non-integrated appliances - your views please!

[chelseamorning]

We're in the process of having a new kitchen designed. We have a really good washing machine and condenser dryer which are only two/three years old so we don't want to replace them, if possible. They are not integrated units.

Our kitchen designer has suggested that a lot of people with 'non-integrated' appliances actually build their kitchen base units around them. Is this actually right?!!! Has anyone done this?

He's suggesting putting a cupboard door on and inserting some vents in the worktop to aid with ventilation. As an additional way to ensure airflow around the appliances when in operation, he's also suggesting that we allow a depth of 90cm for the units/worktop!!! I feel this would look really naff where the appliances are located in the design.

Has anyone out there integrated 'non-integrated' washing machines and driers successfully? I'm worried that it'll be a fire hazard but perhaps I'm being melodramatic??

Whatdoyathink?

i have non integrated appliances - integrated ones tend to be smaller and if something breaks on them they are a nightmare to get to. Mine are on view - i am of the opinion that everyone has them so why not be on view. They are all white so they match and are not too eye catching. If people dont like my kitchen thats their problem and not mine.

None of ours are integrated, because we intended our kitchen to have a longer lifespan than the diswasher & washing m/c etc

Ours just slide in and out under the standard space in the worktop. We think that tthis looks absolutely fine but of course it's down to personal taste really. I don't call it 'being built around'. I don't like the sound of the ventilation - wtf is that for? The whole thing sounds strange.

If you can, it may be worth having another company in to quote/design. We used John Lewis for our kitchen who did the job brillianatly, but (well similar thing) we had 2 or 3 people round to refit our bathroom and some of them came up with some VERY strange ideas for integrating the washbasin ...

we have a big fridge freezer american thing "slotted " in to a hole

I wouldn't integrate non-integrated appliances

I'm really puzzled about how you would integrate standard appliances because generally they sit flush with the units so if you stuck a door on one, it would poke out. I am extremely anal about having my appliances on view and bought a very large cupboard for my f/f in my first flat but couldn't find any way of disguising my w/m. Personally, if I were going to the expense of having my kitchen refitted, a couple of hundred on a new washer drier would be worth it because I think it really jars when they are on view. If you do decide to buy integrated appliances, you just change the doors to match your new cupboards if you redo your kitchen, no need to throw them out if you update.

people often "build-in" appliances. they won't be integrated per se, but just placed behind a door in a slightly wider than usual cupboard. If you are having it custom made this won;t be a problem and you will hardly notice it, you just can't use standard units like Ikea etc

I would love to have 90cm deep worktops actually - providing you have enough space in the middle & can get the worktops in that depth. A friend has an old house with very thick walls & her worktops extend across the windowsills to probably that depth, they look great.

My fridge & freezer are freestanding under a worktop but the kitchen fitter a) didn't leave enough space widthways b) didn't take the worktops off & c) didn't put a vent space at the back of the worktop & although they still work-touch-wood they don't seem happy about it.

I think your designer's idea sounds fine.

Sorry, I mean he didn't take the integral tops off the fridge & freezer so that they could be pushed further in

Oh, blimey, some split opinions. Thanks for your replies. More food for thought.

Good point about the units poking out, Lala. I guess this would mean having slightly deeper worktops.

Part of me doesn't want to see the appliances as we're going to a fair amount of effort and money to put in a fully fitted kitchen.

On the other hand, I've never seen air vents in a worktop and just feel this is naff. The 90cm worktop, although it sounds great, would look awful as it's near a door and all you'll see is a huge worktop sticking into the middle of the room. Your friend's, Ponders, sounds really nice and a perfect solution to the space available.

bump

If the kitchen is small non integrated can look messy and integrated definitely makes the space look larger and more sleek.In the scheme of the cost of a kitchen it is worth getting them if you can,

Have you got space to mount the dryer on a shelf above the washer, at the end of a run of units ideally, & then build a cupboard around them which could stick out a bit?

I wouldn't have integrated appliances because our dishwasher has leaked twice in the last year and it would have been a nightmare if it had been integrated.

Any space to have washing machine somewhere else? Much better not to have laundry in kitchen with food smells anyway.

Why would it be a nightmare because it's integrated? It's just a dishwasher with a panel screwed on the front.

Agree that you can't beat a utility room.

When our kitchen was done I got the builder to build a floor to ceiling cupboard to house the washing machine with the tumble drier on top. It is hidden behind a normal door and is at the end of a run of work top. The tumble drier is vented outside by a tube under the floor .

I guess it depends how much you are paying for the whole kitchen

We have everything integrated apart from the fridge
My bro doesn't have integrated appliances and it looks okay as there isn't a great contrast between his units and the appliances

I like to see my appliances!! Find it funny when you go in a kitchen and open every cupboard looking for the fridge!