What puts you off in a kitchen?

[Gingka]

Just this really. Is there anything you particularly dislike or wouldn’t choose again? Thank you!

Kitchen islands
Anything other than a gas hob

I couldn’t have a kitchen where the sink wasn’t underneath the main window.

Our kitchen is pretty well designed on the whole (previous people did it) apart from the fact that if someone opens the fridge, there isn’t room to get past them because there isn’t enough space between the fridge and the end of the L shape worktop. It would all look fine on paper, but there isn’t enough space so you have to wait until they’ve finished in the fridge.

Watching this thread with interest. We may move the kitchen sink away from being under a window but I am reading that this is a no no is so interesting!

Clutter.

Where are your stools with armrests from please?

Believe it or not, I saw them on sale while on hols in Ireland, and packed them in the boot of the car - flatpack, (only needed two) but I'm sure there is an equivalent in UK. Great price and they are the most comfortable and solid things. I don't like bar stools as a rule, because I never feel anchored or steady on them ( and that's not because I get tipsy as I don't drink lol!), but the arm rests just make it good. here they are, and if you type in "barstool with back and arms" lots similar will come up on the likes of Amazon.

www.ezliving-interiors.ie/chic-barstool-in-ivory?gad_campaignid=22050047209

Kitchen islands
Glossy surfaces
Peninsula/breakfast bar type things
No room for a kitchen table
The only appliance I want built in/integrated is a microwave so it doesn't have to go on a work surface

A black sink. Worst decision when you live in a hard water area.

I'm designing a kitchen at the moment and paying close attention! I'm considering a non-integrated dishwasher, is that off-putting as it breaks up the line of units?

Work triangle is so basic that people forget to observe it!
Do not put hob too far from the sink and make sure there is worktop in between to put down hot pans

Where's all the washing up going to congregate when you have people to supper or even family...does it look unsightly in current layout (IE on an island)

Where are the spices and oils etc going to go so you can use them as you cook. Tbh trekking to a pantry for oil and herbs is a bore. Shelf near hob v useful for these.

Decorative shelves away from cooking area - greasy nightmare

Enough room to pull out your chairs and open a cupboard that is in constant use or get past chairs to it (decorative dressers can sometimes be tiresomely in the wrong place for actual storage of useful things like lasagne dishes)

A heatproof waterproof scratch proof worktop near hob and sink

An opening window for ventilation not just s door

Place for dog bed and pet dishes - is there one or are you going to trip over them constantly?

Wine fridge
American fridge
Cheap materials
Freestanding cooker
Range cooker
Worktop insufficiently deep to cover washing machine
Nowhere to hide the bins
Black appliances
Gold taps/ handles
Brown anything.

I don’t need a window above a sink, mine isn’t, we have a dishwasher, I spend barely anytime at a sink so don’t need a window to look out of to ease the monotony of doing the washing up.

Kitchen Islands
A sink that means you don't look outside when standing there
A design that means you don't have things like the fridge to hand.
Shiny surfaces / cupboard doors
Everything in grey
Wooden counter tops

Anything gloss or Handleless
Gas hobs
Hobs in islands
Composite sinks
Wooden worktops (bastard to maintain)
No wall units
No or not enough pan drawers
No Quooker tap
No space for a decent sized island with walk around room
All those things are my personal preference though and are easy enough to change/add if you buy a house. I’ve designed all my kitchens to fit my exact requirements and I have never struggled to sell a house. Have the kitchen that you want that works for you.

I really dislike islands, particularly those with a big overhang and high stools- I never like the look of those stools and dont want to sit at in island. Also dislike wine fridges. Also dislike hard tiled floors because everything you drop will break. I think a sink under a window is lovely.

Genuine question. If you dislike islands what would you prefer in a big kitchen with space for an island and a table?

A man in it tellling me what to do or getting in my way

I'm in my 60s and have never had a new kitchen, so have put up with a lot of things that are not my preference. These are the things I hate most:

Oversized islands. I'm not ALWAYS against them, but in general they're ugly and I hate sitting at them.

Overcomplicated appliances - like hot water taps, pan fillers, gizmos that rise out of the island. So many moving parts to go wrong and so unnecessary.

Shaker style - ok I dont hate it but I'm so bored of it. All those little ledges to clean.

Fancy handles that are difficult for my arthritic fingers to open - like the cutouts.

Plywood units. Just awful. I dont care that architects seem to love them.

Personally I like wooden slab doors that are easy to repaint. A pp said fashion-led colours, but the truth is nothing is timeless - just look at how white kitchens are being decreed as OUT now. I just like kitchen units that are easy to repaint.

I hate islands with a burning passion. If the room is large enough I'd ideally like a sofa and a decent-sized table. Much more sociable.

Gloss cupboards, absolutely cuntish creation. Tiny shallow cupboards.

Lack of sockets is the main one I think.

Thing I regret is having the tap on the right hand side, I get it if your left handed but for me its just awful.

I hate big long kitchens, my last two kitchen where large rectangles and bloody awful. Trying to do anything was like running lengths and the extra space just attracted clutter, so much area to clean and tidy. Our new house had another long rectangle kitchen and we split it in two too add a bathroom and now have a smaller square kitchen that you can pretty much reach everything from the middle and its pretty much perfect.

Ok, so space for sofa and decent sized table. Both reasonable requests. But if you’ve still got a big space left? Would you just leave it empty?

I’ve just got rid of my regular kitchen table and put in an island which seats 9. It’s so much more social when friends come over. I had an island in my old house and it’s the one thing I missed for the casual relaxing when people come over.

I don't think there is anything relaxing about balancing on a high stool or chair.
MUCH prefer to have friends round a table, where you can have your feet on the ground.