Kitchen design

[Toddler101]

So having kitchen refit and going through the design process.

It's a small space, not big enough for an island or peninsular. Footprint isn't changing so we have a u-shape to work with, however 2 walls are taken with windows and the boiler.

DH wants to brick up one window (west facing, into side passage dead space (terraced house) but it allows in a lot of light. I think it will make the room feel smaller because you can't see so far/eye won't be drawn out beyond the walls, if that makes sense? And we wouldn't really gain much in terms of storage - one double cupboard essentially, but the other fittings DH wants mean we lose a lot of space else where...(e.g. 1.5 sized oven, a double sink, a hot water tap and a bin in a cupboard to name a few). Something has to give!

We don't have the space for eye-level built in oven apparently which is what I'd like!

WWYD?

I think the simplest solution and to get the best result is to integrate the fridge freeze. Then have your eye level oven and microwave next to that. Stuck to light airy colours. Put some shelving up between the tall units and the wall for cook books glasses ect.
I know you want to keep the fridge freezer but I think it is limiting your options.

We loose a lot of work surface space with this though as we'd still have the job on that side too I think?

But yes perhaps other suppliers would be a good idea. Our contractors recommended Howdens but we're left feeling a bit flat about it.

Can I ask, perhaps a silly question but I'm genuinely unsure - why does there need to be space left around a stand alone FF but not an integrated FF? And with an integrated FF, how do you open the door wide enough to take the drawers/shelves out for cleaning?

No idea why they said leave such a massive space around a ff. Usually a few centimeters in OK? We have an integrated ff now, the door opens wide enough yi remove shelves etc. It is marginally smaller than a free standing though.

I'd honestly go elsewhere. Ours is ikea, we designed it ourselves, but, I'm sure they have people to help. It was much, much cheaper too.

So I did lots of sketches and spoke to our builder about various permutations and this is essentially what we're going with. We will have to forfeit some outdoor space to accommodate slim french doors opening outwards but I feel far more positive about this design and I get to keep my west facing window as well as get light through the new doors 😍Kitchen person just needs to confirm with our builder whether we can go for full ceiling height wall units, we might just about have the space but it'll be up to builder to confirm (due to our ceiling) so hopefully that should give us extra storage instead of plinth drawers that we also considered thank to someone on here suggesting it. And we're going for the focal point range oven, too as someone else mentioned up thread.

Feeling very positive about it all now and super excited! 🙏

Yay!! Looks good.

That looks really good.