German kitchen - built for giants?

littlerock

We are currently in temporary accommodation while extensive work is done on our house (long story,). The flat we are in has a new fancy German kitchen, which I have been studying, as it looks like a new kitchen will be needed in our house.

First thoughts

The height of the counter and wall units - I am short, 5' 1", and the counter in the kitchen is 38" tall, high for me. The splash back is another 22" which means the bottoms of the wall units are in line with the top of my head and the interiors are well above my head.

There is no dishwasher but there arec two drainer storage racks in a cupboard above the sink, again well over 5 ' and over my head height.

There is a Smeg oven whose user guide needs a rocket scientist to understand

Various bits of the kit seems to whistle if you leave them on too long, or leave door open etc. Being bossed about by the kitchen equipment is a first for me.

Are these features all typical of expensive German kitchens or should I assume the original owners were very tall?

Doozergirl

They must have been tall. They make kitchens for smaller people too

EssexExile

Work surfaces are usually at about 35/36", any lower & you won't get appliances under them. Top cupboards can be anywhere you like but will look best if they tie in with any full height units. Best to look at specifications before buying.

FreeBear

Doozergirl wrote: »

They make kitchens for smaller people too

I have a set of base units in one room that have been modified so that the worktop surface is just 30" (765mm) off the floor. In the kitchen, the worktop is set at 36" (915mm) - Adjusting the legs, it would be possible to drop the surface down by another 4" (100mm) or so without modifying the units themselves. That said, worktop height would be limited by any under counter appliances such as fridges, dishwashers, or washing machines (around 34" minimum). Built-in ovens slide in to standard carcases, so can be sited at eye level or real close to the floor.

No wall units in the kitchen, so don't have a problem with reaching stuff on the top shelf.

keith969

Yep 35" is typical, depends on the thickness of course. Even an inch lower and you can have problems with things like (non-integrated) washing machines.

As for whistling, are there any hidden kettles you're unaware of? :rotfl:

littlerock

It seems ideal kitchen counter height is level with wrist bone. If as a couple you are very different heights, then you need to take average of both heights. OH is 6 ft 1" and finds the counters in flat too high. We reckon original owner must have been around 6' 4" which is very tall for a Brit. Maybe he was a Texan.....

It is clearly no expense soared so surorised there is no dishwasher jnstead this strange drying rack arrangement in the cupboard above the sink. Is this a German thing?

As for doors whistling when left open etc, my son has a German fridge freezer Which also does this.i find it annoying.....:(

Doozergirl

Maybe don't leave the fridge door open?

I appreciated it on our old fridge. We've had the current one in two houses for 10 years and I can't count the times I've come to find the door slightly open because something's sticking out.

These things aren't a German thing, they're a choice thing. The Germans just manufacture kitchens like anyone else does. Like cars, they just seem to have a better reputation for quality.

Our beepy fridge was bought from Argos in 2001 and was a NZ Brand.

Sea_Shell

If you are shorter than average, I'd just be careful not to personalise your kitchen too much (from a height pov) as it could affect potential resale.

Any potential buyers might think "wow, everything is too low" and will need replacing ASAP.

Obviously if your planning on staying long term...do what's best for you!!

kerri_gt

I seem to recall those cupboard drying rack things in a Spanish apartment we stayed in once, and I think I saw them in ikea. I guess the idea is to not have drying dishes on show and maximise usable workto space but personally I hate the idea of water dripping off out of the bottom of a cupboard which it effectively what it is.

Our fridge / freezer (Samsung) beeps if left open too long, i think it's a great feature if a little irritating when you're putting a big freezer stock up away or rearranging the shelves - but then you simply close the door and reopen it to stop it going off. Better that than the entire contents being wasted by someone accidentally leaving the door open.