Kitchen advice - starting from scratch

last month

We're planning a new kitchen and do feel a bit lost because we've not done this before so would really appreciate any thoughts.

This is something we've done on diykitchens online planner.

Wall C has two base units and we were going to then ask a local fitter to add two tall slim depth cabinets on top, hopefully giving us enough sleves & cupboards for food storage and odd kitchen bits.

The rest of the kitchen is all base units, mainly drawers for crockery, pans & utensils. There's a couple of drawers under the sink for usual undersink stuff.

The dining area is through the archway on wall F.

Am thinking some shelves on wall E for spices & oils.

Wall A - has some wall space by the fridge freezer to hang a broom.

It's for the two of us and we both like to cook. We don't use a dishwasher or microwave or need a washing machine in the kitchen.
I guess I'm mainly wondering -

Will we regret having nearly all drawers
Is there enough workspace
Where will we put the kettle!
I'm probably missing loads of obvious stuff

Open to any suggestions!

Featured Answer

AnnKH

last month

A few comments, from just a quick glance at your proposed plan:

- Add a pull-out pantry to the right of the fridge. Pushing the fridge right up to a wall will probably mean that you can't open the fridge door all the way.

- you will never regret having all drawers

- Move the range to the right (in the overhead view). 300 mm is not enough work space next to the stove - you would be MUCH happier with 600mm. And a cabinet that narrow is only good for baking sheets and/or cutting boards. Drawers there would be far more useful.

The most important thing I did when designing my own kitchens (I've done it twice) is to develop a comprehensive storage plan - the more detailed, the better. I measured everything I had, and sized drawers and cabinets accordingly. Place things near their point of use: knives, cutting boards, colanders near the sink; pots, pans, oils and spices, cooking utensils, potholders near the range; consider where to put storage containers, baking dishes, stock pots, small appliances, dish towels, dishware. Thing you use daily get "prime real estate"; things you use twice a year can go in another room.

Picture yourself going through a day: preparing tea, breakfast, a full meal - from prep through cleanup. Be completely honest with yourself!

As I performed this exercise in my own house, the storage plan provided answers to questions about what kind of storage I needed.

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Comments (14)

Lyn Nielson
last month
you won't regret base drawers, but too many open shelves for me.

I prefer closed upper cabinets because cooking creates moisture and grease and moisture and dust makes for grimey surfaces. Too much cleaning.

I'd consider a larger stove top in the middle of counter space and another sink, one double sink for dirty dishes the other for prep work. (I have a three sink unit for all the pots and larger pans, don't know what I did without that much sink). How about a freezer? another wall oven?
Jessie thanked Lyn Nielson
Kendrah
last month
Is wall B just empty space?

What is the far left space on wall A - a door way?

You won't regret all drawers.

Curious why no upper cabinets? Just don't .have that much stuff? Like the open feel?

For the amount of space, I would want more counter surface area for prep.
Jessie thanked Kendrah
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Jessie
Original Author
last month
@Lyn Nielson you might be right about the open shelves. Both oven and sink size are ok for us, although I do see the appeal of a wall oven, I couldn't make it work somehow.

@Kendrah Yes, wall B empty space. No reason except the doorway on wall A left goes out to back garden and with the cabinets on wall C, there just doesn't seem room for anything else. Oh also a radiator on wall B.

Re - upper cabinets, like the open space. It's the largest kitchen I've ever had and I don't want to feel hemmed in!

Yep, workspace is an issue, just not sure if will be ok.
PRO
PPF.
last month
In the UK?

You might ask on Houzz.co.uk as many things are different over there.

This is the north american houzz and we think in feet and inches, not mm.
Jessie thanked PPF.
darbuka
last month
last modified: last month
@PPF., I was wondering the same thing. Crockery, fittings, place for the kettle, no need for washing machine in kitchen, and measurements in mm…are sure giveaways.
Jessie thanked darbuka
Jessie
Original Author
last month
Oh, had no idea! Thank you all, will have a search.
PRO
JAN MOYER
last month
No problem , really. Just convert your plan to feet and inches for us USA lazy, and add JPegs of your existing kitchen allllll angles. Show /tell where openings lead, Show your selected appliances, The more you show/tell? the more help you get, across the pond, or here.

Why the "No dishwasher, if I may ask?
Jessie thanked JAN MOYER
arcy_gw
last month
I marvel at people who can keep certain places so neat and tidy they want them on display. Spices and oils would be a never on open shelving in my kitchen.
Jessie
Original Author
last month
@JAN MOYER re dishwasher- can't stand the things and figure that if I've lived without one for 50 odd years then probably not going to change my mind :)

@AnnKH interesting pantry next to fridge, would mean adjacent drawers being slimmer because FF needs space it currently has to open properly ( it's a french door type )

Am going to crack on with measuring everything we use! Thanks
dan1888
last month
last modified: last month
Two people who like to cook need more counter for work zones.

First increase can come from increasing the depth of the sink/frig counter to 750mm or 30 inches. You have the space without interfering with the opening for the dining room. With no uppers no reach issues. That added depth to your counter will become a space you'll love.

Second increase comes from adding 600mm to the counter past the range. This gives two people a work zone on each side of the range. Continue the counter back along wall D and across wall C to end against wall B. This added counter creates a separate new work zone. The cabinets can become drawer units. In all areas a very wide drawer stack is more functional than two lesser units. Or two is better than three. Soft-close.

For all these work zones you should add task lighting with 4"/100mm recessed led lights spaced in from the counter edge by150mm/6" with 2 offset at each work area. Led on dimmers with a minimum of 450 lumens at the counter.
Jessie thanked dan1888
Jessie
Original Author
last month
Now that sounds very interesting, thank you @dan1888 it's going to take me some time to visualise that but I'll certainly try to figure all that out on paper.
dan1888
last month
last modified: last month
All the added counter you get out of the way of the main use area is usable as a coffee station, baking zone or to locate a airfryer/toaster oven. I use mine every day. 10' of new counter -wow.
Jessie
Original Author
last month
@dan1888 love the idea of extra counter, also it seems a more ' finished ' look somehow, but I can't seem to get it to work without wall c losing a big chunk of base unit space.

If anyone can see how this works and has a moment to draw a quick sketch, it would be really helpful.