Smallish kitchen layout query

2 months ago

We have a very basic kitchen currently and are trying to work out the best layout for it. We will likely keep the sink where it is and dishwasher along side it. The cooker will.be on the wall at the back we think but we always wanted a larger American fridge freezer. Can anyone think of a better layout please?

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PRO

Piur & Co interior design

2 months ago

last modified: 2 months ago

Hi Carmen,

The measurements you provided are contradictory so I used the smaller measurements, to be on the safe side.

from the images I gathered that the WC is moved, ( please correct me if I'm wrong) so I thought it would be best to remove the partition wall between the kitchen and back door and utilise that space ( probably former or current WC) for a small walk-in pantry. I would consider swapping the larger 3-panel window for either French or sliding doors. to maximise the light and also give you a connection with the garden.

I wouldn't be blocking any windows, but rather maximising the light. I added a small butcher's block movable small island for additional prep space.

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Comments (17)

Carmen Harding
Original Author
2 months ago
The measurements are not very accurate and I have another angle in a photo if that helps
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katlucy
2 months ago
Looking at your aerial shot i wonder if the area behind the cooker could be incorporated?
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Jonathan
2 months ago
I think you need to check the measurements.

You should also consider blocking the side window to have an easier working layout
Carmen Harding
Original Author
2 months ago
@Jonathan thank you for your help.

Yes we really do need to measure up properly but we just wanted to get some ideas. Your idea would work...we could block that window and put the cooker there :)

The other window is apparently a bit lower than a worktop height so we would have to lift it up or put a smaller window in there too.

Really useful to get your input 👍
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Carmen Harding
Original Author
2 months ago
@katlucy that wall where the current cooker is is separating the wc and the back door corridor so it's not doing thay much 🤔
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Carmen Harding
Original Author
2 months ago
@piur & co interior design

Yes I'm sorry about the measurements. We will measure in person this weekend to update them.

That's a lovely design and it does make it lighter and brighter. The wc is staying initially at least, i think, although their was talk to moving the boiler into there from the corner of the kitchen (currently in an existing cupboard to the left of the sink). There is an existing smaller pantry on the cupboard if you refer to the photo I added yesterday but it would have to stay thay size as the other side to the left of that cupboard isnthe laundry cupboard accessed from the hallway. It looks like a good solution to have the fridge and cooker on the back wall and keep the sink where it is.

Thank you so much so taking the time to create the plan and mock up images!
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rinked
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
As a former kitchen designer and (currently) housewife, i'd suggest keeping your working triangle more compact, as in sink and hob not that far apart. My fridge is in my utility next to my tiny kitchen, which works as well, but nearby is so much easier. The space between hob and sink is where you'll do most of the work, so that should be a nice width. Let me see if i can also make you a floorplan, after you've posted more accurate dimensions.

For example how wide are those?
PRO
Piur & Co interior design
2 months ago
Hi Rinken,

I think it really depends on how you cook. I love to cook and cook almost every day and I also used to do kitchen designs for a good few years back in the day. what is super important most for me, is prep space and good bin position. I have a larger worktop space next to the hob with integrated bins under it. It makes prep so much easier and more efficient.

I wash all my veg beforehand and then move it to the prep area, I do only partial Mise en place. and start cooking while prepping the rest of the ingredients that go in later. That's why I like to have a larger prep area next to the hob. I also utilise the fridge much more during cooking, ( wine, cream, yoghurt, butter, mustard, tabasco, etc. that I use in my food are all in the fridge).

and for me its easier to take it from the fridge and back straight away. But that's me.
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Carmen Harding
Original Author
last month
Here are the actual measurements. We went to wren kitchens and they came up with leaving the sink where it is and having a built in high level double oven and separate hob. Also integrated 50/50 fridge freezer on the back wall. We think we would move the oven to the left to be closer to the hob though. Does this look OK? We thought it would be easier to do this lay out so we don't have to move any walls or open the window to a door to try and keep the costs down
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katlucy
last month
Walking 3m across the room with a boiling saucepan to drain, or fill, or a hot roasting pan etc to put in the sink would become annoying very quickly ….let alone dangerous.

i agree utilising the long wall is good and if you dont want direct access to the garden then i would run units along under the window.

if funds could stretch i would turn the side window into the side door, move the door to the WC to the hall and open the wall and side hall up to have a dining table in that corner …hopefully the boiler can move to the opposite corner.
katlucy
last month
Maybe you could extend the cooker wall across and create a bigger walk-in pantry behind and have your large fridge freezer there, built in storage seating in the angled corner….that appears to give you 450 extra length of garden wall. you could move the WC door around or have a second door before entering the pantry/kitchen.
Carmen Harding
Original Author
last month
You make a good point about taking a pot of water etc to/from the sink/hob. Perhaps we are better to keep the hob by the sink at least.
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PRO
Piur & Co interior design
last month
I would remove the wall between the cloak room and the kitchen as it creates a weird space.

If you remove that wall you have a much more usable space and plenty of clearance for an island , or central table
Jonathan
last month
I agree with Puir that removing one wall could make a huge difference to how big it feels. You could go further and block up the back door and swap the back window for doors to the garden- this was suggested earlier and I thought it looked great.
Carmen Harding
Original Author
last month
Thank you for the reworked design Puir.

I never imagined we would be able to fit an island in but its another idea to think about.

We don't really want to have to move the plumbing for the sink, or remove that wall dividing the kitchen to the back-door. The backdoor from there is more convenient to get to the back shed and garden. Also, removing that wall would give us less cupboard space.

We were thinking of changing the window to a French door at one point, especially after looking at Puir's original idea/design. We would have to move the window up if we had units along the side wall as it is lower than the standard height.

With the design that Wren have come up with it means we don't have to do any building works but as pointed out, the distance of the sink to the hob still doesn't look right.

I really appreciate everyone's input & realise that the spec had changed a bit from wanting a large american fridge freezer and range but integrated fridge/freezer seems more sensible amd takes up less space and a range is really expensive 😀 so a high level oven seems a good option and a separate hob so we can have some large drawers underneath.

Having done a new kitchen in my current house in 2021, we realised that drawers are much more useful than cupboards too.
PRO
Piur & Co interior design
last month
Best of Luck with the project Carmmen, keep us updated on what you decide to do in the end.

If you like the range of hobs, I recommend checking refurbished options on eBay. Can save a few k,

A nice hob and 2 sets of ovens can add up really quickly, to the cost of a range.

I still think that you should remove that part of the wall.

If you wanted to, you could also reposition the WC and move the kitchen doors.

I would also strongly consider having even a mini laundry room somewhere outside the kitchen area.