There’s lots of kitchen layouts on our pro page that could suit a space like this, and give you a starter idea if you want to plan this yourself ... as extension wraparounds are something we design with clients a lot. There are always many different options, it’s a case of looking at what your needs are for the space, what compromises you are prepared to make (if any) and working on the plan until all of those needs are met. Click on my name or icon to get there.

I have a friend with roughly this layout but slightly different, it works well. She has:

- removed the chimneybreast and fit a downstairs wc in that space (accessible from the hall but all the space is taken from the kitchen). If you don’t want to do this you could build pantry storage around it instead (shallow in front of the chimneybreast and deeper to the side)

- put her fridge in the space left of the existing chimneybreast

- her “U“ shape contains all of the kitchen bar the fridge, so it’s all close together, whereas yours requires more walking (your hob to sink distance is a worry - imagine carrying a boiling pan of water across there especially as you have to pass the door)

- she has her sink at the back and hob at the side. Can’t remember where her ovens are. Peninsula is just storage/prep and breakfast bar area

- She has her dining table running 90 degrees to yours which means she also has room for a sofa next to her fridge. I think her “U” shape is slightly smaller than yours so that gives more space for table to go sideways. Also again means less walking in the kitchen.

Hope that helps

Really appreciate the input you 3, thanks.

@ Jonathan our concern with that design is that we would have to shrink the door down by 30cm if we have a run of units down one side, we could stop short I guess. There is also an annoying steel support on the top wall so there's only space for one appliance unit along there, I think the chimney might also look a little out of place

@OnePlan will check it for some inspiration

@minipie that sounds promising

We're coming round to the idea of getting rid of the chimney, questioning if the hob just looks silly in there. Perhaps then we have a run of tall units down that wall? There's the awkward space created on the right as you come in as a result of the steps. I can't decide if we'd have a unit there (one where you could store say a ironing board that you could lift out so you don't have to open the bottom part which would hit the steps unless it was a double door design) or not have one there and perhaps put a radiator in there or something else?. Like this

(Added a sofa for fun, we probably won't have one in there)

The thing I worry about with that designs having the ovens so far away from the worktop...you'll take stuff out and have to walk across the kitchen (and the walkway/door into the kitchen, and therefore a high traffic area) to put it down anywhere.. Easy turn around and bump into people walking in etc. Could you just have storage on that side, and the ovens with the other units and worktops?

I prefer Jonathan's design. I think it looks better.

I wouldn't have ovens on that wall at door side. Space could be used for larder/storage fridge freezer.

In fact, our kitchen arrives today and layout is very similar to that one, except induction hob in island. Units run tight down one side.

4m width wouldn't allow sofa space as on your plan.

Hi Martin,

We're working on a design quite similar to your room at the moment - we dropped it into your room dimensions and with a few tweaks it may be another option for you to consider. We would suggest packing out the steel to bring the wall to the right level allowing the oven housing to be fully accessible, as well as reducing the depth of the cabinetry alongside the doorway to around 450mm, which will allow full opening access taking the steps into consideration. You could house your boiler, brooms and a separate storage larder along this wall with the main working kitchen on the other side of the room.

www.fablekitchens.co.uk

Hi Martin,

I would strongly advice putting the hob inside the kitchen area, as per the location in your plans you'd be cooking in the walking area and have people always walking in that area. It is conflicting and not best option. If you want the peninsula and keep the layout you have, then is best to just have tall units on the chimney area. Having the island parallel to the sink run will conflict with the walking area/foot flow.

Having the hob where the sink is or on the peninsula will make it possible to socialise while you cook. And maybe put the sink on the wall that has the door. If you can transfer the cooking and cleaning area to the the main kitchen and keep just larders, fridges and other storage on the chimney side will be better for the overall ergonomic design. People will be able to grab drinks and snacks without being in the way when you are cooking.

I agree with Gabby with regards to the ovens being far away from a worktop. You need somewhere nearby to put your cooking down straight away when you take things out of an oven, or even if you are checking your cooking you might want somewhere convenient to put your utensils by the side.

I realised the importance of this as my oven is near a corner and even though I have worktop space next to it, I realised it’s on the wrong side as I use my left hand to take trays out of oven but my worktop is on the right hand side of oven which means I have to move it across or turn around and place it on the island. I know it doesn’t sound like a big deal but when you are cooking that huge roast and it’s really heavy you want to put it down asap lol.

As a quick suggestion - could you move the steps to the outside so you have more usable floor space inside, and they don't affect your kitchen layout as much?

In your revised pic ( the one with the sofa ), 2nd pic, could you switch the cupboard next to steps with the ovens? Then it will be next to a worktop and how about switching the sink and hob position then your 'cooking space' will be all together?

@Fable Kitchens thanks, that looks really nice! Slight issue is that we have a pitched roof on the new side infilled area. Unfortunately planning constraints mean that the height at the wall will be 2.6m falling to just 2m. I know the velux windows are recessed into the roof but if we have tall units on that side it might block out the light, how high are the units? Having a 450mm unit in that corner would be practical but I think it would look a little odd if we had 600mm units next to it. Perhaps 450mm either end with 3 600mm in the middle would look ok?

@Schmidt Dorking @kwg kwg Thanks. Take on board the hob suggestion from everyone. Seems sensible to have it on the other side. The oven/microwave is a tricky one, if we go with the peninsula design unless we have them under the counter then the only space would be just on the left as you enter. That's practical, but we're slightly concerned this ruins the nice open feel you would get to the left as you enter.

@i-architect that is something i'd considered, first impression from the company is that it would be possible but i'm not sure why. I'll check with the builders. It would make access to the under stair cupboard a little trickier but might be more practical to make the most of the kitchen space

Hi Martin, our cabinetry is made to order so the lower ceiling height issue would not be a problem - the cabinetry height would be dictated only by the height of the built-in fridge freezer really, so a minimum on 1950mm. It would be interesting to see the positioning of velux windows here to see how it would affect the layout of this run of furniture.

On the alternative side near the door we suggest having all of the cabinetry at a reduced depth of 450mm so the walkway between here and the island does not become too narrow - this would therefore require storage only as any appliances would increase the cabinet depth requirements here. Feel free to drop us an e-mail if you would like to talk anything through further - details can be found at www.fablekitchens.co.uk