Can a kitchen look nice with non-integrated appliances?

[MrsL123]

We've been living with our 20 year old crappy kitchen for years, and planned to keep it until we'd saved up the 10k plus we need to sort it out and fit it properly (currently have 2k towards it). But it's been on it's last legs for a while now, and now it has completely given up the ghost. Our puppy dug up the flooring a few days ago and chewed it all (she's in heat and is acting like a monster), the oven has stopped working, and one of the wall units fell off yesterday taking all of my crockery and glasses with it So we're having to bite the bullet and use the money we've saved to put in a cheap kitchen that will hopefully last another few years until we can do it properly. I hate spending all the money we've saved on what is basically a stop-gap, but I've lived with a hell-hole kitchen for so long, I'm actually looking forward to it finally looking half decent!

We've decided to go for Ikea units and worktops, get a cheapish integrated oven/hob and fridge freezer, and the flooring I want is on sale at the moment, so by my calculations it should be just about doable for the 2k. The thing is, it doesn't leave any money for an integrated washing machine or dishwasher. Even if we could afford them, we'd need to have the plumbing rearranged to fit them in, which would cost a fortune (pipes run at the back of the units so the appliances stick out about 2cm under the worktops). And the ones we have were only bought last year and were quite expensive, so it doesn't make sense to replace them anyway (says DH). So it looks like I'm stuck with them, but I hate having them on show - the thing that annoys me most about the kitchen at the moment is all the appliances dotted amongst the (very few) units we have. Most of them aren't even underneath a worktop, so it just looks so untidy and ugly and is a pain to keep clean.

DH doesn't think they'll look too bad in the new kitchen, because they'll blend in to the white units we're getting (a bit like this but with walnut worktops and a matching floor). At the moment we have dark wood units, so the white appliances stick out like a sore thumb, and they're dotted all round the kitchen - in the new layout they'll be side by side at the end of a run of units (a bit like in this kitchen). And of course we'll only have those two appliances on show, instead of the six we have in the kitchen at the moment! But I can't help thinking they're going to ruin the look of the kitchen, because the whole thing will be nice and sleek and fitted, and then there'll be these ugly machines on show, and they're right in front of you when you walk in. My mum (in true mum fashion!) told me to hide them behind a curtain made to match the window blind, but because they stick out a bit I can't even do that (and the worktops only come in one depth). I know it's silly because it's such a total mess at the moment, anything will be an improvement, but I've waited so long to get it put in I want it to look good (and knowing DH I'll have to live with it for a loooong time!).

Am I being daft? Actually, scrap that, I know I'm being daft because it's after midnight and I'm still on the Ikea kitchen planner. But apart from that, I mean!

I know a lot of people have freestanding appliances and I'm sure they look fine, but I just keep picturing the way they are at the moment. Does anyone have pictures of their kitchens with freestanding appliances that they could show me?

I tend to agree with you that integrated appliances look better. I especially hated my old kitchen when the non-integrated things were not even flush with the cupboards so I totally get where you are coming from.

I was going to suggest the curtain thing too - I did that in another house - but think it works best in a country-style kitchen anyway...

But if money is tight and the existing appliances are quite new it is hard to justify changing them - could you get your worktops from somewhere else (eg somewhere that does just worktops and so may be quite cheap) and get deeper ones so that the appliances don't appear to stick out so much?

What might be worth doing is arranging your new layout so that once the appliances do need replacing you could get integrated ones instead if feasible? The good thing about Ikea is that you can keep the cupboard frames and change the doors in a few years if you want a change....

Well we don't have integrated appliances and I think it looks fine (I don't like integrated ones)
My neighbour just got wider than normal worktops and boxed in their tumble drier and washing machine and put doors on the front so you can't see them.

i don't have them. i find it really irratating when visting someone and you have to play hunt teh fridge or whatever.

I don't like integrated appliances either. I don't see anything wrong with having appliances visible in a kitchen, it is a workspace after all. And I think my kitchen looks OK.

I actually loathe integrated appliances. We currently have an integrated fridge/freezer (cos it was already in when we bought the house) and we can't wait to get rid of it! Anyhoo, we have lovely Miele appliances and I'm proud to have them on show!

I wouldn't bother with integrated personally - they are very twee and 80's in my opinion.

Thanks everyone, that's made me feel a bit better!

The tops of the appliances do line up with the worktop when they're in the gap, it's only the doors/knobs that stick out past the line of the units, so they should look ok I guess. I did consider using a wider worktop so they would have a proper overhang, but the Ikea ones are so cheap it's hard to justify the cost - I can do all the kitchen worktops for about £120, whereas one length of wider worktop is £140 These are the worktops we're getting and it's only £35 for a 2.5 meter length (just laminate wood-effect rather than the real thing, but look good and come with a 25 year guarantee). The handles will be the same as that picture too, but the doors will have flat fronts instead of shaker style.

MIL needs a new washer and dishwasher, so in a few months we could always replace the ones we've got with some nicer ones, and give these ones to her. There's nothing wrong with the ones we've got, they just look a bit utilitarian and plasticky. I have my eye on one of these washing machines, which look a bit snazzier!

I don't like integrated appliances one little bit. Much nicer not to.

We're just doing our kitchen and putting in integrated but I am not that pleased, I find the idea of hiding the fridge and dishwasher twee. Plus we're having to get rid of a perfectly good fridge and dishwasher. BTW, if anyone has any ideas what to do with them would love suggestions

I'm going along with it because dh is insistent and I am saving my energy for other battles

But don't worry, it will look fine

integrated always looks better, but imho the added cost of is disproportionate to the erm "pleasure" of looking at an integrated kitchen

they will look fine, esp if they are a unit together, and focus on your lovely new shiny kitchen!

re the extened worktop, perhaps you could build a fake deep upstand which would give you additional space to put all your bits and bobs or plants or whatver (washing powder etc).giving you double whammy of more worktop space without stuff on it, and ability to hide appliances if you wanted, and not having to buy extended worktop for all the way round the kitchen.

I could be completely wrong as I can't lay my hand on my ikea kitchen catalogue to check (we've just moved house and it is chaos) but I'm sure their breakfast bars are deeper and still relatively cheap.

They come made to measure so they aren't with the worktop bit they are a couple of pages further on.

I can't even get a virtual catalogue to load from ikea's website, maybe you will have more luck, it is right at the bottom of the page n the left and you can look at all their catalogues this way.

I think a kitchen is a working environment, and don't like appliances to be 'inetgrated' any more than I like toilet rolls to be concealed under a crocheted princess in ballgown. It makes it all loo a bit bland, hotel-chain-like and over-designed, IMO. What's so great about the look of the front of a kitchen cabinet, anyway?

It'll be FINE.

Integrated looks a lot better gives a more streamlined spacious look.A mismatch of appliances never looks finished.It is especially important if it is part of an open plan space where ugly appliances intrude on teh design but I am an interior designer and anal about these things! Always best to go with what you like and can afford

We don´t have the space to even have a built in hob - we just redid our kitchen on a budget because it was like yours and got all new cabinets (lower only with an ikea metal pot hanging type shelf on one wall) and worktop. Same buggered old cooker which we will eventually replace when we have the cash with another free standing one. Fridge and micro in what used to be a small larder (cupboard) with no door. I think it looks lovely, its the best we can do anyway

i think integrated appliances are freaky esp esp esp a fridge

Integrated is 'orrible imo. We are in rented abroad, and the dishwasher is integrated as is a fridge. I thought it was a lovely tall cupboard, but no, it is a useless poxy half fridge which stores the wine as bog all else will fit. I have my big wide fridge for all to see and it stores enough food!

In the UK most of my kitchen in my own house is freestanding, with only one run of built in units, and the fridge and dishwasher weren't integrated. Mush easier to get to the gubbins of the dishwasher when it went wrong as well, and it was right next to the sink, unlike here where the dishwasher is the opposite side of the room to the sink (Belgian plumbing is very peculiar).

I think intergrated appliances look a bit naff.

I have a white kitchen with wooden tops (not unlike your first link pic) and my dishwasher is not integrated and it looks ok. My washing machine is in the utility.

my kitchen is identical to that first link you gave, even down to the tiles. only difference i have deep purple walls!

my appliances are white and do blend in really, or i'd like to think so anyway! i deliberately went for white units to get that effect.

What if all your appliances DO match tho noddyholder?

So pleased that I haven't been flamed for saying integrated = twee! V pleased with the comparison of integrated appliances with toilet roll dolly also - ha!

Integrated appliances are a pain to replace (and more expensive), free standing so much easier.

I'm so suprised most people are against integrated, I thought they were the 'must have' thing nowadays! Phew, makes me feel much better

I can't see any wider width worktops or breakfast bars on the ikea site or in the brochure, they do the walnut one in custom sizes, but the maximum depth is still 62cm, which is the standard size. Going to ikea on sunday though, so will have a proper look.

I think the problem is I don't really like our current washing machine and dishwasher. They were the best we could afford function-wise but they're not particularly easy on the eye, lots of plastic knobs and buttons and writing on them. They're quite different shades of white too, so they don't even match. I think I'll look for something a bit sleeker with digital controls - quite like this hotpoint one. I also liked the indesit moon, but after reading the reviews I don't think I'll bother, it doesn't even have a spin-only cycle which we use quite a lot. DH is quite interested in black appliances (with a black worktop and grey floor) but I'm not sold on the idea, I think big black lumps in the kitchen will look a bit dark. The room is south facing though....hmm, decisions decisions!

If I had the money, I'd get this smeg dishwasher and the matching washing machine, I think they look great. Should do for £1800 though!

I have an integrated dishwasher,but that is it.I've got a black range and am about to buy a black fridge to complement it.

Re Smeg,there was a thread on here about how unreliable Smeg appliances are/what a pain getting parts is.You don't want that hassle .

I hope you enjoy your new kitchen.Mine was 44 years old and we put up with it for 4.5 years until I could stand it no more.Buy what you love,because if you are like me,you will have to live with it for a very long time.

I have a range everything else built in.It also depends on the look you want if you have lots of space freestanding can look great but it is cluttery in a small room.Integrated is not naff and is always asked for in a design where the kitchen is part of a large living space.If it is only about utility then it doesn't matter as long as everything works.

I currently have integrated but if and when we do move our kitchen and get new stuff I want to go for non integrated. Intergrated appliances are IMO smaller, esp the fridge and freezer. I want a nice Smeg fridge and will build the kitchen around it.

I don't like integrated. They are smaller and more expensive to fit and I've been in so many kitchens where the fridge door is dropping off with the weight of the cupboard door stuck on it.

The other thing is to lay them out if possible so they are tucked away - in a previous kitchen we had a sort of breakfast bar with a high back facing the dining area, but underneath it from the "working side" were fridge and freezer, and the washing machine was opposite them so screened by the BB.