How important is a kitchen at the back of a house?

[mumma24]

woukd you consider a kitchen at the front with the lounge at the back over looking the garden?
or do the majority prefer the other way. Looking at a house to buy but thinking of resale going forward in 5 years time

I wouldn’t buy with kitchen at front - back only and going into the garden

@MooFroo thank you

You haven’t said where the sun is. That would be my biggest influence.

My kitchen is at the front, living room - going into a conservatory, dining room and my study overlooks the back. I love the view from my living room and looking down the street when washing up.

So no it wouldn’t bother me. My kitchen does have a door to the outside however (door is north facing) and in summer it’s lovely and cool due to this.

Kitchen gets morning sun, living room afternoon sun (from around 11am). A small area gets sun at 8am (at the very bottom of the garden).

Does it not depend on what direction things face ? I would prefer a lounge to be south facing for the sun. The kitchen direction not so much, to me anyway.

@Treacling view down the street washing ups good 👍🏻 this kitchen I’m looking at the front just looks at an internal wall so maybe that’s what I’m not sure about

@TheSandgroper the lounge faces west the kitchen east

It’s really strange that architects design houses with the kitchen at the front. If you’ve got children playing in the garden, it’s much easier if the kitchen is at the back, so they can see you and you can keep an eye on them.

Even without children, I prefer the kitchen at the back.

West facing lounge = afternoon and evening sun and sunsets!

Kitchen NE for morning sun. Lounge SW for evening sun.
My sink faces the wall but I have a dishwasher , large area under the window for prep and baking.

I prefer my eastern window in my kitchen. I love the morning sun.

My Aunt had a kitchen which overlooked the driveway. It was really handy to see what was happening out the front.

@HoppityBun thank you, oh yes of course, kitchen at the back is more appealing to families to keep an eye on children

I love having my kitchen at the front! I can spy on my neighbours whilst I do the washing up!!!

Previous house I loved my kitchen at the front (north facing) Watched the world go by whilst doing stuff. Lounge was at back with all the sun (south facing)
In my current house kitchen at the back and is south facing. Awful in summer as so hot. Would rather the other way round.

I'd much prefer kitchen at the front, living room at the back. I've had friends with houses in that configuration and found it a lot more conducive to family life. It's a personal thing though I guess.

I would rather have lounge at the back so I can keep an eye on the kids in the garden

Open plan lounge/ dining/kitchen here which opens onto the garden. Best arrangement I've ever had. New build bungalow.

We have traditional kitchen at back lounge in the front set up…when we renovated a few years ago the first thing the architect drew up was kitchen at the front lounge at the back. We were kind of baffled but he was adamant this was the sensible thing to do. We did not do it and I am glad for it!I couldn’t see the benefit of it at all but he was utterly convinced we were mad not to do it. I guess it’s personal preference

I would never buy a house with a kitchen at the front regardless of orientation. I want it to open into the garden & I like eating outside during the summer.

We have our kitchen at the front, the living room is at the back, are people really spending more time stood in the kitchen compared to relaxing in their living rooms?

I have had both and far prefer the kitchen at the front of the house. You see the comings and goings throughout the day and then have complete privacy in the evening.

I was going to say the same thing!

Our kitchen is at the front (north facing) and it’s great. Well the fact that it’s at the front is great, the actual kitchen was our compromise when we moved in and I’d love to have a bigger kitchen, but that’s another story!

Not just to keep an eye on children (because you could be sitting in the lounge and wanting to keep an eye on them too) but because of dirt and flooring. I much prefer children and pets to come in from the back garden into the kitchen. You can then wipe and damp or dirt that’s got onto the kitchen floor easily whereas most lounges are carpeted and I hated the idea of dirt coming in from the garden.

i now have a house with a lounge at the back and even with children taking their shoes off most of the time, the carpet is grubbier in that area and it’s a real stress when the dog comes in with muddy paws.

I spend most of my time in the kitchen/diner area, cooking, sorting washing. supervising homework but I have a sofa in there too. I don’t use my living room that much during the week.

Why is a kitchen easier to watch children from than a lounge?