Kitchen Novices

[JollyHostess101]

We’re having an extension so kitchen shopping! Going form tiny kitchen with little space to hopefully something much more usable!

But we’re complete novices never having had to do this before!

Can anyone tell me the must haves (or have nots) the only thing I know is I don’t want a white kitchen! But I do want one of those pull out larder thingies!!

What worktops are the best- where on earth do you start?!

Drawers, drawers and more drawers. Pan drawers specifically. Not just good for pans.

More sockets than you think you'll need.

You will lose the will to live when you feel like you've seen every single handle and knob in the entire world but still can't decide. But it'll be worth it.

Worktops definitely help make a kitchen. Our old house, the kitchen was a good few years old but had a lovely, indestructible granite worktop that helped to keep it looking new. We have white quartz now. I was so worried about staining but there's nothing ive not managed to get out of it (although the turmeric lives in a special box and is handled like I'm unarming a bomb ie with utmost care!)

Thank you! This is what we needed!!

We went pretend shopping at wickes with the advisor but were completely clueless!!

Thanks for the worktop advice we were plumping towards quartz but was worried it would stain!!

Pull out hose tap with spray - we had ours installed earlier this year and it’s by far the best thing I’ve bought for the house in ages. Very functional.

I really recommend a trip to ikea, their kitchens are really good quality. But the best bit is their booklet of every single option of cupboard width/depth door/drawer combination. Basically think of it as LEGO using the cupboard bases in varying widths and depths to create what you want.

i had a boiler that couldn’t be moved but used Ikea tall cabinets to box it out and create a space for washing machine underneath. I’d asked about this in a fancy kitchen shop and was dismissively told it wasn’t possible.
i also used shallow depth wall cabinets and worktop as base cupboards to create a bespoke seating area in an old chimney breast.

even if you don’t buy ikea cabinets you can use the info to work out what you want to take elsewhere.

you also don’t need to buy everything from same place, I sourced granite worktops separately and was loads cheaper than buying via wicked or whoever.
same for appliances, a built in unit for a double oven will be standard for all built in double ovens so shop about.

agree re drawers drawers drawers!
I also planned out what I needed/wanted storage for and made sure I had spaces for stuff, eg I didn’t want equipment like my mixer out all the time so planned a space for them, plus also a space for paperwork as didn’t want a dump pile on the side.

i wasn’t convinced by how robust the wire shelf type pull out larder inserts looked, so I have a tall cabinet with deep drawers instead, so it acts like a larder cupboard but really robust. I’ve added a pic so you can see what I mean.

Oooh thank you!! That looks good!!

I dread to think what the wicked quote will be as we said yes to a lot……… 🤣

Agree with both ikea and drawers. Also on my list was... a deep sink to hide pots waiting for dishwasher, an easy to clean induction hob that faced the dining table, no more cooling with back to people. No corner units, hate them. No wall units, but floor to ceiling are allowed. A really good layout, you can cook and clean up without too much movement. An eye level oven.

I wish id put a bin in a drawer instead of under the sink. We do have recycling boxes under the boiler, hidden in a tall unit.

We also removed the washing machine, I hate dirty clothes in the kitchen.

A separate area for making hot drinks, so people don't get in the way. The toaster/cereal/snacks are placed at the nearest point to the door so people can get them with out coming too far into the kitchen.

Basically, its small so I've done what I can to keep people out, unless they're helping, and make it as functional as possible.

There is a thread on here somewhere from about 5 years ago which is a huge list if kitchen must haves. Hang on. Will see if I can find it.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/property/5226885-kitchen-must-haves-and-mistakes

Are you using a design service? I took a list of all the things I have in my kitchen that would need a drawer or cupboard and cross checked at the end and found we needed to change a couple of things.

The designer took a photocopy of the list as said it would be really useful for others and no one had ever done that before! Really?!

Be sure, well as sure as you can be, that the kitchen layout functions. You know the 'work triangle' thing you often see. It's like with garden paths the long wiggly one to the front door looks good but really is a PITA and cuts cut across. I always wonder that about kitchen islands, whether the owners get p^ssed off continually walking around it.
Definitely lots of sockets if you like gadgets and tech in your kitchen, I guess also other electrics that go with any tech you might want to have, and where to put it.
getting the practicalities correct are my most important aim that and off course lots of storage.

Hello!

Kitchen designer here 😀

Some of my top tips for making choices I tend to give customers are:

-Think about things you have in your kitchen that you know you want still in your next one= things you like.
-Think about things you don't have in your current kitchen that you would love to have.
-Things you definitely do not want.

Things I advise to have if you can:

-Pan drawers: they are deep, super handy for storing pots, pans, jars, and making accessing things very easy and hassle free.
-Having the oven in a tall unit: not having to bend down to get things in and out of the oven is a luxury and your back will 100% thank you. Not everyone has the space for this but I highly recommend this.
-A good extractor. Don't cheap out on having good extraction in your kitchen, it'll make sure you control smells and excess moisture and reduce potential for mould in the kitchen. There are some very good brands like Bora who have the extractor built into the hob. They aren't cheap, but they work really well, and they are very well built.
-Quartz worktops: they come with around 25y warranty, are durable, they look lovely and they don't get water damaged over time.
-Toughened glass splashback instead ot tiles, this way you won't have mould or dirt accumulating between the tiles and your kitchen will look new and spotless for a lot longer.
-Corner carousels: makes it a lot easier to access the back of the cabinet storage, and remember all the things you have in it. Getting to the back of a corner unit can be such a hassle!

And my advice (biased, as I work for an independent kitchen shop, but I have worked for bigger retailers prior to that for many years) do not go with a big kitchen retailer like Howdens, Wren, Magnet... they minute they take your money, they don't care. Quality is lower, and will last you less time.

Go with a good local independent kitchen shop. They will bend over backwards to help you, advise you, make sure the fitting is spotless, and they will really care about making you happy because customer service and word of mouth is what makes them survive. And also, the quality products they sell is way superior and will last you longer. I advise to go with german brands if you can.

I hope this is helpful!

We're just about to fit a new kitchen (DIY Kitchens, with quartz from al-Murad. Both great quality, and a lot cheaper. Our builders are fitting)

We found the CAD planner on the DIY kitchens site really helpful- even if we weren't using them, it's a useful exercise in thinking hard about how you use the kitchen, ans what matters most to you. We realised a lot that we didn't previously when talking to advisors.

Thank you everyone for your advice!! Going to show husband this evening!!

@LauraRA88thanks for this we didn’t our local one but the bloke was a bit of an arse and put me off!! Maybe I’ll cast my net a bit wider!!

And to me honest we have two tiny draws at the moment not really fit for any purpose so they are on the top of my list!!

That is such a shame (for them) that they lost your business!

We're a women power design team in our shop and it shows! Reviews from local customers are what keeps us alive. Maybe shop around nearby towns etc. Going on google and having a look at google reviews is so helpful as well.

You’re not West Sussex are you by any flukey chance?!

We're in Steyning!! so yes.

This is us: share.google/12p6GkJVc9AWNkURq

Thought of some more things.

We have a vented hob - I LOVE it! It would be a major faff to put into an existing kitchen unless unit was already against external wall because they are best when they vent outside (but you can get them to recirculate - i think this is more upkeep and not as efficient though) but if you're doing an extension then you can plan from the start and instal vent pipes under floor. They're expensive but not massively more than a hob and a separate extractor. They do take up more space for all the venting gubbins underneath but you can either do cupboards underneath or give up the top drawer for it. Means you have more flexibility with lighting and don't have a clunky extractor overhead. Less of an issue if hob is going against wall but brilliant for an island which is where our hob is.

I wish we had got one of those pull out hose type taps. I don't think they are as pretty but we have a double belfast sink and it's a nightmare to keep clean with regular tap. I definitely don't regret not getting a boiling water tap though. Our hob boils water really quickly, we don't drink tea and we don't miss the space a kettle takes up.

Our kitchen is from DIY kitchen. I'd really recommend. The online planner takes a bit of getting used to but easy enough once you figure it out. They've started a design service recently. And there are recommended designers listed on the DIY kitchens FB group.

If I can in my next kitchen I will get two dishwashers. Even two slimline. One to have stuff washing and drying. One to put dirty stuff in while the other is doing that. I can’t stand things piling up in the sink, but where else can you put things if the dishwasher is busy!

I know it’s a bit random and prob just me but it’s sooo annoying!

Two or three full size ovens.
A full size fridge and a full size freezer.
Echo the drawers over cupboards.
A 5 hob burner, rather than a 4 hob.

Think about your natural light and don't block it. Also, use tape to map out the floorspace used if you are able.

We designed our kitchen, and originally had about 3ft of worktop bookended by a large larder unit at one end (internal) and a narrow one at the other (nearer he window). After living with it for a while I realised that the narrow one really blocked light onto the worktop. We had used the space between the window and that unit for our table, so it also curtailed the room we had for that. Ultimately, we redesigned slightly and moved the narrow cupboard. It works so much better now - no blocked light, and more room for a bigger table, even though the unit was only a foot wide. It was a lockdown project, but I am still so much happier with it.

Yes! Definitely two ovens if you have the space. We used to have a double oven but now we have two full sized, eye level, hide and slide ovens and I love them. Basically one is a dedicated yorkshire pudding oven which is v important!!

Ahhh amazing!! We’re literally just waiting for final quotes from builders so we can have some idea what our budget is for the kitchen but once that’s sorted I’ll be looking in earnest!

@JollyHostess101 feel free to pop in for a chat whenever you want!

We don't ask for deposits or charge for measuring, designing and quoting, so happy to help you get an idea of costs beforehand, it's always nice to know overall how much roughly you're looking at for a project. If you have architect drawings send them in and I'll crack you some numbers and ideas! 🙂