New kitchen must-haves

[CatsForLife]

Looking at Howdens for a new kitchen. What are the hits and misses for those who have had kitchens recently? I’m thinking things like boiling water tap, pull-out larders, bins in cupboards, drawers instead of cupboards? Do I need a warming drawer? Built-in microwave? Finding it all a bit overwhelming!

Definitely a boiling water tap, pull out bin in cupboard, lots of drawers, a double door pantry if you have space. I also love our full height fridge and full height freezer, so much space.

Having a new kitchen fitted shortly. Decided against a built in microwave as it was so much more expensive than a freestanding one and also no boiling water tap again felt like far too much money. Getting a larder for all food so its all in one place rather than several cupboards, this is what I am most excited about.

@confusedlots cab you tell me more about the full height fridge and freezer please? They are separate? Are they built in?
@LindaDawn the larder sounds great. Can you recall how much the boiling water tap was?

Happy with our Howdens kitchen apart from the Lamona appliances. The oven stopped working on the second use, the fridge part of the fridge freezer broke in the New Year the food went bad, the replacement is not right either so battling that one at the moment. I wouldnt bother with a boiling tap and neither would I have a bin in a cupboard. If you have a big kitchen with a corner which will fit the walk in larder in and can afford it I would go with one of those. I do like our pull out larder though.

Boiling water tap is a must! And I don't mind Lamona - my Bosch and Neff appliances have caused me more grief and cost way more! I didn't like any Howdens worktop so went to an independent supplier for that.
Drawers instead of cabinets. Large (mine is 90cm) cutlery drawer to put every thing in. Definitely pull out rubbish bin - I have it split half for rubbish half recycling.
I also like seamless sinks - not possible but I have white composite sink that matches well either way my composite marbled worktop so almost looks seamless. One big deep sink rather than two or one and a half.
The best thing about Howdens is they have things in stock and you can return bits you don't use. Hard to keep the Matt finish looking pristine though (true of most Matt kitchens I guess).

We love our bins being in a cupboard. Didn't bother with a boiling water tap.....thought it was too expensive and I quite like the ritual of putting the kettle on!

These are all so helpful! Keep them coming. I’ve had Lamona stuff before and it’s been decent enough but might opt for branded cooker etc. Am I being a bit stupid here… what’s the advantage of drawers over cupboards?

Drawers are brilliant for pots and pans, baking trays, casserole pots, cooking utensils, cutlery. They're wide and deep, no more hands and knees scrabbling around for the above just open the drawers and there they are.

I'd love a walk in pantry as I once had. The pull out ones are a great alternative.

Friends and family with hot water tap swear by them. But there's only two of us now so I'm not bothered.

I can’t recall the exact price but somewhere in the region of £1k and more if you wanted extras such as fizzy water. Our new kitchen is also Howdens.

My larder is one with shelves rather than pull out one. Feel the pull out ones may get overloaded. Also didn’t bother with a warming drawer. Going with a quartz worktop probably from Howdens.

Drawers are something I couldn't manage in my kitchen (shoestring budget and tiny) but wish I had regularly. I similarly wish I had a proving drawer probably once a week: but that's because I make my own bread regularly. If you don't (or have an airing cupboard or similar warm space) then you don't need one.

Going for a freestanding rather that integral
Fridge/freezer as the integral are smaller.

I didnt like our bin in a cupboard. I took it out in the end and repurposed the cupboard.

I also went for a large sink rather than a 1.5 sink as wanted a big enough sink to be able to soak oven trays etc. also never used my .5 of a sink. Going for sp 2 x bins in a cupboard (rubbish and recycling). Will buy a small freestanding compost bin and place it in cupboard under the sink.

Yes they are both built in. 2 separate appliances, a tall larder fridge and same for the freezer. I just love how much more space it gives is, especially the freezer for stocking up/batch cooking

Walk in pantry

Got only 3 drawers as that was all my kitchen design could fit but that should be enough.

My kitchen isn't huge, so I love our bins in a cupboard because it means I don't have a pedal bin taking up floor space. It's all neatly tucked away.

I've got a corner walk in larder. The most wonderful space in my whole house! Hold so much stuff and takes up minimal footprint.
I've got microwave built in because I wanted completely clear worktops. Same reason I had a boiler tap rather than kettle.
Lots of different lighting zones. Loads of sockets.
A tall cupboard where I keep the ironing board and mop.
Pan drawers rather than cupboard.
A regular drawer for cutlery and another on for the tat (sellotape, batteries, pens, rubber bands, tea lights etc).
Lovely big fridge freezer with cold water dispenser. We couldn't have it plumbed in, so have to fill the tank regularly. But it's fab having ice cold water ready to drink.

@LindaDawn £1k! Wow. Might have to scrub that then!!

@Gazelda Thats really helpful, thank you. Lighting is important!

Check out Kitchinsider on YouTube. His videos really helped me design my kitchen and I love it. Highly recommend a boiling tap. My island has drawers ( on the kitchen side) with smaller drawers inside. Vented hob in the island. Cupboards along a long side with bins and some drawers inside one of them, sink. Built-in microwave above matching oven and 2 tall food cupboards, one with drawers. I also have a wide 2 door tall cupboard with toaster and air fryer set up inside so they are hidden. Got ours from Diy kitchens, they were amazing.

I'd like a breakfast station. My DIL is having one. Imagine all the crap being tucked away. No wires, plugs on show

Didn’t get boiling tap as too expensive, no regrets. But like the jet setting on tap for cleaning out pots and the sink.
Double width full height china cupboard so easy for unstacking dishwasher.
Double width full height pantry cupboard contains all the food apart from jars on open shelf.Didn’t want any wall units above base units.
90cmwide cutlery drawers and utensils too so space.
All drawers so much easier than scrabbling around on the floor peering into dark corners and easier on the back.
Quartz worktop still looks like new and very easy to keep clean.
Pull out triple bin works well.
Wish we had put in more countertop plugs, compost bin pull out and they wasted a corner as couldn’t sort design. We ended up designing it all ourselves but were pleased with Howdens units.
Good luck OP it is worth taking time to really think through how you use the space.

We have an ikea kitchen, opted for all drawers, with drawers inside for spices etc. Tall units(cupboards) go to ceiling so did away with wall units.

Decided against a hot water tap as I like a separate area for making hot drinks, so people can help themselves without getting under my feet.

Also went for a large sink, we have a dishwasher, so I wanted a sink big enough to chuck stuff in if it's waiting ro go in dishwasher, without being seen.

A built in oven is much, much easier to keep clean and to see how things are cooking. And animduction hob is so easy to use and clean.

Plenty of lighting too.

@Mistlebough great tips here. I think it is about properly thinking it out. The jet tap thing is a good shout.
@LillyLeaf I’ll look at that video. Thank you. Your kitchen sounds great!