New Kitchen - your must-haves

Drachenfach

the_r_sole wrote: »

Why pineland and all wood?

They're a small local company, I like their style, I like their prices and their stuff looks and feels sound. It'll be all wood because that's what they make.


If that and the freestanding appliances makes it look like a throw-back to 1979, so be it


We had to rip out revolting (badly fitted, broken and filthy with mould) built-in appliances when we moved in, and all the free standing replacements are still in good nick.

Drachenfach

Thanks guys, this is really useful. The house is about 200 years old, but the kitchen is in an extension so it's a nice simple shape (apart from the criminally ugly fake ceiling beams, which will be going)


Interesting to see how many people recommend pan drawers. Do they stand up to hard use? I'd be worried about the runners failing after being opened and closed so much with a heavy load. I'm guessing they must be pretty durable or you wouldn't all be fans!


The recycling drawers sound a good idea as well - our council collects mixed recycling so we end up with a teetering pile of junk on the side until someone caves and takes it out to the big bin. Out of sight would be much more aesthetic.


What sort of lighting have people gone for? Current lighting is rubbish - two sets of pointable spot lights, that blow bulbs about every 6 weeks.

usernameisvalid

I actually went for a fluorescent in the kitchen end

It's new and modern, just two thin tubes, thickness of a finger. No buzzing, no flickering and a light that lights up the room fantastically

I chose it because I have concrete ceilings and it was the cheapest method of getting the brightness needed

I actually love it. I've had lots of positive comments about it as well

FreeBear

DiamondLil wrote: »

We have drawers in every base cabinet that's not given over to appliances and recycling.
Can't stress enough how much more practical they are.

Only have a small kitchen here, and the base units got delivered this morning...
Originally, I was planning on just one 900mm wide unit with three drawers and the remaining five units as cupboards (plus two more for oven & fridge). Is that going to be enough drawer space....

usernameisvalid

I've only two large pan drawers under my hob, plus a stack of 5 normal drawers which take tea towels, utensils , cling film etc. It's enough for me and I do cook everyday


I actually have my everyday saucepans hanging up near the sink and dishwasher. My big not everyday pans are with cake tins above the double oven and roasting tins below

trailingspouse

Dishwasher. And at least one shelf in a cupboard that is tall enough for the big bottles of pop and the large cornflakes packets.

Gimmicks - anything that only cooks one thing (sandwich maker, fondue set, electric wok, soup maker).

DiamondLil

FreeBear wrote: »

Only have a small kitchen here, and the base units got delivered this morning...
Originally, I was planning on just one 900mm wide unit with three drawers and the remaining five units as cupboards (plus two more for oven & fridge). Is that going to be enough drawer space....

For me, drawers work better than cupboards.
Our kitchen is 3m x 3.6m

I have four 800mm wide drawers beneath the hob - three shallower drawers for cutlery, cooking utensils such as fish slices, wooden spoons, tongs, scissors, can opener etc and one deep pan drawer which stores saucepans and frying pans and a wok.

Two more pan drawers 600mm wide beneath the ovens - one of these is shallower which stores casserole dishes, lasagne dish etc and the deeper drawer stores the cook pots.

Pulling stuff out towards me from underneath worktops is so much easier on my back than bending and reaching into those deep base cabinets.

I also have a stack of five drawers where I keep tea towels, tea cosy (we're of that dying breed that makes tea in a pot using loose leaf tea), oven gloves etc.

And one of the best accessory things I bought was the Joseph Joseph expanding pot stand. Brilliant idea, it concertinas down to store neatly in a cutlery drawer.

Annie1960

PasturesNew wrote: »

Sink MUST have 1.5 bowls - and draining board on the LEFT.

I agree with 1.5 bowls, very useful, but I always have draining board on the right.

What is the advantage of having it on the left if you are right handed?

indesisiv

All this wanting drawers instead of some cupboards ... I love a few double cupboards. I hate stuff being on the side when not used often. So I use the double cupboards to house things like the slow cooker, mixer, juicer, toasty maker, steamer etc etc.

I want as much free usable side space as possible, hate having to take things out of the oven and having to fight with other things that are already there.

Never been a fan of eye level ovens since I burnt myself when cooking yorkshire puddings. Nothing worse than hot fat in your face and down your arms.

To be fair though I like having free space. I have a couple of double cupboards in my kitchen that are empty so which is great for just chucking things in temporarily.

usernameisvalid

Annie1960 wrote: »

I agree with 1.5 bowls, very useful, but I always have draining board on the right.

What is the advantage of having it on the left if you are right handed?

Funnily enough I'm right handed and I prefer the draining board to the left


I only have one sink. I have a dishwasher so one sink is enough. I don't wash up in a sink, I wash up under a running tap