My New Ikea Kitchen Design - Critique Appreciated

ic

I'd scrap the deep pan drawers and just go with a cupboard beneath the sink and a five drawer unit next to it. I went for the pan drawers in my kitchen, but I keep the pans in the spinny corner unit instead. The pan drawers contain all the typical bits and bobs you have in a kitchen (can opener, sieve, egg timer, sandwich bags, etc), all rolling around in masses of space. If I'd gone for five drawers, one could have had things like knives in a rack, spoons, etc, another spices and the others small things, etc. Under my sink I have a pull out bin for paper recycling and their pull out rack for all the cleaning sprays and stuff.

Turn all your doors around to the left of the cooker - they should open as you face them from the cooker so they're accessible whilst cooking, and so that the balance of the handle positions look right - especially as they conflict with the microwave. This is also more useful if right handed, as you can open the door with the left hand then reach in with the right...

It looks like you have plenty of height to go for the taller wall and full height units - why not? Extra space is always a bonus even if its for the stuff you don't use as much and it won't add much to the cost.

You'll want end panels on the visible white side of the fridge freezer unit, I'd also recommend pelmets on the tops of the units.

Personally I'd scrap the TV and have full height units over there and house the cooker and microwave over there at eye level.

What's the reed switch for?

keepthegreen

Thanks everybody there's some great feedback here I've reworked the plan based on it.

danielfulshaw wrote: »

you should always aim to align the two windows top height which will sit easily withe the eye.

Do you mean align the tops of the cabinets with the top of the main window? If that's the case I'll probably make that decision at installation when I can get a better feel for the ergonomics.

I have also specified for a client on a budget that the extractor fan is housed in a cupboard

That's a nice idea and I had something like that in my old house with B&Q kitchen, I can't seem to find anything similar in the Ikea range though.

Can you add a storgae shelf on the wall between the two windows that matches the rest of the kitchen?

I've added that, I thought it would look daft initially but it doesn't look too bad I don't think, what does everybody else think to this? Gives a bit of extra space above waist.

As to lighting, make sure you have good overhead lighting where you will undertake most food preperation but also consider LED plinth lights that run round the kitchen just above the floor.

Hadn't thought about that, nice idea. I'll see if I can work that in.

pimento wrote: »

I'd scrap the telly in the kitchen (never felt the need myself) and have some shallow frosted glassfronted units for glass storage.

Don't think I can bring myself to ditch the TV That alcove is crying out for one whilst sat at a table to the right of the window there.

ic wrote: »

I'd scrap the deep pan drawers and just go with a cupboard beneath the sink and a five drawer unit next to it.

The sink unit drawers are a pull out Ikea "waste management" draw for bins etc. but I've added a five drawer unit to the right as I think it will be more versatile like you say.

Turn all your doors around to the left of the cooker

Good spot and exactly the kind of thing I was looking for when posting initially.

especially as they conflict with the microwave.

Not sure what you mean here, are you saying the microwave will open towards the oven here meaning I'd have to reach around the door if at the oven?

It looks like you have plenty of height to go for the taller wall and full height units - why not?

No reason, plan changed. Another good spot.

You'll want end panels on the visible white side of the fridge freezer unit, I'd also recommend pelmets on the tops of the units.

Added panels. Not sure about the pelmets yet may add these once everything is in.

Personally I'd scrap the TV and have full height units over there and house the cooker and microwave over there at eye level.

There's not enough depth in the alcove for an oven unit, it would stick out and the radiator would also need moving. The units I've placed there are only 37cm deep.

What's the reed switch for?

I'm fitting automation gear from Idratek so the reed switch will help with presence detection. There will also be reed switches in the sash windows to inhibit the heating when they are open. They will also serve as part of the alarm system.

Ok here's the latest draft with and without doors so you can get a better feel. Thanks everybody, lots I would have missed.

becs

I definitely think your first design was better. I agree with what you have said about the drainer and it does accentuate it being off centre the other way. I have the same thing in our kitchen and I did go for the right hand drainer for the same reason. Very pleased I did. Would also say that I don't like the wall unit in the middle of the windows, it looks much better keeping the wall unites and tall unit at the same end. I also love the deep drawers and the majority of our kitchen is drawers. They're practical for stacking crockery, glasses, cookware etc but you still have the narrow drawer at the top for knives and smaller implements.

jennifernil

A floor plan with dimensions would give a better idea on sizes, but is there not enough space in the alcove for dining? This would free up the long wall for units.

Moving the radiator is not too difficult.

And there are a lot of windows using up good wall space, have you considered filling in the small window above the washer and drier?

It is a big room, but for the size, you do not have a lot of storage space. You can never have too many cupboards! Or too much worktop!

Are you catering for a family? If so, the size of the fridge and freezer is rather limiting. I would be going for 2 full size ones.

If the alcove is too small for dining, I would be making better use of that area. The fact it is shallower than a standard unit need tot preclude fitting units and having them come further out, they are a good way away from the door. You could possibly have the freezer there plus other big units, move the radiator either along the wall a bit or to the wall behind the door.

keepthegreen

OK shrinking the cabinet with the drawers a little and shifting it to the left has allowed me to put a wine rack to the right and therefore bring the sink back under the window nicely. Ditched the wall cabinet between the windows in this draft but still undecided over it.


I'm thinking maybe a frying pan hung on the wall between the windows might be better. I'm hoping a pull out tea towel rail will fit between the dryer and the drawers but if not a peg on the wall will do the trick.

keepthegreen

I intend to solve the isolation issue brought up earlier like so...



DRH is an automation module with two 13A relays for switching the two single unswitched sockets.

In the other corner I'll drop one of the doubles and have one double near the corner (allowing for tiling) and the cooker switch with socket on the adjacent wall to the left of the hob.

NualaBuala

Hi,

I'm no kitchen expert but think about how you want the cupboards on either side of the oven to open. I have an Ikea kitchen too and the base cupboard on the left of my oven is hinged on the left so I can access the contents easily while standing at the cooker. I have those slide out baskets which are quite handy. I have the base unit on the right of my cooker as slide out larder unit with all my spices in the top drawer (they fit perfectly). All my bottles of oil, worcester sauce, soy sauce etc stand in the bottom part and I've all sorts of other bit in the middle "shelf". It's so handy to grab stuff from with one hand while I'm stirring something on the hob.

Lucky you - your kitchen is a lot bigger than mine! I'm sure it'll be lovely!

keepthegreen

OK what about this for the opposite corner? I've moved the fridge freezer over there and put in it's old position a slightly narrower larder unit. the extra 20cm could make the difference as it was a very tight squeeze to the door frame beforehand. I could possibly still get a small tv and radio on the cabinet in this corner

keepthegreen

I'm not too sure whether they'll actually fit though because there's no end panle on there either yet.

keepthegreen

Still not convinced by that back corner, don't seem to be able to get a good combo.