Planning a family kitchen?

Lunar_Eclipse

A larder/pantry to store most items (food, plates, glasses etc)

Zero to few eye level units. I hate the way average sized kitchens look cluttered by them and prefer a non-kitchen look. The exception is a small area to house an eye level oven & grill.

I'd like an island or table, not a breakfast bar. Again they ruin the clean lines look I like in a kitchen.

Built in appliances. Dishwasher, fridge and washing machine (if that's going in the kitchen.) I'm going to look into 'fridge drawers' in my next kitchen though, I think there's nothing uglier in a kitchen than a fridge.

Corian work surfaces.

marisco_2

I am lucky enough to have had a new kitchen fitted a couple of years back. The company who did it for me designed it all and I have been thrilled with it. Appliances like the fridge/freezer, dishwasher and washing machine are intergrated which gives the kitchen a really clean and seemless look.

The boiler is also hidden out of sight within a cupboard.

The lower cupboards have drawers fitted in them which swing out and make getting to pots and pans so quick and easy.

A double oven has also been really useful. For a small space I would recommend keeping the colour of the kitchen doors, work surface and tiles light. It all adds to the sense of space.

lika_86

Oh and granite work surfaces - I want surfaces I don't worry about scorching and which will cool my baking down.

Spendless

Everyone will have different ideas about what makes a perfect one. We are having our kitchen ripped out and replaced this year. I have 1 to the ceiling wall cupboard and I hate it, have to stand on a chair to reach the top shelf, as I'm only 5ft 4. I haven't missed my DW which broke about 12 months ago as much as I thought I would. I want plenty of cupboards and a good run of worktop space. So far we've had one planner out and I realised today they'd left no space for me to have a bin. That's not something I can do, as our kitchen bin serves as the main household one. On talking to my Mum, she says it's a bugbear in her house, nowhere for a bin. Incidentally it was the same place that put hers in that has just designed mine.

Auntie-Dolly

Lunar, that sounds like my kitchen. Huge floor to ceiling cupboard with sliding doors. No wall units and no corner ones either. Love the pan drawers instead of cupboards. Easy clean dark grey granite tiled floor. Good quality French units. Its been in 3.5 years and looks as good as when it was installed.

hardpressed

suki1964 wrote: »

I just done mine

Knocked out the utility room as it was tiny and a waste of space, put in a narrow floor to ceiling cupboard for the brooms, mop cleaning stuff and bird and dog food

A larder, with pull out shelves so everything is to hand

Double eye level oven

Induction hob - well worth having to buy new pans for

Big drawers for plates and pans - no more reaching up to lift out heavy plates - ESP as mum has arthritis in her hands

Bin storage under the sink, recycling, compost and general waste bin,all pull out so no messy near misses

Carousels and pull outs in the corner cupboards so all space used and everything easily reached

And double sockets every few feet

Kitchen table , if the kitchen is the heart it needs somewhere for people to gather and chat and work

Suki, can I ask which induction hob you've got. I'm trying to decide which one to go for as my kitchen is being done next month. Also which pans did you get? Hope you don't mind me asking.

getmore4less

Dishwasher, consider 2 and you alternate using one as storage

two ovens mid level side by side,
one could be a large combination microwave
consider a steam oven

itegrated Coffee/tea/hot water

large wok burner(gas) with grill plate or seperate one

Induction hob

integrated fryer

industrial strength extraction

mutliple sinks so two can work

if a tumble dryer user get the laundry room upstairs

workspace and for family breakfast bar island so kids/people can sit/eat/chat while other work goes on

FatVonD

hardpressed wrote: »

Suki, can I ask which induction hob you've got. I'm trying to decide which one to go for as my kitchen is being done next month. Also which pans did you get? Hope you don't mind me asking.

You can use any pans that a magnet will stick to the bottom of!

FatVonD

I'm not a fan of breakfast bars but love a table pushed up to an island.

I agree that Belfast sinks make your back ache if you're tall and the ceramic ones chip really easily, I have a stainless steel Belfast sink.

I've found the built in recycling bins really useful.

Integrated washing machine and tumble drier is a must for me if no utility room, I hate to see smart kitchens with them on show.

Plenty of worktop space either side of the hob.

I have a range cooker and love it.

suki1964

hardpressed wrote: »

Suki, can I ask which induction hob you've got. I'm trying to decide which one to go for as my kitchen is being done next month. Also which pans did you get? Hope you don't mind me asking.

I just got a ikea one 150 quid It's great. Has booster rings so a pint of water boils in seconds, child lock and timer

I've a selection of pans, some I had already but bought what I needed immediately from ikea. As already said, use a magnet, if it sticks to the base the pan will work

What I love is its mess free. When frying or making spag Bol that splatters, I just put on a tea towel and cook away. Tea towel goes in the wash and I've a clean hob