to those of you who have installed new kitchens - what would you do differently next time?

[jasper]

Are there any decisions you regret - either things you left out and wish you had included, things you included but wish you had not, materials you would not use again etc.
Thanks.

Don't have a stainless steel splashback - nightmare to keep looking really nice and clean! Gone for some nice tiles this time.

I would have put in a water softener and if money was no object (but obviously it was) a waste disposal unit. Would also have got all of the undercupboard lights wired up to one switch rather than lots.

Would not have a wooden kitchen top - it rots near the sink!
White or cream cupboards get dirty quickly with kids.

And from working in other women's kitchen I'd say i'd never go for granite kitchen tops as they are hard to keep spotless and they need to be to look good - also they darken a kitchen (if they are black)

Underfloor heating under the tiled floor.

Solid 'shelves' to corner cupboard spinning thing! (Not attractive chrome 'wire' that things fall through)

I wouldn't have sited the fridge next to the oven (it has to work overtime whenever the oven's on) and I wouldn't have had a white sink (stains too easily and needs buckets of bleach to keep it clean).

Nothing, I love my new kitchen!

Even the black granite worktops (which you do have to buff after wiping or they look awful)

Cold feet! Have one small row of tiles between kichen and pantry where hot water pipe to radiator runs under tiles. Mmmmm!

Agree about the stainless steel splashback - needs constant daily cleaning to look decent.

pupuce I was considering cream units with wooden or granite worktops

don't agree that black granite tops darken the kitchen - if they're under or near a window they reflect light into the kitchen, provided you keep them clean and buffed (which isn't that hard - Huggies Wipes work a treat and Lakeland do a spray for tougher stains). Looking directly out the window, I mostly see our neighbours' house, looking down at the granite I can see the clouds reflected. Cheesy but nice.

Agree re avoiding stainless anything where there are grubby/greasy mitts about.

Oh and don't be brow beaten by kitchen company into agreeing to a device of their choosing if there's an item you really want - I really really wish I had stood firm and got a frost free freezer. Can't get more than a fish finger into the b*gger now

Slate worktops-too dark and hard to keep looking good.
Big double Belfast sink-too big
Wasting corner space-should have had a carousel thingy
But.....Aga was the best thing ever. moved now and miss it sooooooo much.

Wish we'd planned our kitchen around a big table.

Also want(ed) a rise and fall lamp over a big table. Seen a great one in v swanky catalogue for a company called 'The French House'. Costs about £170 though, so trying to justify imminent purchase..

Enough sockets. I have a double socket that is near teh skirting board and at the back of a cupboard that needs to be dismantled if you need to change fridge or washing machng

Would have underfloor heating as have no radiator.

No white sink, white worktops or cupboards.

This is a kitchen I inherited btw.

Jasper - haven't you been doing your kitchen for a while now?

LOL Jasper
Don't get me wrong I love my kitchen but can see where I made mistakes... though I don't regret it...
I would definitely NOT go for granite tops... but they are very fashionable.... several of my clients have them - some are happy others not too much so...

Moondog - Jasper's got an Aga already... lucky girl !!!!

Yes do leave room for a big table I agree.

Ours is 6ft x 4ft when small, 9ft by 4ft when extended and can seat 14+ and we do! It's fantastic!

Can't be doing with islands which take up valuable table space

Will be getting a new kitchen when building wirk is finiished in about 6 weeks.
Have planned granite worktop and stainless steel splashback behind cooker ,am I making a terrible mistake?

It will look good... but it might equal a lot of polishing on a daily basis !

Anyone had granite in other colour other than black,how about cream,will it stain?

Sorry can't resist talking about kitchens ,I dream about mine!

my last house had sort of grey and black and white and pink (revolting but we bought the house with it there) and it didn't stain.

However granite is the only thing that puts up with my sort of kitchen yobbery so granite it is, just black now!

even red wine?

yes

The only thing you can't leave on it is a lemon once cut. Or any acid

must stop dropping that then