9 months into reno - Unsure about kitchen layout. Extended Victorian
Theo
5 years ago
Hi all,
We're 9 months into our whole house renovations however we are still indecisive on the kitchen layout. This is our first home so we are unsure what we want and need.
Below is the house layout with our initial design for the kitchen however we are worried it will be quite cramped. Having one wall floor to ceiling units will also make the room feel smaller than it is.
The conservatory, extension and Velux windows are already installed. The house will be all modern interior. We are installing underfloor heating for the whole ground floor as the primary heat source.
Please let us know what you think would be nice!
Thank you.
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Steven
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Win a design consultation at designjunction - September 22nd-25th
Comments (84)We have just purchased what we hope to be our last house. It is a very big plot and we are looking to knock down and get planning for a very large house over 4 floors. (12,000 sq ft). We know what we want internally however our issue lies with the external look and feel. My wife wants classic new build, with pillar entrance, sash box windows with stone cills or surroundings (Surrey Commuter belt!). I like contempory white, modern, square, glass walls, feature cladded walls with balconies (Beverly Hills!) Our compromise is classic at the front contempory at the rear. We need help! Hopeful designjunction will help offer solutions so we can move forward....See MoreRenovation! - plug sockets, light switches and more...
Comments (49)I feel like I'm making loads of decision but still not really getting anywhere. There is so much to think about! Spotted some lovely toggle light switches so I've already bought them. I know where the light switches are going but its a case of figuring out the best places to put the plug sockets because we have so many in my mums house but we still run out! We've opted for a few USB sockets too so at least if we are charging phones and laptops, we are freeing space for other things too. In terms of kitchen layout, the suggestion of the seating in the bay window is great but because that would mean the kitchen would have to go at the other end, we've decided against this. It would work, and would probably be the best option once the horrible extension is knocked down but at the moment, the extension blocks all the sun light on that side so the kitchen would be very dim and dark for a while. The extension is something we are saving for and is more likely to be done in 4-5 years time so I'm not sure it makes sense to be in a dark corner for that length of time. We've had the house a month tomorrow and so far it has been ripping the house apart. January is the month we put everything back! Super excited. Plumber, heating engineer and builders are all put to the task in January. New floor in the kitchen, wall removed and built up again to accommodate the new window so that we can have units underneath, first fix plumbing, first fix heating and boiler installation. All other windows to be installed. Hoping that guttering and chimneys can be looked at too! We have a chimney breast on almost every wall which I'm sure was great for heating years ago but as they are no longer used, they cause so many damp issues! I bought paint tester pots today - I have no idea why, we are nowhere near ready for that but it just felt nice to buy something pretty and cosmetic rather than look at insulation and damp proofing. P.S; any suggestions on obscure glass for the bathroom and hallway? I've been given a huge list of options but unsure as to what to choose. Thinking just Contora or Arctic?...See MoreVictorian House inspiration please!
Comments (229)Also, top tip, folks! If installing an island with plumbing/electrics in it, make sure you have an access panel somewhere to get to them - especially for the plumbing. I speak from bitter experience in the last house. This is a particular problem with Belfast sinks mounted, you guessed it, under a stone worktop, meaning you can't easily take the sink out. I had this in my old house - learned my lesson the hard way, A bad situation when your dishwasher or waste disposal unit are leaking or need replacing, and you find out that there are a load of connections you need to get to that are hidden behind the sink. Even worse if that Belfast sink has an Insinkerator waste disposal plumbed into it and the dishwasher is plumbed into that - the bits you need to get to are directly behind the unit, and not easily reachable from the space in the cabinet under that sink, even if you cut out the back panel. Very awkward. So that stone worktop has to come off (not realistic) or you have to cut through a cabinet back or two with a jigsaw (better option by far - but you do it very carefully). Which is what I did - replacing the hacked up back panel with an access panel held in place by magnets, for the next time. Trust me, it's easier to do this at installation stage! This island is 90cm wide, and one side is the seating area, which is behind the row of front cabinets, which include sink, fridge, dishwasher etc. The whole kickpanel in the seating area will be mounted on a stud frame which has six metal threads installed, so that the panel (plywood, as we determined above) bolts to these six screws. Need access to the plumbing and drain? Drop the panel in minutes, and everything is in front of you and easily accessed......See MoreDesign dilemma. should I have bigger kitchen and sacrifice utility
Comments (18)Great overall floor space but the plan would benefit from some amendments. I would keep the utility room especially as your garage is detached. The design will give you a gloomy lounge so lose the office to give it some natural light coming in from the front of the house as well as through the internal bifolds separating kitchen from lounge. I agree that the play room may soon become redundant so relocate the office there. With the extra room in the lounge (or the bigger office space), incorporate some clever storage for toys etc. Include a door from lounge to current play room for easier access to the toilet. I might be tempted to pinch a bit of play room space to extend the toilet area and have a small lobby so you always have 2 doors between lounge/play room to toilet. Remove the door from play room to utility and have extra utility units. Install a sliding door from utility to kitchen. I would also remove the door from the living room to the playroom. Good luck with the build....See More
Gabby Wong
5 years ago
PROOnePlan
5 years ago- PRO
OnePlan
5 years ago 
Jonathan
5 years agoYou need to consult a kitchen designer. I think the tall bank does not necessarily make the room feel smaller although you might decide to stop it short of both corners for an unfitted look.
However if it were me I would be thinking about the amount of work space on the island and instead of the tall bank be thinking about having more work surface.
Lastly I would be thinking about practicalities as it is an open plan space - research the quietest and most efficient extractors, the quietest dishwasher and consider putting the laundry facilities upstairs.
Theo
5 years ago
Tryphic