New Kitchen Advice

[Bratty]

This is what we've decided (for now ) - simple but effective. Only differences is that there's a door next to the Fridge that leads to hallway/utility. And just out of shot on the right is where the sliding doors to outside. We wanted a ceiling to floor corner pantry but annoyingly the width of the kitchen won't allow it without compromising cupboard space...plus this is pleasingly symmetrical.

View attachment 56643
Still undecided on cooker and hood colour.

Try this instead of an island. We've got it and it's amazing. Comes in other colours too.

Sussex Sage Green Kitchen Island - The Cotswold Company | The Cotswold Company

Beautiful Sussex Sage Green Kitchen Island.

www.cotswoldco.com

 

[KenL]

Try this instead of an island. We've got it and it's amazing. Comes in other colours too.

Sussex Sage Green Kitchen Island - The Cotswold Company | The Cotswold Company

Beautiful Sussex Sage Green Kitchen Island.

www.cotswoldco.com

Very nice indeed.

 

[GreiginFife]

Try this instead of an island. We've got it and it's amazing. Comes in other colours too.

Sussex Sage Green Kitchen Island - The Cotswold Company | The Cotswold Company

Beautiful Sussex Sage Green Kitchen Island.

www.cotswoldco.com

I build a lot of these. Probably second most ordered item behind dining tables. Very popular it seems.

 

[Beezerk]

I build a lot of these. Probably second most ordered item behind dining tables. Very popular it seems.

Mates rates?

 

[GreiginFife]

Mates rates?

I looks after thems that knows me…

 

[Aztecs27]

Try this instead of an island. We've got it and it's amazing. Comes in other colours too.

Sussex Sage Green Kitchen Island - The Cotswold Company | The Cotswold Company

Beautiful Sussex Sage Green Kitchen Island.

www.cotswoldco.com

This is exactly the type of thing we’re thinking instead. Will bookmark this, cheers for that!

 

[Bratty]

This is exactly the type of thing we’re thinking instead. Will bookmark this, cheers for that!

You're welcome.
And for the doors between the "dining room" and kitchen, try something like this:

Top Mounted Black Sliding Track & Double Door - Soho 4 Pane Black Painted Doors - Clear Glass

This traditional double barn style sliding door system will add a designer touch to your home.

www.directdoors.com

Black Kensington 4l Clear French Door Set 2612mm(w) X 2021mm(h) At Express Doors Direct

Buy the Black Kensington 4L Clear French Door Set 2612mm(W) x 2021mm(H), part of our wide range of Internal French Doors. Nationwide delivery available.

www.expressdoorsdirect.co.uk

 

[Bratty]

And for the oven, consider CAREFULLY the cleaning of the hob. Some of these new ones have a load of protruding metal which makes cleaning a nightmare!
I will be going induction for my next kitchen if at all possible. Wipe clean in an instant.

 

[Aztecs27]

And for the oven, consider CAREFULLY the cleaning of the hob. Some of these new ones have a load of protruding metal which makes cleaning a nightmare!
I will be going induction for my next kitchen if at all possible. Wipe clean in an instant.

We are 100% getting an induction range. Non-negotiable.

I don’t care if gas is best for cooking. I can whip up some decent food on a rubbish ceramic electric hob, induction will do just fine thank you.

 

[cliveb]

We are 100% getting an induction range. Non-negotiable.

I don’t care if gas is best for cooking. I can whip up some decent food on a rubbish ceramic electric hob, induction will do just fine thank you.

We had induction, them moved to a house with a gas hob. "Great, gas is best!" we said. After less than two days, we were tearing our hair out over how slow it is. Now back to induction.

Mind you, be careful about pan selection. Some so-called induction compatible pans have so little magnetic material that they are next to useless.

 

[Aztecs27]

We had induction, them moved to a house with a gas hob. "Great, gas is best!" we said. After less than two days, we were tearing our hair out over how slow it is. Now back to induction.

Mind you, be careful about pan selection. Some so-called induction compatible pans have so little magnetic material that they are next to useless.

Exactly that. We actually invested in some really decent pans (only part of our kitchen I like, with the exception of my Sage Coffee Machine), so should hopefully be covered. If not, good excuse to buy even more

 

[cliveb]

Exactly that. We actually invested in some really decent pans (only part of our kitchen I like, with the exception of my Sage Coffee Machine), so should hopefully be covered. If not, good excuse to buy even more

Problem is that price and quality isn't a reliable indication of how effective they might be on an induction hob. The pan that works fastest on our induction hob is a cheap "GoCook" from Tesco - better than expensive ones from Lakeland.

 

[Aztecs27]

Problem is that price and quality isn't a reliable indication of how effective they might be on an induction hob. The pan that works fastest on our induction hob is a cheap "GoCook" from Tesco - better than expensive ones from Lakeland.

Duly noted. I will probably end up going overboard and getting A LOT of new kitchen utensils (including sexy set of knives), so will keep this in mind.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Don't go for inset induction hob, go for surface mounted.
Inset might look very nice, but are an absolute pain if they go wrong or you need to replace it.
Also go for full juice, not plug and play (13a plug models)

 

[Golfmmad]

Exactly that. We actually invested in some really decent pans (only part of our kitchen I like, with the exception of my Sage Coffee Machine), so should hopefully be covered. If not, good excuse to buy even more

I give you, Le crueset! Brilliant pans, although expensive but the best! .

Regarding your floor to ceiling larder cupboard. We had the same problem, so reduced one of the base units to 500 instead of 600. Giving us the extra space needed.

 

[Aztecs27]

Don't go for inset induction hob, go for surface mounted.
Inset might look very nice, but are an absolute pain if they go wrong or you need to replace it.
Also go for full juice, not plug and play (13a plug models)

Will likely be a range cooker with Induction hob we get anyway, rather than invidual hob.

 

[Aztecs27]

I give you, Le crueset! Brilliant pans, although expensive but the best! .

Regarding your floor to ceiling larder cupboard. We had the same problem, so reduced one of the base units to 500 instead of 600. Giving us the extra space needed.

I suggested this, but wife looked at me like I'd killed one of the dogs because it wasn't symmetrical

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

We thought of an island but dumped it as the circulation required around it ate up too much space…making that space useless - instead going for a peninsula…indeed talking about our kitchen in last couple of weeks we agreed that the peninsula is our favourite feature…we sit at it and use it a lot…it’s only short but itself hugely popular and useful.

 

[Golfmmad]

I suggested this, but wife looked at me like I'd killed one of the dogs because it wasn't symmetrical

Sometimes you just have to put your foot down.

 

[Mudball]

Yea, exactly. Ours won’t be small but would definitely significantly reduce the available space to move around to the point it’ll annoy me for the rest of my days. We've got plenty of worktop space for food prep etc which is my biggest gripe with kitchens we've had up to now. That and room for my coffee station and also cupboard space, which we will have in abundance now.

This is what we've decided (for now ) - simple but effective. Only differences is that there's a door next to the Fridge that leads to hallway/utility. And just out of shot on the right is where the sliding doors to outside. We wanted a ceiling to floor corner pantry but annoyingly the width of the kitchen won't allow it without compromising cupboard space...plus this is pleasingly symmetrical.

View attachment 56643
Still undecided on cooker and hood colour.

We flipped it... and also knocked thru to the other side to get bifolds... so our layout looks like this..
One of the key reasons was that the Mrs did not want to have her back to everyone while she is cooking.. She wants to be part of what is going on.
Now the island is fully utilised... most of the time folks sit at the island.

Even when we have a full house with multiple friends and families, everyone is engaged in conversation. on the wall we have a TV, so she can cook and watch telly at the same time