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Design DilemmaBefore & AfterKitchens
jayne_hunt87

Final Kitchen layout, any suggestions on how to improve it?

J C
6 years ago

The back wall full of ceiling to floor length cabinets needs to stay, but it will be ceiling to floor and the gap above will look the same as the cabinets. On the far left hand side will be a full length fridge, then a full length freezer next to it. Still not sure of what the other cupboard should be, possibly one pull out larder, or open the doors to a shelf and breakfast bar in there with hot water tap..so its breakfast, tea coffee etc, all hidden.


On the other wall where the hob and sink is, I'm still not sure of the layout on this side..


The full length cupboard on the left hand side needs to stay as this is actually a hidden door into the utility room.


Next to the sink on the right hand side is going to be a door leading to the side of the house and a toilet/shower room there is no grey wall that would be flat like the white bit. I was wondering if it would look better to have another kitchen cabinet type door to hide it and lengthen the island a bit.


Not keen on any sink/hob on the island at all and also the high cupboards look a bit dull, wondered how to lay those out to make it look a bit more modern.


Any other plans/ideas/suggestions? would be extremely welcome and grateful as we are going in to pay on Saturday so need to finalise these last few decisions. . Thank you


Featured Answer
  • Carolina
    6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Okay, so here are my concerns with the current layout: with no space to the other side of the sink, where will the dirty/clean dishes go. In our house, we put dirty dishes on one side and when unloading the dishwasher, put stuff that still needs to be dried off on the other side. But you may well have another system of loading/unloading. Also, items that can't go into the dishwasher need to be somewhere when dirty and then put somewhere when clean. So, in my experience a sink needs counterspace on two sides.

    You do need somewhere to put appliances, like the toaster/kettle, coffee machine or maybe a stand mixer? If they are behind doors that aren't pocket doors, you'll be working in a 'confined space', which doesn't seem very practical.

    I've been through the whole thought process recently and we've decided to do without doors in front of the breakfast counter. Very happy with that decision. I'll post pics so you can see how it looks. We also have kitchen doors that lead to the pantry behind the tall bank of cupboards.

    We've put the ovens above each other, because one oven we already had and the other one is new and a slightly different design. This left space for two pull out larders, one either side of the ovens. Then we have a tall freezer, tall fridge, double doors to the pantry.

    We also have a separate coffee corner. Hope this helps.

    Comments (17)

    • Carolina
      6 years ago

      Hi, you might want to repost this under design dilemma, not under before & after. You will get more response then, I think.

      You could go for two different cabinet finishes to make it more interesting. Perhaps a wood finish on the tall cabinets and all the other cabinets white. Or for two different colours.

      I would personally put either the sink or the hob in the island.


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      J C thanked Carolina
    • J C
      Original Author
      6 years ago
      last modified: 6 years ago

      Thanks, but I really don't want anything on the island, as its more for entertaining. I like the two tone, but wonder if it might date over time. It is also under design dilemma. I was also wondering if anyone before/after had gone through the same so may have had tips on styles of cabinets, heights, horizontal, vertical options etc.. thanks

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    • PRO
      SUN STUDIO.London - Glassworks and Prints
      6 years ago

      Hello J C,
      Are you planning to secure the wall behind sink and cooker? Toughened and Heat resistant Kitchen Splashback is a really nice solution.

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    • Jonathan
      6 years ago
      I agree that the contrast of a different colour for the tall bank would be good- Personally I think that look won’t date any more than any other choice you make now.
      I think double ovens are now dated and given the size of the kitchen I wonder if that oven is a little mean and whether side by side single ovens would have more impact.
      Under the title I’d of not wanting it to be dated I think an induction hob is a more streamlined and modern choice too.
      J C thanked Jonathan
    • Carolina
      6 years ago

      I wanted to say the same thing as Jonathan: that a tall bank of units in a different colour won't date quicker than having everything in the same colour. I'm biased though, since I've gone for exactly that: black oak for the tall bank of units and all white for the rest. But I do feel that it will still look great in 20 years, just as our previous kitchen which was a different style (wooden shaker). Timeless design.

      It does depend on the finish/colour/style of the cabinets, I think.




    • J C
      Original Author
      6 years ago

      Hi there, thank you for your ideas, all really good and I'll take into consideration, maybe on Sat I'll ask them to do a pic with a different colour. Yes by the way sorry that is the wrong hob, all the appliances are wrong, they are just placemarkers, There will be an induction hob there. As for ovens yes I can put side by side oven, or even one under the island, but was wondering if it was side by side would it eat into the cupboard on the side if I made that into a breakfast bar i.e. open doors onto shelving and another worktop and hot tap in there for tea/coffee/toaster etc.. but you're right its a large kitchen, so maybe side by side might be more even and level it out a bit... I would like some idea of layout of the other side though? For me I think it would be more modern without any top shelving at all, but my husband wanted some and lights to go under them. Cabinets are a matt cream colour with handles, again undecided on handles. I also like the splash back ideas, not sure what to put behind as yet, or if to match with the island top... (or is that also dated) god this is so hard.. all advice very welcome or images for suggestions. I also don't know whether to hide the fan above the hob, or make a feature. It can't be central on the work surface as otherwise where would the sink go.. hmmm

    • J C
      Original Author
      6 years ago

      Carolina, that Wandsworth one is interesting, its not two tone cabinets on the outside they are all the same colour its the interior which is different, they have pocket folding doors which is lovely, but howdens don't do that sadly. Really nice effect though.

    • Carolina
      6 years ago

      On a side note: we haven't paid anything in advance when we bought our kitchen. We've had a very bad experience with that years ago. Lost a huge amount when the company where we ordered three staircases went bankrupt. So we then decided to never do that again. Not for furniture, not for kitchens, not for anything. And if a company then decides to not sell you their stuff, so be it. Plenty of other companies. Just a thought for you to take into consideration.


      J C thanked Carolina
    • A B
      6 years ago
      There isn’t enough ‘practical’ work top space as Carolina says. I think you’d end up with everything dumped on the island, which if you’re entertaining you’ll presumably want to keep uncluttered. Are you planning 2 dishwashers this has been a revelation for us and we’ll never go back! Also for entertaining I’d really consider having an induction job on the island (won’t really be intrusive when not in use) or you’ll spend a lot of time with you back to your guests. I think for a party kitchen a wine fridge is a great addition too. And definitely side by side ovens!
      J C thanked A B
    • PRO
      Spencer Marchand
      6 years ago
      A more subtle idea to add some depth to the design might be to introduce an accent finish on the island maybe. If you just look to accent say the breakfast bar back panel and side slab ends, these would be a very easy replacement 5-10 years down the line if ever the accent finish fashioned itself out or you got bored and decided to re-dec at a later date. Then, you could tie in the hob splash back to tonally tie in to the accent colour. Just a few simple minor adjusts but may make all the difference. I personally love a big island for prep with the hob and sink off-set. Much more sociable as a lot of time is spent preparing food and interacting with guests that way, rather than having a busy hob with heat and grease rising up in front of you when trying to socialise, if running water and mess for that matter. Hope this helps and good luck
      J C thanked Spencer Marchand
    • J C
      Original Author
      6 years ago

      Thanks Carolina, really lovely kitchen and pictures by the way, appreciate the advice, we're not paying this Saturday, just finalising the design hopefully. As the kitchen is part of a very large open plan we were hoping to keep lots of things hidden, hence the breakfast bar bit with doors. Jen, thank you for your comments too, though I think we only have room for one dishwasher, and its plenty for us at the moment. As for workspace, as Spencer says we do have a massive island for when preparing food or putting things out, so thats fine, but I see what you mean about not much to the sink left or right, I'll re-think that. My problem is there isn't much room to that back space, and we can't move down. We do however have a large utility and a separate larder, so don't necessarily need all the cupboards

    • J C
      Original Author
      6 years ago

      carolina ,what size is the breakfast area bit, width, height etc? Thanks

    • J C
      Original Author
      6 years ago

      can anyone suggest what to put where? I have breakfast bar bit with hot tap, etc.. full length fridge, full length freezer, and contemplating where to put ovens.. ? Any advice gratefully received.

    • Carolina
      6 years ago
      Our peninsula is 97 cm high, 100 cm wide. No breakfast bar. We had a breakfast bar in the previous kitchen that we hardly ever used.
      J C thanked Carolina
    • Carolina
      6 years ago
      Really think about how you’ll be using the kitchen. Imagine yourself cooking your meals, making breakfast, where do you want to keep non-refrigerated food, plates, glasses, cutlery, spices, oils, oven dishes... Side by side ovens are nice, but what kind of cabinets do you want above and below them. Drawers or pull out shelves for cabinets below will be practical. I like my tall pull out pantries flanking my ovens, but the kitchen shops we visited said that “nobody wants those anymore”. Didn’t let that put me off though.

      I’ve stood in the my imaginary kitchen and got things from my imaginary fridge, cooked imaginary food, used my imaginary oven, etc. All to find out what would be practical for me.
      J C thanked Carolina
    • David N
      6 years ago
      The sink looks too smaller get the oven grill etc in?

      Two sinks needed at least I think.

      If you go for handleless drawers the recessed strip can be in a contrasting colour.

      Add a zip tap, especially for entertaining.

      Make a couple of the cupboards pantry style where the doors slide in and hide.
      J C thanked David N
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