Help, which kitchen layout?

[Newbie2025]

Hello,
I'm undecided between 2 kitchen layouts, one is an L shape so would give us floor space and a nice open space, the other option is to place shallow units on the 3rd wall and have is as a U shape but not sure if this will feel too closed in and make it feel claustrophobic when we're all in the kitchen? The advantage of the U though is a little extra storage and most importantly more worktops. WWYD?

Ah I love it, it's going to look lovely when it's done 😊
That's definitely put my mind at rest that it won't feel squashed of too tight.
Although now need to have out radiator at the end of the narrow units so going to lose about 40cm of cabinet width now as the radiator can't go where we hoped it would ☹️

Bloody radiators! We are yet to hang our new one, and I must say it looks like it's gonna be really tight but my father-in-law is reassuring me it'll fit (he's a builder and helping us out).

We tweaked our design so many times, last bit of tweaking as we were fitting it and realised despite all the measuring the corners didn't fit, but it all worked out in the end so I'm sure you'll get it just right too 🙂👍

1200 is plenty space! U shape for sure the first option really doesn't look like enough counter space and storage

I agree with U shape but I think you might find that having normal depth wall cupboards over shallow base cupboards will feel very 'in your face'..

Oh no, I didn't think of that ☹️ but you could be right, we just can't get "normal" width base units in as the kitchen is too narrow.

Your kitchen fitter should be able to cut the wall units down so they are the same depth as the base units.

I know, the radiator is now ruining it (IMO) as losing 50cm of unit for it.
Unless the electrician can move a light switch and socket from a bit of wall we have between 2 doors.
If not though then we're going to end up with something like the photo I've attached which will have the radiator at the end and 2 x 60cm units instead of 2 x 80cm units.

I agree, and much more likely to bump your head! I think it’ll look weird; it’ll throw it out of proportion.

Definitely go with narrow wall units.

Its going to look great, I really like your mock ups and the previous posters example

DIY will adjust depth of units, just add it to the comments section for each unit, we had some tall units made shallower to fit our space.

I really didn't think of that! I don't know what to as it has to be 300cm deep wall and base units! This might push us to stick with the L ☹️

I know MN hates them, but you could have shelves on that wall. We have them in our kitchen and they're so handy! My parents also have them, and my mum stores all her dry ingredients (pasta, rice, cous cous etc, plus flour, sugar, baking things like raisins, granola etc) and all her herbs and spices and oils/sauces on them, and it's great - they're all to hand and look nice. She did buy a set of jars for storage so it looks more attractive, but that was a one-time expense.

I would maybe have shallow tall cupboards or shelves above the base cupboards instead

Bear in mind every corner in a kitchen ends up being a massive waste of space with a bit of worktop you can't really use and a cupboard that you can't really get in and out of of. For all you get an extra few narrow units with the U, you also lose a bit of normal full-depth worktop and a cupboard.

We have a shallow depth run of base units. It works well for food storage as everything is visible.
I wish I'd gone for narrower width cabinets though - we have 600 wide base units and the doors get in the way a bit when opened.
I don't really use the worktop for any preparation, as I have wall cabinets above.

Must admit I'm not a fan of the shelves only because of the dust lol.

That is true , we are going to put a bug L shaped corner on the sink side so will hopefully get plenty in there.
I think the L shape works out for cupboards for us but worried it's not leaving much worktop ☹️
Just can't decide now.

That could be an idea with a shallow tall unit but then the reason we were trying to squeeze a U shape in was for a bit of extra worktop , just not sure if the L shape will give us enough ☹️

Is it wide enough just to do two full depth runs down each side and just have a picture or something on the wall at the end? You might get more usable kitchen area that way than with the U or the L? I admit I have a personal hatred of kitchen corners!

Why do you have two doors side by side into the same space? If you blocked off the one into the ‘kitchen’ ( no need to wall it up, just take the handle off and hardboard over the whole space, ) you would have an extra 80 - 90 cms( enough for a fridge). Plinth heaters could replace the radiator, or increase the size of the radiator in the utility or the dining area, ( if present) the heat will circulate if you don’t have a door.

Definitely go for the u shape, corner cupboards have improved a lot recently, and you will bless the extra worktop. if you can get short wall cupboards ( 60 rather than 72 cm high) it gives more space to use the worktop.

You could have the radiator attached to the end base unit, on the end of it, if you got a smaller normal radiator as opposed to a towel rail type one? We have a sort of peninsula thing between kitchen and dining room that is a work surface with pan drawers underneath, and our radiator is on the back of the pan drawers unit.

I think the u shaped is much better. The pic another poster attached looked fine for wall units being “in your face”.

I'm another one wondering about the 2 doors going in?

Also, I would put radiator at dining table end, both to get more units in & because cooking end of a kitchen diner is usually warmer

It's not unfortunately ☹️
I too hate corners but the L shaped corner base should be ready handy and more accessible (I hope!)

One is into the sitting room and the other is the cupboard under the stairs , have looked at moving one or both of them but due to it being a load bearing wall it's just not worth the cost.

That was the original plan with the radiator but it can't move now as above it is the bathroom and means removing the toilet, sink and flooring to gain access unfortunately and we can't afford to do that.

Put in underfloor heating? Electric is cheap to do, if not that cheap to run.