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

We lived in the edge of a Surrey village, not much traffic or pedestrians The
.house was far enough back from the road,so people couldn't see in, I just had cafe nets. Houses were built just after the war..it was nice to have a north facing kitchen,cooler to cook in.. although I had a utility room,it contained fridge/freezer washing machine, tumble dryer, then door to the garden. Sadly not room or money for a dishwasher and I had 4 dks! Open plan 1960s bungalow now, lounge/kitchen all one. Kitchen garden end back. Lounge south facing, but because it's a detached bungalow, and not overlooked, although the back garden is north facing,sun goes over the roof come march,and the garden is 200 foot long,so there is always sun somewhere..

It would never have occurred to me either way. The street I grew up in (1960s suburban street) all the kitchens were at the front & it was lovely to sit in the living room & be able to see the garden. We played out on the street more than the garden anyway.
I currently have both the living room & kitchen at the back.

I live in the kitchen, that’s where all the to do jobs get done, I’d want it at the back looking over the garden. Lounge is used for evenings only so no point having that overlooking the garden.

Oh and I want both garden and kitchen to be south facing thanks.

Last house my kitchen was at the front with sink under window, an absolute must IMO. Meant the dog walkers who stopped at the postbox outside and let their dog poo on my border got me shooting out of the front door 'Excuse me, I can see you forgot to bring a poo bag, so here's one'. And you can see everything that goes on.
Next house, with kitchen at the back + very young kids is SO much easier, especially play dates to keep an eye while prepping tea.

Both houses I lived in growing up had kitchens at front. It was brilliant for nosing at people - as long as you have some Venetian blinds tilted at an appropriate angle.

I quite like my kitchen at the front.

At our last house (a small detached mill, 400 years old, elevated at front from the level of the rural lane below) we moved the kitchen from a dark room at the back to the front. I loved that the new kitchen overlooked a woodland area with loads of birds and was so much brighter with three windows.

The old kitchen did have a door to a walled courtyard that in turn led onto our 0.5 acre main garden, but there were lots of stone steps involved and wouldn't have been suited to children anyway (ours was an adult not living at home). But it was so dark you needed lights on permanently to see properly. Eventually this became our dining room as we ate most meals in the kitchen, only using the dining room at night/special occasions, so light was less of an issue because we lit the space with loads of lamps and candles.

We sold that property and moved to a Georgian cottage in 2024. The (tiny) kitchen here was at the back with no door to the garden, just two windows overlooking it and a door to a rear lobby leading out to the parking space. The living room was dual aspect (street at front, garden at rear), partially open plan to the dining room.

We hated how exposed the front seemed - I wouldn't sit in the living room as it had a fishbowl feel.

So, having removed the walls between old kitchen, lobby and utility, we turned that space into a cosy, completely private living room and moved the kitchen into the old, dual aspect living room.

In a kitchen it's fine - imo - to have obscure window film on the lower half of the front, street-facing windows and I'm fine with prepping meals/cooking etc in the 'fishbowl' 😆

Our new sink (and dishwasher) are in front of the rear window overlooking the garden and the 6' wide opening between kitchen and dining room is more practical as well as more sociable. Additionally, there are French doors adjacent to the dining table so we have easy access to the garden/nice views whilst eating. We're so much happier with this layout which I guess is best of both worlds!

yes I’ve known a few houses like that. I wouldn’t want an isolated kitchen at the front, but one that’s open plan yes. I tend to sit at the dining table (livingroom front, kitchen middle, dining back, all open plan though the livingroom can be shut off with double doors) overlooking the garden during the day - I’m not sure if I’d lounge on a sofa or armchair doing that as I need the table. The livingroom we use in the evening so not looking to go outside really.
My garden is north facing which is surprisingly ideal. I have a wall of glass and two skylights - so bright even with out direct sun, which would make it unbearable in the summer. The garden gets sun most of-the day in the summer though not in the winter. But I’m not sitting out in the winter.

If it’s a good house and suits you, it’ll suit a buyer in due course,

Unless it is really usual and impractical, just buy the house that suits you best for your budget

Same

What? Is this a thing? Our kitchen is at the front. I have never thought about it. Our lounge is at the back and it is great. Lounge to garden living. The garden is like an extension of the living room in Summer. Our lounge and garden are south facing. North facing kitchen, just to cook in.

Depends where your children play. My friend’s house opens onto a big green space where all the neighbourhood children play.

And in any case, why can’t you watch them from the living room? Much more comfortable.