you need flexibility and keep an extra chair at your dressing table/desk elsewhere or fold up ones in the garage.

You can get taller wall cupboards that go right up to the ceiling, that will hide the stuff that’s currently stored on top of units.

Could you add shelves on the wall or a dresser next to your dining table? (Especially if you switch to a smaller table). Store pretty mugs, plates, jars of pulses etc to free up cupboard space.

Could you switch to a washer dryer instead of a washing machine and tumble dryer?

Definitely get a dishwasher!

Do you definitely need all the stuff in your cupboards at the moment? Declutter before you decide how much space you need!

@AltheaVestr1t yes the higher units definitely are on my wish list!!

@Heroicallyfound we did a pretty big de clutter in Jan as we moved house so I only really kept the stuff we really do use on a regular basis. I think this kitchen just feels smaller because we had more storage in our last kitchen due to a well planned layout. This kitchen is the original one out on by the builders when the house was built so just needs a re think.
Definitely considering the taller units and I’ve already looked at a round extendable table as an alternative as the one we have really is massive!! Shelves or a dresser of some kind is definitely a good idea

@tinselvestsparklepants we definitely want to extend the length of the run of units but just not sure if tall units to house appliances or more worktop space will work best

think it’s time to brave some kitchen showrooms - they might come up with some suggestions I hadn’t considered

I would be tempted to knock through to the living room and block off the bit with the bay an a small cosy snug. The back would then become a large kitchen/dining/sitting space (Dining by the French windows, kitchen in the right hand side and siting where the current kitchen is?).