New kitchen: must haves or what to avoid?

Kanichen

Brilliant thread - I dream of doing our kitchen so some useful tips here!

On the WD conversation, we have one as its all that could fit into either house. Its nearly 9 years old and *touch wood* has never given us any trouble. The only irritation I have is having to plan my washing loads. Ie If I want to wash several loads (normally darks, whites and towels) I do towels last, otherwise I can't wash the other loads until the tumble drying is done. I hang most of our washing bar towels anyway and towels I only tumble for an hour then hang - I find they stay fluffy this way, whereas if I just hang them they turn into cardboard.

rosie383

june89 wrote: »

I think my tiles are simulated flags, definitely have that rough slate-like texture to them but I don't think they're real stone. I don't know why the previous owners were afraid of anything smooth! :rotfl:

Rosie, I wouldn't mind the drawers as much if they were actually being used for pans. But the upper cabinets are too shallow to fit plates in, which is where I'd prefer to keep them. So that's definitely something to check when you're choosing your cupboards, I never even thought of it when we viewed here as I was always used to standard depth ones! :mad:

I doubt many people would think to check something like the cupboard depth when viewing a house! Who on earth puts in cupboards that can't even take plates! Do you not even have one that they will fit in? It's crazy!

MallyGirl

my Mum had the same - she has just replaced them all. Plus she had glass doors on everything to show the non-matching crockery

janetmw

I used to take one of my large dinner plates with me when looking for possible kitchen cupboards!

Janet

june89

rosie383 wrote: »

I doubt many people would think to check something like the cupboard depth when viewing a house! Who on earth puts in cupboards that can't even take plates! Do you not even have one that they will fit in? It's crazy!

Nope! All of the uppers are shallow apart from the boiler cupboard. We only have three lower cupboards due to the layout - one is narrow, one is a blind corner and the last is both of those things. Oh, there's also under the sink but it's pretty useless as it has no shelf or back installed.

Previous owner did a lot of strange renovation work throughout the house. I think he picked what looked good with no real thought to practicality. But he ended up having to sell shortly afterwards due to a change in circumstances. So my MSE side says it's too new to replace just because it annoys me a little.

I will definitely be taking my largest plates with me when we do get around to replacing this! :rotfl:

Chieveley

Hi - I have got an induction hob & love it. I can set things to a simmer and each ring can be individually timed to turn off. Easy to wipe over when cooking or after. Only one niggle it's the white version and the retaining clips scratched the paint on the underside when pushed into place. Looking to future the proof the kitchen for my old age & the hob will turn it's self off if I forget. The number of times I left the gas rings on at my last place. :rotfl:

Wednesday2000

missbiggles1 wrote: »

I think washer dryers have their place where space is limited, in a small household or when you don't use the dryer function much. I used to have one and was happy with it as it let you do small loads going straight though from washing to drying, which suited me at the time.
If you don't fit into those categories then I'd opt for separate machines.

june89 wrote: »

The washer dryer we used to have was the same, and we never used the dryer function because of this. If I'm already hanging half the load, may as well hang it all out!

Did a quick check on JL and still seems to be the case, although the drying capacity is getting a little better on some models. Saw a few 8kg wash and 6kg dry machines which isn't too bad. I would still opt for separate machines if I had the space for both though.

Kanichen wrote: »

On the WD conversation, we have one as its all that could fit into either house. Its nearly 9 years old and *touch wood* has never given us any trouble. The only irritation I have is having to plan my washing loads. Ie If I want to wash several loads (normally darks, whites and towels) I do towels last, otherwise I can't wash the other loads until the tumble drying is done. I hang most of our washing bar towels anyway and towels I only tumble for an hour then hang - I find they stay fluffy this way, whereas if I just hang them they turn into cardboard.

Thanks for the advice.:A I was reading yesterday and it seems a bit odd that you have to take out some of the load before drying.

I'm still a bit conflicted as I saw one at C*rrys for £650 which seems like a lot but it has good reviews and a 5 year warranty.

• Wash load capacity: 8 kg
• Drying load capacity: 6 kg
• Spin speed: 1400 rpm
• Energy rating: A
• Five-year manufacturer’s guarantee

I will have to think about it some more.:)

Sunshinemummy

midnightraven3 wrote: »

We also have thick wooden worktops
I wanted them for so long, and we got them
and i HATE them, they were very expensive and not at all practical
they need sanding down at least once a year and then 6 or 7 coats of wax rubbed into them

They look beautiful but very limiting
I need a kitchen to work with me, I would never recommend them

rosie383 wrote: »

Thank you again so much.
Maybe we won't go for wood worktops now. It was solid oak that I wanted but two of you (plus someone else mentioned it to me the other day) are saying you hate them and wish you hadn't got them.
If I can't afford granite, and wood is a pain, is Formica the only option? And can it be tough?

I have wood worktops and absolutely love them... but we have iroko. It was fitted years ago, was oiled twice, nothing since... and still looks fab, most visitors comment on it.. and often stroke it! I clean it a damp cloth, and any cleaning fluids that are on special offer!

We have the wall units high, and ran the coving around the walls/units which works well.

Also we had a slate floor... even with dogs and kids it never looks dirty.

:D:D:D:D

We are moving, and planning our new kitchen. It will have the above, but also will have a cupboard for charging phones obv. with several electrical sockets... I flipping hate having several chargers on display in the kitchen.

suki1964

Sunshinemummy wrote: »

Also we had a slate floor... even with dogs and kids it never looks dirty.

:D:D:D:D

.

Shows how different we all are. This kitchen originally had Chinese slate floor and I hated it

Sure it didn't show foot prints but omg to actually clean it was a nightmare

Hands and knees with a scrubbing brush and cloth, then another bucket of clean water and mop, then another bucket and mop of sealant and shine. Used to take me hours

Yes you can see every wet foot print on porcelain but a two minute swish with a mop and it back shiny again

chiefpossession

It was recommended that we get porcelain tiles to go on top of the underfloor heating. In fact when you search for tiles the information will say whether that can be used together - probably because of expansion and contraction on heating. If you look at my kitchen on post 26 you will see them. Personally I love the tiles and the underfloor heating. The cats and dogs love the floor!