hiding the kitchen sink...

5 years ago

Hey guys,
I have a slight dilemma that I’m trying to work out re our utility cupboard in the new kitchen .

The photo below is an old image but shows the cupboard behind glazed doors - housing the sink with drained and dishwasher. Also the boiler and shelving.

The solid brick wall is 7’4 wide internally but the right side will have units butting up next to it so we lose front access of 650mm. Not a problem as the boiler will go on the side wall and we can still reach the worktop etc.

That would leave about 1350 space to put some sort of doors on.
The issue is that we can’t have standard doors as when you open them to wash up anything that can’t go in the dishwasher. It will block that entry which is only 900mm wide.

What’s the least awkward doors to put there??
Ideally we would have the left one being a bifolds and slide (where it goes back in on itself into the cupboard therefore eliminating any obstruction) and the right one being a pocket door to slide back against the 650mm wall.

I’m told the bifold and slide door mechanism is v expensive and my OH thinks we should just leave it open but I REALLY wanted to hide all the clutter in there ie pans and glasses we can’t put in the dishwasher and leave the toaster out there etc

Am I being daft to want to hide the mess (a big bug bear from my last house!) and has anyone got any solutions for hiding it??

Thanks!

Featured Answer

E D

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Sure but venetians are more flexible with light etc and can look a little more contemporary I think.

I was actually assuming you'd use them as well as glazed doors. I quite like the fact they are glazed in your earlier plan.

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Comments (31)

A B
5 years ago
Well a curtain would work but not really the look you are going for! I’d investigate prices for getting double bifold doors. You could even have integrated appliances and just have the doors from worktop level and up
A B
5 years ago
A bit like this
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Tani H-S
Original Author
5 years ago
Yes I was thinking that about the top doors.
It occurred to me today that I could even split it into two if it was going to be a big issue and have one side open ie dishwasher with worktop and the sink part closed with a cupboard door

I should probably stop seeing it as one space and break it up, perhaps

I tell you Jen, I’m feeling very depressed/stressed at all the decisions I have to make! LOL. It’s hard to have to choose the whole house in one go. Still not even bought the bathroom furniture for upstairs and they are building the stud walls already
Tani H-S
Original Author
5 years ago
@Jen - the kitchen designer suggested something like that ie kind of dresser effect - but flush with the worktop as mine won’t be a v traditional kitchen as such.

The big issue is the stupid boiler as it has to go in that room before the extension is built as it’s currently in the existing kitchen which will be ripped out soon.
It won’t fit anywhere in the bathroom as we have a window on the outside wall going on and a stacked washer/dryer. Unless we spend another £1k to get a smaller sized boiler (as the plumber suggested) it has nowhere else to go
pjc31
5 years ago
I have a sink with a lid which becomes a draining board. Hides a multitude of sins.
Tani H-S
Original Author
5 years ago
@pjc - ah thanks. It’s really for the sink area with the big pans and glasses I have to hand wash and all the other crap that gets dumped waiting to be washed

We will have a separate small prep sink in the main back run so I’m not too fussed about that area
E D
5 years ago
Venitien blinds?
Tani H-S
Original Author
5 years ago
Even a roller blind could work - worst case
Would be cheaper than proper doors
Tani H-S
Original Author
5 years ago
Ah no - the glazed doors were just ones I had picked at random on the app! LOL
Glazed doors won’t hide the mess unless I get frosted but they would need to be toughened as well so it just adds to the cost
hawxbyl
5 years ago
I haven't analyzed your pictures but a random thought I had was....What about a roller door upwards? Similar to how a bread basket with a sliding open/shut mechanism?
Tani H-S
Original Author
5 years ago
That would be a tambor door. We had one in our last house but this opening would be too large for it really as it’s very noisy opening/closing it and also we noticed it marked every time it opened and ran on the rollers. Perfect for a small opening though, I agree

I think I will just have to make the cupboard smaller to accommodate smaller doors or leave it open for now until I find something. My joiner might have some ideas!
Carolina
5 years ago
Pssst @ E D: Venetian ;-)
hawxbyl
5 years ago
Not great examples but to give u an idea?
gina c
5 years ago
I wanted to have a kitchen cabinet that hid the food mixer, coffee machine etc. but I don’t like the roller shutters. Our joiner just fitted some standard doors to a rail system so that they fold and slide back. I’ve attached photos below (excuse the mess) but will look through my emails to see if I can find the name of the mechanism used.
Tani H-S
Original Author
5 years ago
@gina - oh yes! Those are the ones I was talking about they would be perfect. Were they expensive? If you do have the name/link that would be appreciated
gina c
5 years ago
Hi, I think this is what was used:

https://www.hafele.co.uk/en/product/pivot-sliding-door-system-for-cabinet-doors-fittings-and-runners-hawa-concepta/0000005100008a3600010023/
gina c
5 years ago
I think they are called pivot sliding doors. There seems to be a few options if you google it. I can’t remember the price, but I don’t think they were expensive.
E D
5 years ago
Thank you @Carolina... I did think the word looked weird, but my spelling program didn't say anything! Haha

Venetian. Yes, now I remember. :-)

Next time I'll just say Luxaflex :-)
kikiamack
5 years ago
What about a telescopic pocket door system such as Eclisse? 2 doors both push to the same side.
Tani H-S
Original Author
5 years ago
@kikiamac - I’ve seen that name on my design programme for the doors but had no idea what they were ie except standard sliding doors! Will go google them
Tani H-S
Original Author
5 years ago
@hawxbyl thank you for those.
I’m thinking of changing it completely and seeing if I can just find a place like those suggestions of dumping the mess into in between washing rather than having a whole awkward opening for it.

Also, my builder just said that I have to have some returns on that wall which will narrow the opening in the middle to around 900mm so it means either side of the 2240mm opening would be cut off from the front anyway.

Giving up the will to live with this area
Tani H-S
Original Author
5 years ago
Pending confirmation of where the WC can go on the other side of the Utility wall, I decided to shrink the bathroom down to make way for a better shape of utility. The OH is never interested in looking/discussing the designs but the other night, made a suggestion that would work if I can make the room slightly bigger.

So now I propose my bathroom at 6' x 7'4 (posting on the other thread for Minnie) and the utility room would be 110cm deep x 7'4 wide. Keeping the original opening of that brick outer wall (currently a tall window in!) will save spending more on building work and bigger steels as well.

What do ya think??

It will have a sliding door on to block out the washer/dryer noise of course... drying racks on the wall above the sink to hold pans/delicate glasses. rad for drying tea towels and anything else above it. Plus the ceilings are 2.75m high so I have lots of shelving/storage space for anything I can't fit in the kitchen. Loving it now
E D
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Looking good!

What inspired the OH last night?.... ;-)
Tani H-S
Original Author
5 years ago
Ha ha, thanks!
I think me drinking every night and pulling out the white hairs made him donate a few minutes of his time
If only he had looked at it a few months back ...
minipie
5 years ago
Nice! I am also looking for a way to hide the sink (or more the washing up that awaits attention next to it). However we don't have space for two sinks so ours has to be in the main kitchen.

Tani can I ask what app or program you're using for your 3D renders? I too have a whole house to choose!
minipie
5 years ago
PS if you have a high ceiling in your utility, you could have a Sheilamaid pulley laundry hanger - I'll be putting one in our (tiny but high ceilinged) utility
Tani H-S
Original Author
5 years ago
Yes definately re the laundry hanger! I tried to find one on the design program but they didn’t have one.

It’s called Homebyme and you can have up to 3 projects for free. No ads on there either! You can build floors I believe but I haven’t done mine as couldn’t work out the sloped ceilings

I just played around with it and it was v easy to use. Spent months converting everything from meters to feet as it’s all in feet but then found out how to change it a few days ago! #shouldhavereadthemanual
minipie
5 years ago
Thanks - will go look!
Emily
5 years ago
Just a crazy thought since you are going industrial modern in the kitchen?
Tani H-S
Original Author
5 years ago
@Emily, I think my dogs might have too much fun with that
It’s ok as it’s sorted now as got a smaller opening so can just put one single door on