Travelling On

the_cross_rabbit

karma this is the link for the toothbrushes, we buy the maximum amount to maximise the p and p.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Toothbrush-Eco-Friendly-Biodegradable-Toothbrushes-Bristle/dp/B074NWHFQK/ref=sr_1_11_s_it?s=drugstore&ie=UTF8&qid=1545254343&sr=1-11&keywords=bamboo%2Btoothbrushes&th=1
CRx

Karmacat

Gally wow, some amazing points there - I'll explore properly tomorrow, I've been doing the UFM Challenge, and my brain is spinning but thank you so much! One general point is about buying the different stuff from different places, its kind of confusing - but I can absolutely see its a skill I need to learn. Totally agree about not buying the Ikea cabinet now :o:o I've always done that too easily!

cross rabbit thanks for that link! How kind to bring it over to my diary, tahts great. I've put it onto my wish list on Amazon, next time I have an order, I'll stick that in. Totally with you on the maximising P&P.

Right, I'm ker-shattered. Off to bed, re-energised for mfw work :j:j:j
Thank you all :beer:

gallygirl

Karmacat wrote: »

Gally wow, some amazing points there - I'll explore properly tomorrow, I've been doing the UFM Challenge, and my brain is spinning but thank you so much! One general point is about buying the different stuff from different places, its kind of confusing - but I can absolutely see its a skill I need to learn. Totally agree about not buying the Ikea cabinet now :o:o I've always done that too easily!

I'm sure most of those ideas are available from Ikea. It's also worth [STRIKE]losing a few days of your life[/STRIKE] doing some research on Pinterest - some great ideas there especially if you have a specific problem in mind.

Kitchen bin - if you possibly can, get something like this that goes in a drawer, or similar for a cupboard. If not, get a smart floor standing bin, but it is great having it tucked away and if you plan carefully you'll probably find you have the room. I wouldn't recommend having a lid on a bin in a cupboard - that's the type of thing that's easy to go wrong. I spend an awful lot of money on a posh double bin that slides out when you open the door . The lid was forever getting stuck, now it works perfectly with no lid.

Lighting - think about where you are going to have lights. Under-unit lighting is good if you are going to cast a shadow on work surfaces from the ceiling lights.

Oh, and a final thing..... once you think you have a plan, go round your existing cupboards and make sure that you have somewhere for everything and that you are happy with it. I was going to have no wall cupboards until I pictured bending down every time I wanted a cup!

Karmacat

Pinterest is a great idea, I can certainly do that, thanks Gally.

gallygirl wrote: »

Don't buy the Ikea unit yet, it will end up remaining when you redo the kitchen as you won't want to waste it. You've survived long enough, another few months won't matter. No more making do .

You are *so* right. Agreed

Forget what you have already in terms of fridge freezer, table etc. Design the kitchen from scratch - there may be a better place for them, as unlikely as it seems at the moment.

Ow! That hurts. But agreed.

Are you factoring in the cost of a new table and chairs? Again, no more making do (apologies if they are fabulous and you love them ). Starting from scratch means a different shape/size may be better.

I see where you're coming from with that, but the table was hard-researched when I came here, and was my housewarming present from my sister. It can't go, and its genuinely brilliant - just under 3 foot in each direction, with small extendors each end. My chairs (only two of them) are just as deeply rooted in my heart - solid wood, I bought them in John Lewis in Oxford Street when I lived in East London. They're ordinary, but I adore them.

Another vote for using wall units as base units - I know probably not applicable to you but they are so useful and also give extra counter top which is useful if you are 'plating up' when you have visitors.

As a general principle, I totally agree, actually.

I have this type of carousel in my corner units. . Not connected to the door and the shelves are independent of each other so you can swing the bottom one right out for access. Makes the whole cupboard useable.

I lurve carousels, they're my new favourite thing. I guarantee I will have at least one, somewhere

I'm not a massive fan of drawers for pans, I think they result in wasted space, but I'm glad I have them to stop having to bend down all the time. They work better for cooking trays & dished that can be stacked.

Again, agreed, I don't *like* them, but there was need! Thats how little storage space there is.

If you are having drawers you can have the cutlery drawer concealed - gives a neater look than a small unit of little drawers I think.

Hmm, I don't think I'm quite with you on that one. It looks like you have to open two drawers to get at the cutlery? I'm just not that bothered about that level of neatness.

And if you have more than one deep drawer you can do this as well :smileyheaThat is just a plain shallow drawer with these to keep the jars in place.

OTOH, I'm definitely having one of these :j This is downright wonderful :j

Consider having power points in some cupboards. My broom cupboard is deep and has a power point for the printer which sits on a high shelf.
- If you do that, consider having a slide out shelf for a food processor or similar that you use a lot. Like this, but solid in my case. Much easier to use the food processor in situ than keep hauling it in and out. You could do the same with your toaster, or simply get a tray that is the same size and sit it on that (or sit in a shallow dish). Easy to pull out, use and put away with no crumbs (thanks Tilly for that idea!).

Great idea about the power socket, though I confess I'm considering getting rid of my completely unused food processor though I'll keep it for now. Don't use a toaster, don't eat bread - I'd make sure I had a grill on the new oven, but I don't want a separate piece of equipment to do whats needed.

If you had a lot of workspace and wanted to keep the sides clear you could have an appliance garage. I wanted one just so I could say I had it as it amused me but it didn't fit

:rotfl: Love the name.

Pull out larder units are the bees knees, and you can get narrow ones.

My newphew that I catsit for has one of these, and it hurts my fingers, to be honest, I wouldn't have one - pull out wire baskets, maybe, but not one where you pull the whole unit every time you want something, sorry.

A lot of the time what is needed is not more units but just more shelves in the existing ones. I have some only 9" apart, ideal for specific things, and some that are just tall enough for a tall glasses etc. Sometimes more is best .

Very true - thats what I was discovering in the fight between the CD rack and the bathroom cabinet I'll take that point on, thanks.

Finally, if you are having a standalone extractor fan over the hob, make sure it doesn't have sharp corners you will cut your head on .

Awwww! I'm not sure about having an extractor fan. Yes, cooking smells exist, but I really don't do that much cookery, and I'm not that bothered about their existence. There's a door between them and the upstairs, so .... not convinced I want one. Will talk to my sister about that, she definitely has one.

Plinth cupboards are great if your floor is even.

Mine is ceramic tiles - they're kind of old, but definitely level. I wonder if they need to be replaced too?

Polish granite work-surfaces? Who knew :rotfl::o:cool:.

:rotfl: I'm glad to see that reaction!

look forward to hearing your plans

Thanks Gally! You know what, I'm going to do a bullet list in a Word document that I can take to a kitchen appointment on my kindle. This is so great.

Karmacat

And a proper bin, and including lighting in the planning. So true!

Karmacat

I need this, this morning. Woke up to find my road festooned with police tape. A violent criminal offence, a bit distressing, actually

earthgirl

Oh no, hope you are ok.

themadvix

Oh dear Karma, hope everything's okay. We had something similar happen here in the summer.... got back from our few days away to discover there had been police dogs sniffing in our front garden.... not nice at all

Kitchen advice from Gally is great! We have hidden cutlery drawers - I love them

And I also love how we go from Ikea kitchens to bamboo toothbrushes... this is so my sort of thread

Downshifterella

Oh no Karma
How horrible to wake up to
Hope you're doing okay X

apple_muncher

Hope you are warm and snug inside x