Kitchen designer on MN?

[TheE1ementsSong]

I seem to remember there was a kitchen designer on MN some years ago, is she still around? I would like to engage her services! Actually paying actual money for the design, I mean.

Our kitchen is literally breaking down bit by bit around us and we're going to have to replace it. We have lived with the current layout since we moved in a decade ago and find it simultaneously too big and inefficient, yet too cramped and lacking storage. I've tried making up my own designs but I think I need a professional eye for the best outcome.

Have attached the current layout (approx, it's actually a bit stranger than how I've shown it).

@MauraLabingi I just did a quick, non-measured mock-up of an eating nook. It looks pretty do-able, only thing is I can't work out where I would put the fridge/freezer!

Have you a cupboard under the stairs or space in a bathroom for the washing machine?

You could have a bistro table for 2 closer to the boiler and then have the FF where the eating nook is now.

My teens were so resistant to change, it’s definitely a thing!

Can you put in a serving hatch 🤣

Washing machine has to stay in the kitchen, under stairs is already a very tiny cloakroom.

I hate serving hatches, sorry

Have you space for a couple of kitchen units under the boiler? I think you said you could fit the washing machine there so presumably some combo of cupboards would work too? If your fridge freezer is a tall one you could put that where the DW is, and move the DW and sink along to the right. Sink under window is always nice anyway. You're losing a cupboard but that would go beside boiler.

I'm sure there are other rejig options but I'm trying to avoid moving plumbing!

OooOooh!

(More bloody decisions)

Do you really want an eating nook, though, TheE1ementsSong? It's a fairly fixed thing if you're not going to use it for that long.

You are quite right, it'd be really annoying to be stuck with it!

I would get in touch with Karen at one plan even if you don’t quite know what you want. We used her for our long, thin kitchen and she was so helpful with suggestions and ideas. I’m sure she would help you with seating options or no seating options

See I’d want to have the sink in front of the window so I could look out whilst I wash up.

Could you make the doorway to the dining room wider without needing a lintel to make it feel more like one room.

another option - dining room becomes the eat in kitchen?

Block up the doorway to the hallway, have a doorway from the dining room into the kitchen opposite the boiler.

Love the proposed redesign. Adding that we did something similar, and the storage under the benches has been very helpful.

You could always use wooden benches rather than fitted ones, if you wanted flexibility.