5m by 3.5m Kitchen design help

9 years ago

We are in the process of planning our kitchen and would love some feedback and possible suggestions on our current plan.

We live in a 2 bedroom tenement flat in Glasgow (built in 1900). It has very spacious rooms with a ceiling height of 3.2m.

The current kitchen is pretty dated and only fills a small part of the room. We are pretty keen cooks and dine in this kitchen.

The plan is to move the kitchen over to the other wall, box in the boiler and use the alcove in the order for some shelves (it's fairly awkwardly placed to make good use out of it).

We plan to stay in this flat for around 5 years and have a fairly small budget so we are looking at IKEA for the cabinets and doors.

After spending a large amount of time with the 3d planner this is what we have come up with so far.

We would then have a table on the wall opposite the range cooker.

We are leaning towards white cabinet fronts (maybe SAVEDAL?) and likely a wood effect laminae (would go for real wood but the maintenance seems very difficult especially for a kitchen which is used a lot). Most people seem to recommend Duropal worktops and I have received a few samples and can appreciate the quality. However, we feel they clearly look like laminate (no texture, curved edge etc).

After doing a bit more digging it seems Howdens do a squared edged wood effect worktop which looks more realistic but I read fairly bad things about the quality.

https://www.howdens.com/kitchen-collection/kitchen-worktops/bullnose-matt-laminate-38mm-worktops-616mm-deep/oak-block-effect-worktop/

For the walls the plan is to use metro tiles in white or perhaps grey? The floor we may use a dark tile or perhaps some good quality wood laminate/tile.

Floor plan here (we have decided against the wall cupboards due to the constraints that the boiler adds).

Any thoughts/feedback on the current plan would be greatly appreciated.

Featured Answer

Juliet Docherty

9 years ago

In our utility room we hid our monstrous boiler inside 2 stacked ikea carcasses then covered with tall doors. We ordered a birch ply worktop form Baldwin plastics (much cheaper than going through a trendy kitchen place) and we love the end result. Kitchen also ikea and very pleased with results. However, if you use Ikea kitchen, source your own fitter and be prepared to pay well as it make all the difference.

http://www.baldwin-plas-lam.co.uk/

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Comments (30)

tamp75
9 years ago
Hi, just thought I'd add that B & Q do a wood effect square edge laminate worktop. We installed it in our utility a couple of months ago and I'm pleased with it although can't comment on the durability. However, if you're not planning on staying there too long, I'm sure it would last well enough. In terms of flooring, LVT tiles like Karndean (or many similar options) would probably work better than wood or laminate in a kitchen.
Daisy England
9 years ago
The plan looks ok.
Regarding worktops Howdens aren't the greatest. Quality isn't the best. Take a look at the Bushboard Options range. The Options range is new and not released until the end of this month but there are some square edges within this range.
You could always have a 665mm deep worktop and cut back down to a standard 600mm to make it square edged and apply an ABS edging or reapply the edging strip to the square edge that comes with the worktop.
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There are a few problems:- If you run the units right down the right hand wall, you make the space in the dining room narrower. You need approx 7ft plus across for dining table, that's 3 ft for the table and 2 ft for a chair either side to be pulled out in order to sit down. This leaves you with about 1ft between the side of the table and the kitchen unit next to it. Also, you will have a nib on the left hand wall where the dining room ends and the kitchen begins due to the steel that needs to sit on top of it, ( the size of the nib will be dictated by the construction of the wall & what it's supporting above ) so the space will still look divided if you don't disguise it with units above. ( Don't forget the party wall agreement ! ) I don't think you have space for units right the way down and the table and chairs. Plus you are limiting yourself to just over 6 metres of units, once you start putting an integrated fridge, then freezer, washing machine, dishwasher, you won't have much left for all the food plus pots & pans, drawers etc. All this and the dining table is not near the garden, where it would be better off. ( in my opinion ) You also need to consider the windows at the dining room end as they look quite close to the wall, will you be able to fit a unit in there without going across the window? You also need to consider the windows at the dining room end as they look quite close to the wall, will you be able to fit a unit in there without going across the window? If you could overcome the plumbing and it should be possible, then maybe you'd be better of with this:- Move the kitchen to the dining room and have the ' U' shape in there. You can still have just units on the bottom, you'll have over 9 metres of wall space for units so a third more. You won't need to worry about the nib being in the way. The dining area will be plenty big enough for the table and chairs, and you'll be able to eat and look on to the garden. You should be ok with the plumbing, it's only water feed and water waste from the sink, dishwasher and washing machine. It has to go under the floor further but at least it's not a soil pipe!
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❤ has anyone done a similar build they can show me xx
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J A
9 years ago
We have real wooden countertops; we cook a lot with spices that stain and regularly spill red wine. In the three years we have had them we have done no "maintenance" and the worktops don't look brand new but nor do they raggedy and terrible. (FYI our cabinets are high gloss so if our worktops had gotten very worn it would be very noticeable.)

My point is I wouldn't discount real wood as an option.
Ben thanked J A
Ellie
9 years ago
Apart from wanting an updated kitchen, what else are your priorities? What do you need? Do you need table for 4/6?

Could you try to get one of your tall units eg larder or fridge freezer into that alcove to save floorspace?

I would hide the boiler with a kitchen unit.
A B
9 years ago
I think you can't beat an Ikea white and wood kitchen when on a budget, always looks more expensive than it is. Just wondering if you have a option to section off the right side of kitchen between alcove and door to make a small utility room and get your laundry out of the kitchen?
minnie101
9 years ago
Hi. How deep is your boiler? I might have a cabinet that sits on the worktop on the oven wall to hide it. I might also extend the alcove shelves round to the tall unit. After trying and failing to find images earlier I've just looked at this houzz tour which does exactly that! I think aesthetically it would also work better without the larder unit next to the window. Could you perhaps consider a slim depth sideboard type cabinet or maybe a tall larder on the wall opposite the oven and then have a 2'6 table in the middle? I also wouldn't discount real wood. I had walnut in my previous house and it just seemed to get better with age. I also cook a lot and just oiled it every 3 months from memory. Also agree a luxury vinyl tile such as karndean is perfect for a kitchen

https://www.houzz.co.uk/magazine/kitchen-tour-a-flexible-family-space-with-a-country-aesthetic-stsetivw-vs~84374571
andrewbooton
9 years ago
The shelving idea in the alcove wastes a lot of space. If you don't need the units on the door wall, you could instead use the space more efficiently by building a deep larder or laundry in there.
User
9 years ago
Just to second what JA said above, I wouldn't discount real wooden worktops either. They are much more hardwearing and forgiving than people seem to think. I had oak worktops for about 5 years in my old house and in that time they were thoroughly used and abused - hot pans put down without thinking, stuff spilled, edges knocked. In that time we only sanded down and re-oiled once and they looked as good as new. I'm definitely getting wood again when we come to do the kitchen in this house.
Ben
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks everyone for you comments so far.

We will check out B&Q square worktops thanks for that suggestion.

LVT tiles sound a very good idea. We will request some samples from Karndean.

Bushboard Options range looks good. I have just requested some samples. Can't find many places selling online at the moment (I guess this is because it is new) and the prices seem pretty high for laminate (more than Duropal I think) e.g http://www.worktopcity.com/products/prod_6016806-Bushboard-Options-Warm-Walnut-Block-41mtr-Square-Edged-Curved-Worktop.html

I did make some plans where we put a fridge in the alcove to make better use of it. The problem I was having was that then the far right wall can not really be used for anything (though about putting some slim cupboards along the wall but it may look strange).

There is already a fairly large pantry of the kitchen (main door into kitchen is by the radiator with a door next to it into a 1.5m x 15.m pantry) so I don't really think we need another cupboard

Boiler is around 40cm deep. Main a full length cupboard for it to hide in like that would look much better for sure. The only draw back with it could be opening the bottom part as it will open into the worktop (meaning to get access we would need to move things away from the worktop in from of it). I still feel it is worth it for the limited time we access the boiler. Did you just leave a small gap to avoid it scratching along the worktop when opening?

Regarding dining we would like to be able to have a table that could fit 6 at aa push but would usually set it for just four people.

Worktops-express seem to do really good value real wood worktops so maybe we should still consider them. What do people usually do round the sink area as keeping that water free would be very difficult.
Jenny
9 years ago
Take a look at http://www.handmadekitchens-direct.co.uk/?gclid=COmHmbubldQCFaEW0wodsVcO1A

they have always got sales on, think about freestanding units as well they have some beautiful larder styles that can be moved with you when you leave. Good luck!
Ben
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
It seems I would be able to fit a run of cabinets/cupboards along the far wall into the alcove and still be able to gain access. This makes hiding the boiler easier as it does not open on to any cabinets.

Another alternative could be this:
J A
9 years ago
Around the sink area is holding up well. But we have a dishwasher so perhaps less traffic than average.
Ben
Original Author
9 years ago
Another design to throw into the mix:
Melissa S
9 years ago
Not a professional designer but keep away from that last one - you'd be taking hot trays etc out of the oven and have nowhere to put them and would have to carry them in front of two doorways.

Interested in this as I'm also in a Glasgow tenement with a similar kitchen renovation planned! One of the things I've been doing (we're keen cooks too) is thinking of a couple of things we do all the time (breakfast, mid-week dinner, Sunday roast etc) and drawing a map of how we would have to move around the kitchen to make them. It's good for showing when things are too far apart.
Ben
Original Author
9 years ago
Very good point. So I guess its back to near enough the original design with a few tweaks.

1. Better boxed in boiler (thanks to colourhappy)

2. The shelves now span around the corner in the alcove (thanks minnie10)

Do you think it makes sense to put another similar cupboard at the opposite side of the boiler to make it symmetrical in order to try and disguise the fact that that one side is clearly a boiler?
tamp75
9 years ago
I don't think the extra cupboard is needed although I'm usually all for symmetry. It's only symmetrical at worktop level and not as an overall view of that wall so personally don't think the extra cupboard works. Plus it's an awkward space to get to over the corner of the worktop, especially to reach the top of the cupboard.
Ben
Original Author
9 years ago
Yeah, I think you are right.

So I could high cabinet there (may be useful for storing glasses at easy reach).

Or just put some drawers and have more workspace.
Jenny
9 years ago
This last one is much better!! Hate floating wall units, this looks open and bright!
Jenny
9 years ago
Jenny
9 years ago
This is lovely
Ben
Original Author
9 years ago
That looks very nice. We wouldn't be able to have shelves next to it (only a 10cm gap between boiler and cupboard) but could certainly leave a gap under it for bread etc as above. We could probably make the gap enough to fit in a microwave but i guess it will stick out a bit.

Just to confirm josully you prefer the extra workspace by the window as opposed to the high cabinet?
minnie101
9 years ago
I like the last plan. I might however opt for another cupboard on the end of the sink run rather than the drawers. Did you also try the boiler cupboard facing this way? If not I might try adding more shelves to the left of the window to balance it out
The Brighton Kitchen by deVOL · More Info
Ben
Original Author
9 years ago
minnie101 the way the boiler is facing doing the cupboard the other way would make it very difficult for access (although it definitely would look at lot better I don't feel it would be practical for when the boiler gets serviced).

I feel this seems slightly more balanced
minnie101
9 years ago
I suppose it would make it trickier. I know how much it costs to move boilers to other rooms but no idea how much it would cost to move it inches if you did prefer the cabinet on that wall. I'm not keen on the tall cabinet personally, it just seems to be crowding the window and taking away the airy feel, if you didn't want more shelves you could add a large piece of art etc instead. It's your kitchen though, not mine :)
Jenny
9 years ago
Yes much prefer extra workspace by the window, would add shelves to balance, for fresh herbs/ recipe books, I'm very jealous currently pining after side return extension to make my kitchen dining room a similar size! Good luck with it all! Love the last devol pic too
Ben
Original Author
9 years ago
I think that will look nice. The only issue is then what to put on the shelves. The kitchen is north facing so growing herbs is very difficult (even in the large window still). Will have a look for some inspiration of what to put on the shelves.
PRO
Classic Kitchens Direct
6 years ago
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Charnelle Els
6 years ago
Hi Ben,

I like the 2nd last design, the one without the cupboard opposite the boiler. Having a wall unit there breaks the sight line and makes it feel cluttered. I would use the shelves for glasses and cups. I have wood worktops from worktop express. Great quality, just a little wear 3 years on. We opted for an oil finish and need to do the 1st re-oil soon. We have a dishwasher so minimal dishes done but the sink is siliconed under it's rim. Water doesn't seem to be an issue yet.
Emin TATLI
last year
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