Alternative

I would lose the wall cabinets as I think they might be a bit imposing in a small room, particularly the one by the door to the conservatory. Instead I'd use a dresser unit in the corner with fridge next to it to avoid your flow issue and then put the oven and microwave in to a wall unit with 400mm units either side for more storage. That would give a full wall of full height cupboards. also

I'd put a bin unit in next to the hob as I hate having bins out. Something like this.

Thanks for your suggestion Leonie. I agree with you, in real life when visiting the house, that left hand wall just doesn't feel right if populated with a lot of stuff (the photo makes it look as though there's more space than reality to the left of the conservatory door).

I think I'm inclined to putting the dining table in the same position as you have (the conservatory might be not be cosy in the winter for eating).

I particularly like your idea about a full wall (east) full of cabinets, that won't sacrifice storage space and yes, I do intend to use the island countertop area for most things cooking, and the other for all else.

And yes, hidden bin by the hob ;)

You might want to draw it to scale- I think you will conclude that the 60cm deep table and 30cm wide chairs drawn are too small

This table is 160x90mm

Jonathan, thanks for that. I do see your point. My current table is 140x90 (extendable on the length) and I think it'll end up put against that left wall and used in 3 sides only (so much for flow and eating looking at a wall :S). Adding at least 60cm to each side if sitting as shown, I'd need 260cm width. To make it work, I might need to push that island to the right (I can live with a bit less than the 120cm I've got between island and cabinets, but perhaps it invalidates the whole thing...)

Your idea of a more open kitchen is surely food for thought (I 'm not a fan of an island out of fad, but for that practicality as I do like to spend my time cooking).

Guess once I get access to the new place in the new year I'll go in with an actual tape measure and some tape to draw lines on the floor cardboard boxes to make up furniture volumes (current dims are probably only good to within 10cm or so).

And what about going for the distribution proposed by Jonathan and adding a round or oval table in the middle?

I would suggest putting a pocket door in , the island and cupboards are very close to the door opening. Your table can still be used in the kitchen with bench seating on the wall side to save space. I do agree with Jonathan about upgrading the conservatory in the future to make a much larger usable space, especially as the children get older.

The cooker on the island is OK but doesn't lend itself to having an extractor - if you wanted one?

Maybe a simple U shaped kitchen arrangement allowing a table in the middle, with slim 450mm deep units to the full width of the LH wall - like Jonathans original, but a consistanet line of slimmer units to the LHS and and units along the window wall with a sink at the window - a sensible traditional approach. At least with a table in the centre you can use all sides of the table and it keeps a clear route through to the conservatory.

As most extractors nowadays aren't actual extractors, rather they are forced filter systems, I'd opt for a suspended/ceiling unit in that situation.

As I've now revisited some measurements from that kitchen, it's all looking just a bit too tight, though still doable. I think I'll need to ponder, once I have access to the space (luckily I will have up to 3 months before actually moving in, the only good thing about renting right now) what to do: I may well keep the existing layout (minus that silly wraparound bar area) or go for Jonathan's suggestion, which enables future kitchen extension.

Right now my floorplan seems like it would need an extra 20% of area to make it work with decent flow and keep a table.

This is about as good as I can make it right now (ignore missing panels here and there).

The island has an offset hob, 20cm to the left, 60cm hob, 50cm to the right, total depth 60cm hob+20cm behind it. This gives me a very functional 50x80cm work area to the right of the hob and 20cm elbow room on the left.

As you can see, the new measurements make quite a difference, particularly wrt sink and window situation, limited elbow room to the right of the sink meant removing some of the full height units (unsure about that lonely wall unit, 80% sure I'll nix that in favour of some open shelving in that zone, for more decorative items).

Our current large table just about fits in there, would usually live closer to the wall, bench seating in there just in case. When chairs are in, flow is acceptable. Maybe this needs to be re-thought or table re-located altogether in favour of a smaller functional table.

That's about the extent of my imagination for something a bit different, with functionality in mind. Otherwise, a vanilla kitchen arrangement will have to do just fine ;)

Sorry to throw a spanner in the works, but I think a U shaped layout would work much better, similar to the original layout, but with tall units along wall C. The small peninsula doesn't really look right to me.

So if I understand correctly, you're suggesting the sink where I propose it (north wall), then the east wall with the tall units and the hob in the south wall? I think there's always an issue when cooking with your back to the window, in terms of lighting it's less than ideal. Also, I can't seem to find an elegant way to fit tall units all the way to the corner, as the joining with the worktop creates an access problem.

If you're saying to stick to the original, don't get me wrong, it's very functional, and yes, I could get tall units on the south wall just as easily. It creates a bit of a corridor effect, as you go into the kitchen and have this 60cm deep "wall" to your right (the full height panel of the last unit), but that's the concession to make.

I fully agree it's the layout that's there, and it's there for a reason: it's very workable and least offending for most people. I really am just trying to explore other options and do the proverbial head scratching exercise whilst there's a couple of months before I go at it with the demolition hammer. And coming to this community for a bit of feedback, thanks everyone so far :)

Your design is focused in having a view of the garden from the hob when your children will need your supervision only for a short time. And you are ending up with a tight design and difficult work triangle

Thanks Gloria, it's not just the children for the next couple of years, it's me liking the idea of doing my kitchen activities with a view other than the bottom of kitchen wall units ;)

Guess the main issue is the lack of space indeed. Maybe on the next house then ;)

For completeness, the "conventional" design, assuming a 2 unit wide larder fits next to the fridge. I've opted to not extend the wall units to the side walls, does create a dead space, but I'm not sure they'd be too accessible (not to my wife without a step). I'd likely use that to have a 80cm width hood on the hob, to make it feel a bit less cramped:

So this may well end up being the final configuration. At least I tried!

Hello, good morning so as not to make a mistake there, you must be clear before starting with your kitchen, since it is something that cannot be changed often.

Based on your kitchen plan I can make several proposals.

I give you an example of some of my work, so you can appreciate most of the details.

Contact me and we'll talk.

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We were advised not to make any major changes when we bought our house until we’d lived in it for six months or so. So glad we needed that as once we were in we found some things we thought would have to be changed in fact worked really well for us, and other things we’d not foreseen needed rethinking. Congratulations on the new house.

I agree that rushing to change things can lead to making the wrong choices. I can understand the desire to get the work done while living in the rented house, but it could lead to a situation rather like the old saying, marry in haste, repent at leisure. Just like moving the deckchairs on the Titanic you might not resolve your main problem, lack of proper space. i could add, fools rush in where angels fear to tread!!!! Its exciting moving to a new home, so whatever you do, dont get into too much debt and enjoy the experience without getting stressed.

The reason that many "extractors" are actually filtration units is that many people design their kitchens so badly that genuine extractors are impossible to incorporate.

Place the hob against an outside wall wherever possible. Failing that, check which way your upstairs joists are running, in order to plan the extraction route.

Yes I agree, a vented extractor is better, otherwise building regs require some other form of extraction, so I was told by the builder who installed my kitchen. He wanted to put an extractor fan in my external wall, even though I live in a bungalow and the hob extractor could be vented through the loft. He assumed it was a recirculating model even though I'd bought a venting kit 🙄