Will I regret getting rid of the kitchen door?

[Deleted User]

Or a bifold?

clairehi

could you rehang it so that the door opens outwards into the hall?

Inactive

Rachel021967 wrote: »

We have to close ours when we are grilling or frying something otherwise the smoke alarm goes off. I don't often burn things but our smoke detector is sensitive.

Change the smoke alarm for a better quality one.

coffeemonster*123

i regret not putting a door between our kitchen and lounge. We opted for a big opening that does look lovely but drives everyone mad when the washing machine spins coz you can't hear the telly!

Also we have a frequently used back door into the kitchen that sucks the heat out from the lounge.

Cooking smells no problem though, the extractor sorts that out.

We're looking into putting something in, possibly made to measure set of bi-fold half glass doors?
If only we had thought to make the opening 'door size' it would be easy & cheap to sort out.....bear it in mind!
HTH!

vwelsh13

gosh what will happen when someones in a paddy and has no door to slam!!

victor2

Another advantage of the "open plan" is that when we heve guests, they tend to congregate in the enlarged kitchen/dining area, so the OH can keep on preparing food while chatting. She's happy, so the house is happy!:)

Fortunately, our washing machine is in a separate utility room, so no problem with noise from that.

aliasojo

I lived with no kitchen door for over a year (not through specific choice) and I was sooooo glad to get a new one hung. It wasn't something I got used to or adapted to, it was a nuisance every day.

Cooking smells did seep through (new kitchen with new powerful fan btw). Putting the slow cooker on late at night or at 3am (when OH went to work) was a no-no as there's nothing worse than waking up to the smell of cooking chicken first thing. Obviously the extractor couldn't be left on all night because of noise.

We dont have the luxury of a utility room, so all noise was a nuisance. Washing machine, tumble dryer, dishwasher etc.

No ability to block the kitchen off if unexpected visitors popped in and the place was a mess.

Doors offer privacy for friends chatting without bothering others watching tv or reading etc.

I think style, layout of house and lifestyle of the folk living in it has a large part to play in the decision though so what didn't suit me might suit you fine.

Slinky

clairehi wrote: »

could you rehang it so that the door opens outwards into the hall?

That's what my Dad did in our old home and I did toy with the idea when we redid our own kitchen here but never got round to it.

I wouldn't want not to have kitchen doors, we have the smoke alarm/appliance noise/lack of extractor issues so doors for us are essential, but even without the issues I've never been that keen on not being able to shut the clut away.

plzhelpmesave!

We have a small kitchen and large living room with patio doors to the garden. Went for double bi-fold doors in the kitchen - absolutely the right thing for us as a family!

Can close the kitchen doors while cooking, washing etc and family stuff continues in the living room. Our house is always cold (laminate floors don't help!) and much colder when the kitchen doors are open.

Got dinner on the hob now and washing machine going - doors closed and we're watching tv and on laptop no problems.

Tim_Deegan

There is one very good reason to keep the door. Most domestic fires start in either the kitchen or the living room. And in most houses the stairs go from the hallway where there are also doors to the kitchen and living room. Your stairs are your main escape route in the event of a fire, and therefore this route needs to be protected. By closing the doors you are protecting your escape route, and giving yourself and your family plenty of time to escape. If all that heat and smoke goes straight up the stairs, then there is a good chance that you wouldn't be able to get down the stairs.

So for the safety of your family, please don't remove the door.

As for the smoke alarm, just get an optical one which don't go off as easily when cooking.

If you are in any doubt, then contact your local fire service and ask for a free home safety check.