Kitchen advice (design)

Shaz]sigh[

Shaz]sigh[

Shaz]sigh[

Associate
Joined
8 Sep 2003
Posts
1,424
Location
Outside
Evening. After moving in to our place around 18 months ago, we're finally getting round to the kitchen.

Our house had the standard 1930s kitchen but there's been a single story extension built across the whole back of the house which has caused it to be more like a disjointed L.

I've knocked together a design using the Ikea planner that I'm quite happy with (although we're not necessarily buying from there!) but I'm hoping for more pairs of eyes and experience to point out any obvious flaws without any sales bias going in to.

Originally, I was trying to keep units off the walls but I don't think I have the room so I've included a couple. The only other design considerations I have is that I must have a belfast sink (I don't want it due to water issues but the other half does), we want as much as possible off the worktop and I wanted a decent run of worktop for food prep.

For info, the units are laid out as follows:

9 - Double oven + storage (600mm)
10 - 50/50 fridge freezer (600mm)
13 - microwave/storage/shelving for hifi (600mm)
1 - corner unit with rotating carousel (1200mm)
2 - hob/pan drawer + knife drawer (800mm)
3 - standard cupboard (600mm)
4 - cutlery/drawer pack (600mm)
11+12 - standard cupboards (600mm)
5 - cupboard, maybe recycling something (600mm)
6 - sink (600mm)
7 - dishwasher (600mm)
8 - drawer/cupboard (600mm)

Ignore the flooring too, I just had to put something in to please the planner!

Screen%20Shot%202013-03-15%20at%2022.04.56.png


Screen%20Shot%202013-03-15%20at%2022.05.21.png


Screen%20Shot%202013-03-15%20at%2022.04.16.png


Screen%20Shot%202013-03-15%20at%2022.04.38.png
 
I would fill the part between D and B wall unless there's a reason there isn't anything there. I would put hob in there. More floor space to move about. As well as hob/sink/fridge(not that the fridge is in the right place) close together in the classic kitchen triangle.

Also don't lave a silly gap, extend the worktop and get them to block it up somehow. Maybe cut a door down or something. It'll just end up as a dirt magnet otherwise and be annoying.

I would also get a minimum of one full height pantry/larder cupboard.
http://www.diy.com/nav/rooms/kitche...Cabinet-Metallic-Effect-9746609?skuId=1011731

Far to basic a sketch as well, where's kettle/toaster, chopping board, food processors. Also think about what else you have, where will all your pans fit, spices, flours/grains etc. plan it all out.
Not only do such things take up space, they change how a kitchen looks. All well and good having abesutifull minamilistic kitchen on a sketch, but it won't look anything like that.
 
Last edited:
Glaucus said:
I would fill the part between D and B wall unless there's a reason there isn't anything there. I would put hob in there. More floor space to move about. As well as hob/sink/fridge(not that the fridge is in the right place) close together in the classic kitchen triangle.

Also don't lave a silly gap, extend the worktop and get them to block it up somehow. Maybe cut a door down or something. It'll just end up as a dirt magnet otherwise and be annoying.

I would also get a minimum of one full height pantry cupboard.
Click to expand...

Aah, sorry, the wall between the D and B part doesn't exist and is actually more of the extension (goes to the dining area which then goes off to the second lounge). I shouldn't have included it! Edited the pic now.

I did want a full height pantry cupboard but didn't know where to fit it - I read something about a designer who said that they could forgo wall cupboards if they finished a run of base units with a pantry cupboard. If I had a longer run of worktop I could maybe remove 11/12 and swap out 4 with a cupboard then move the cutlery to 8? However I'd have nowhere to chop anything!

The other option was to swap out 8 with a pantry cupboard but that then might encroach in to the dining area with it's height... decisions :)
 
Scratch that terrible idea.

You really need to go through your kitchen and work out a place for all your items/ingrediants. Just not enough cuboard space IMO.
But then with two windows you have limited space. Have you thought about blocking one up, and possibly making the other larger.

Swapping out 8 for full size would add a lot of storage space. But then you have limited worktop. Add your toaster and other equipment into the sketch. It's surprising how much space all that adds upto.

Also think about plug sockets.
 
Last edited:
No go on the hob, I'd love to look out on the garden whilst cooking but one of the primary house buying criteria was having a window overlooking garden that a sink could be fit under (don't ask :rolleyes: )

Hmm, there's a possibility I could get a freezer in the garage, swap the fridge/freezer unit for a pantry unit then put in an undercupboard fridge somewhere, possibly 4...

My parents have a couple of pantry units and they are amazing for storage.
 
Glaucus said:
Scratch that terrible idea.

You really need to go through your kitchen and work out a place for all your items/ingrediants. Just not enough cuboard space IMO.
But then with two windows you have limited space. Have you thought about blocking one up, and possibly making the other larger.

Swapping out 8 for full size would add a lot of storage space. But then you have limited worktop. Add your toaster and other equipment into the sketch. It's surprising how much space all that adds upto.

Also think about plug sockets.
Click to expand...

There's only the one window, the other window (not above the sink) is actually a pair of 600mm wall units but the planner seems to shift the colour the higher you get up the wall) :D

I did a plan of where things might live and I think I'll be good (the corner carousel really helps), it's just my pan set that takes up a chunk of space and having to have plates/glasses at a non floor level is a pain.

You've definitely made me ponder how to fit in a pantry unit though.... think I'll have a rejig tomorrow.
 
How tall are your ceilings? I'm going to be dangling my pans from a ceiling rack fairly soon.
 
maccapacca said:
Put the oven under the hob and use the fancy unit above.
Click to expand...

Having got a recently fitted kitchen with a raised built-in oven (as in the original plan), I'd have to say I'd never go back to a floor-height oven. It's so much easier to have it at a natural height rather than bending down all the time, particularly if you ever have any sort of bad back. Also much easier to quickly glance inside to check on how things are doing.
 
hawkhench said:
Having got a recently fitted kitchen with a raised built-in oven (as in the original plan), I'd have to say I'd never go back to a floor-height oven. It's so much easier to have it at a natural height rather than bending down all the time, particularly if you ever have any sort of bad back. Also much easier to quickly glance inside to check on how things are doing.
Click to expand...

Got my new kitchen fitted last year and I changed from a high oven to an under-counter oven and can't say it makes any difference what-so-ever to me.
I think the ONLY reason I'd have a preference is if I had a permanently very bad back and couldn't physically bend down.
 
Yeah I woul,d want a cheats/head hight oven.

You',re just a bit stuck, it's just not a good shape or size for a great layout.
I would get a larder cuboard in. Even if its only a half height one.
 
Glaucus said:
I would also get a minimum of one full height pantry/larder cupboard.
http://www.diy.com/nav/rooms/kitche...Cabinet-Metallic-Effect-9746609?skuId=1011731
Click to expand...

^ This

and this ....

Glaucus said:
I would get a larder cuboard in. Even if its only a half height one.
Click to expand...

Your wife will love you for this. BJs every night - guaranteed ;)

On a serious note. Try to picture yourself working in there - how you prepare the meals.... which units get used the most etc.

The pull out larder is a life saver
 
Basic rule for kitchen design:

Let her do it.

If you do it, you will get all the blame and none of the credit. You will do the design a million times, and it will still be wrong.
 
Been having a look at DIY kitchens who seem to do their own carcasses with Second Nature doors. They do a 900mm corner unit so going to see if I can adjust the design slightly. They also do a tall unit with double oven/microwave options so I can shift the microwave to above the oven and put a door on that cab.

I am tinkering with the idea of converting to a vaulted ceiling with velux windows in the extension (runs from the back door, past the sink and onwards) which will provide more light which might allow me to place another pantry unit to the right of the window without it feeling cramped....

Did some calcs and the actual kitchen is quite cheap, the appliances and flooring are the killer :(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom