regrets or greats with a new kitchen

jamski07

Oooo, we got a solid surface worktop too. My wife has a baking business from home and the solid surface is perfect as it's non porous so the dyes dont mark at all. Apart from a stainless steel worktop it's the best option. Would highly recommend!

Angie_B

I just had my kitchen refitted in January (after about 4 months of planning!).

Love: eye-level oven, Le Mans corner pull out unit (worth every penny), Duropal laminate worktop, lots of pan drawers, bin drawer, custom-built top box to fit over the top of the tall fridge-freezer which finishes in line with the top of the tall oven unit. Integrated full size dishwasher and washing machine (it makes the whole kitchen look so much neater). Under-cabinet LED lighting.

Regrets: not getting an in-built microwave - they do take up sooo much space on the worktop. I would have liked a big double oven but it would have required upgrading all the wiring which was one budget-push too far.

With regard to space on the side of the hob, I have 30cm on the right between the hob and the tall oven unit but I have lots of space on the left. So the left hand side is a big clear run of worktop which is used for all the prep work and the right hand side is where we keep the hob and oven utensils, salt+pepper pots, and we have a glass chopping board/worktop saver in the space so you can put down dirty in-use utensils whilst you are cooking. It works perfectly for me.

kmmr

Induction hob. And I 'had' to get a long one due to the space it was in. Not MSE, but gets so many lovely comments!
http://brain-images.cdn.dixons.com/6/5/11532056/l_11532056.jpg

Pull out shelves for all our corner cupboards. Very strong so easy to pull out. The the cupboards would have about 50% less capacity without them


Glass splashback. Which was cheap(ish) really as we had a local glass company do it for us. Just tempered glass painted on the back. And an integrated wine rack to hide a structural beam that everyone loves.

themull1

I regret my shiny fake granite worktops - they scratch really easily. and i wish my top cupboards went up to the ceiling - not that i ever clean the tops.....

Gonzo33

Interesting read. I am just about to have Howdens out for a final measure up before committing to a new kitchen. Having a wall out and all sorts going on though, so we shall see.

cddc

Surprised no one has yet mentioned drainer grooves in solid surface worktops yet as a regret...

They look fantastic, but of course they dont actually work.

Think about it....what happens to the water in between the grooves?


Cannot understand the hatred of pull out larders unless storage space is really at a premium. Yes, you might get less in there, but you will actually be able to see would you do have without having to move stuff out the way.

Would add steam ovens as a love in my case...it was a luxury item but once you have had a roast cooked in a steam oven..you will never want to go back.

notanewuser

cddc wrote: »

Cannot understand the hatred of pull out larders unless storage space is really at a premium. Yes, you might get less in there, but you will actually be able to see would you do have without having to move stuff out the way.

I've lived with the damn thing for 8 years. It's crap. No, I can't see any part of the spice jars other than the lids, which aren't labelled. In a 2m tall larder I could have at least twice as much stuff split across 5 or 6 drawers plus 3 shelves above. I could get more than twice as much in, in individual drawers that pull out further than the pull out units. It makes more sense in EVERY way.

Raksha

Make sure your pull out corner units are designed so they work in the position you want to install them.

Mine pulls towards you and then swings to the right, BUT its butted up to another cupboard on the left to firm the corner, so the upper corner of the cupboard door crashes into the handle of the cupboard on the left.

Pull out larder cupboards are great, but make sure you can easily access both sides to make the best use of them. Mine are behind the kitchen table, so are damn awkward to access.

Find out how much replacement plugs are for your sink, and buy at least 1 preferably 2, spares, as not having a proper plug is a pain

cddc

Raksha wrote: »

Mine pulls towards you and then swings to the right, BUT its butted up to another cupboard on the left to firm the corner, so the upper corner of the cupboard door crashes into the handle of the cupboard on the left.

That is really shoddy planning or fitting or both! All it takes is a 25mm filler or a proper corner post to overcome that one,,,too late now though!

cddc

notanewuser wrote: »

I've lived with the damn thing for 8 years. It's crap. No, I can't see any part of the spice jars other than the lids, which aren't labelled. In a 2m tall larder I could have at least twice as much stuff split across 5 or 6 drawers plus 3 shelves above. I could get more than twice as much in, in individual drawers that pull out further than the pull out units. It makes more sense in EVERY way.

I guess it depends what you put in them..I use mine for cereals, larger storage jars, pasta, jams, sauces etc.... You are right that they make rubbish spice racks!