New kitchen: must haves or what to avoid?

rosie383

Just had a quick Google. Composite does look very good but in the guide it seems to be more expensive than granite. Now that I see the pictures, I know what it is.
Such a big difference compared to laminate though. Hmmm...

Found companies selling off-cuts of granite for anything from £40/linear metre. Interesting. And definitely more affordable than I had thought.

miffedatparkingcharge

Bit more basic ££ wise ... I used a 45cm *corrected width cupboard under the worktop for a slidey out hidden bin. Ikea have a tray thing on a roller - I think it was to hold a separating bin for various recycling stuff, (but cant see the point as our recycling goes into one bin for our area) so I bought a white bin to sit in instead - ikea also. It works, but have to shove a bit a polystyrene bit as it is about 5cm shorter front to back.

You can just fit a dust pan and brush in the cupboard, sited on the hinge side if you locate the roller tray nearer to the door open side.

I also bought a hand towel dispenser/unit that you would see at work places, a smaller sized one. The blue paper towel rolls are quite expensive, but I soon realised a kitchen roll works just as well in there, you have to take out the cardboard inner and only one square ever pulls out. 10 years on, still I love it.

I want a hot water tap - FAB idea ... how much room does it take underneath the sink unit?

I have a large sized warming drawer. Fab for plate and keeping food warm while doing other bits. Have yet to ever prove stuff in there. Not sure I would buy such a deep one again, but I expect this one to last many years.

rosie383

MAPC can you post a pic of your under cupboard bin thing and your kitchen roll thing please? I can't picture either of them.
I also hadn't considered a warming drawer. Might have to investigate one of those too!
What is an 'under oven' as mentioned on the previous page please?

jungle_jane

dirty_magic wrote: »

Looks lovely! Shame about the worktops, but I think they'd be salvageable with some sanding!

Yes we sand them every 6 months - they need a sanding now and then they look so lovely. Only they are not practical - you have to be so careful with them. As someone who loves cooking it's a bit of a drag.

I would go for granite or earthstone / composite next. granite being natural and earthstone being man made. Luckily DH is a kitchen fitter so gets these things on the cheap. I would also stick with unfussy handles and buy a couple extra as spares.

I wouldn't be without my waste extractor either - helps with smelly bins

miffedatparkingcharge

The tray is not displayed (?obsolete maybe), this is perhaps an improvement with the frame, it is very similar:
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/70246112/

Again, perhaps 1kea have moved to black bins, lids are also available (couldn't imagine not having a lid):
http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/40246104/#/30204623

There were various sizes available, I have just plummed for one as an example

Kitchen roll
http://www.tork.co.uk/product/558000/dispenser/centerfeed

Hope this helps.

miffedatparkingcharge

Under oven - does this mean built in perhaps? (did I post this?). However, I have the warming drawer sited under the oven (this took some butchering of an oven cupboard carcass), but you can place them anywhere. They are essentially a large drawer, you need a plug behind it.

Also, I remember now that when I changed this kitchen (very small) I had my oven previously sited higher. I didn't appreciate just how much easier it is to have ovens at this level. It took some getting used to having a built in under the worktop - having to bend down to get stuff out of the oven (irritated me). If given the chance again, I would go back to a slightly higher level positioning of the oven and stuff the clean line/levels.

PasturesNew

miffedatparkingcharge wrote: »

having to bend down to get stuff out of the oven (irritated me). If given the chance again, I would go back to a slightly higher level positioning of the oven and stuff the clean line/levels.

As a shortie, who is a bit clumsy/unsure ... the thought of trying to remove spitting/hot dishes from an oven at face height fills me with terror! I'd rather drop a dish from 1' off the floor onto my feet, than have the chance of dropping it from face height.

Caterina

I have solid oak work tops, they were oiled and they do get marked but I reason that's a working kitchen, not a showroom and I live with the marks. Having said that, we are coming to re-sanding and oiling time but more for practical reasons (waterproofing and feeding) than aesthetics. I like the lived in look, and a few marks really don't bother me. Same with scratches on the oak floors. I could not live having to tiptoe around my own home.

I could have a spick-and-span, immaculately kept kitchen if:

A) I went crazy about maintenance, policing the rest of the family, forbidding any of them to cook or even help in the kitchen, in a few words making like a misery for everybody

Or

Living alone

Neither of these options are desirable and even now that the children are grown up and with places of their own, they visit and muck about in the kitchen like they always have, they feel at home in it. Re. DH, I pray God that he stays around for a long time to muck about in the kitchen.

There are worse things to worry about in life, believe me.

miffedatparkingcharge

Ahh, Pastures New, most definitely not 'eye level'.... more mid upper arm height. I also butchered that oven housing. Then hot pots are at the same height as the work surface, easy to transfer, no bending involved!

VfM4meplse

If I had a large kitchen, I would like a wall full of cupboards for storage, integrate all appliances behind them. For counter space, I would opt for the other 3 walls plus a large floating island.