Planning a family kitchen?

mogwai

We've just planned and ordered our family kitchen - im so sad ive had dreams about my kitchen for the last 2 nights! We have quite a small kitchen now as we live in a flat so there was a lot on my wish list

- huge island with bit that sticks out so people can sit and chat, have lunch, so i can watch tv while i make stuff

- tv on one side (this was hubbys idea, not sure about it yet myself!)

- big range cooker so I can make those huge cakes that never quite fit in my current oven, and batch cook

- american style fridge freezer so i can stop throwing good food away and freeze it instead

- built in bin

- views to the garden and door opens to garden so I can air the kitchen out when cooking curries etc

- big sink so i can wash my huge pots

- 2 long larders either side of fridge

- lots of well placed sockets

- space for water softener

- other funky bits like corner carousel, trays built into units, and loads of storage!

- havent chosen floor yet but will be looking for something that is easy to clean and looks good

- underfloor heating so i can use the wall space for other stuff like my dresser

- we will get one of those ceiling hanging grill things that posh people hang their garlic etc on so we can hang our pots and pans

- worktop space for my kitchen gadgets

Gloomendoom

FatVonD wrote: »

I agree that Belfast sinks make your back ache if you're tall

The worktops in our kitchen are set three or four inches higher than standard. It makes all the difference if you are taller than average.

Purleygirl

Woo hoo, I'm going to have a new kitchen soon, am so excited, first time ever for me and I'm middle aged now so there you go. We live in deepest Donegal, so am in love with everyone's Irish country kitchens, kitchen range, big family table, old fashioned kettle on top of the range and a comfortable seating area too, our battered sofa will do. I have to say I'm not in love with the modern kitchens, all that cold steel and streamlined stuff. Give me trad, timeless wood any day. A bit more eye level stuff would be good too, get fed up with crouching down to load the dishwasher, put the pans away etc.

gregg1

Chakani wrote: »

If you were given a blank space to design your perfect family kitchen, what would be on your priority list?

The space isn't huge, but is big enough to fit most of the things a family needs, with the exception of a proper table. (there is a dining table in the next room, with the possibility of either knocking through, or reinstating an old serving hatch perhaps)

We did this a few years back. We knocked the kitchen and dining room through to create a big kitchen/diner and it was the best thing we ever did. We use the room all the time and have a big eight seater table which now gets used constantly unlike when it was in the dining room. Ours is very modern, cream with black granite worktops, american style fridge freezer, island and limestone floor. We went for lots of drawers and less cupboards with our units and are really pleased with how it worked out.

I would absolutely go for the knock through option. I don't think you will regret it.

hardpressed

suki1964 wrote: »

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

Sorry, another question. Do you mean you put a teatowel under the frying pan or saucepan, I wondered if you could do that to stop the hob getting scratched.

princeofpounds

My one experience with an induction hob was a nightmare. Any water and food spills left marks that were hard to get off, and rub it with anything even remotely abrasive (including the edge of the pan when putting it down) and you had a lovely big scratch running through it. The surface material was just rubbish, although it cooked fine.

lostinrates

So much depends on how you live. With kids I would certainly want somewhere they could eat and do homework while I was in the kitchen, but, very personally, we like a seperate dining room. When entertaining, especially if people are here for the weekend or family are here, the kitchen is somewhere I ca work privately quietly, or loudly without disturbing others.

In London we had a fold down table with a fold down bench just big enough for two eitherside. (just) and if I had a tight kitchen again and would not consider a breakfast bar I would certainly consider that.

onlyroz

Our kitchen has a few corner cupboards that things just disappear into - because you've virtually got to climb into them to find things that have been pushed to the back and there are also spaces where things can fall into and get lost. So in our next kitchen we will be getting those corner cupboards where the shelves swing out on a hinge - I think this will make much better use of the space and means we won't lose things any more.

As for a dishwasher - we got rid of ours because we never used it and it just took up space. Seems like you either love them or hate them...

gregg1

onlyroz wrote: »

Our kitchen has a few corner cupboards that things just disappear into - because you've virtually got to climb into them to find things that have been pushed to the back and there are also spaces where things can fall into and get lost. So in our next kitchen we will be getting those corner cupboards where the shelves swing out on a hinge - I think this will make much better use of the space and means we won't lose things any more.

As for a dishwasher - we got rid of ours because we never used it and it just took up space. Seems like you either love them or hate them...

Would hate to be without our dishwasher. Can recommend the carousel cupboards, you can get loads in and see the stuff easily.

andygb

We completely renovated/replaced ours about four years ago, and we still love it.
Our priorities were to create more space, so we made it into a big "L" shape, with lots of worktop - 7.5 metres in all, and loads of storage space.
This means that we can fit a decent dining table (seats eight when extended).
We also looked at appliances carefully, and went for a wider hob and extractor than normal (about 85cm I think).
We both cook, so being able to work comfortably and efficiently is paramount.
We also used light marble tiles on the kitchen/hall floor as they are so easy to clean.