jjmack Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Hi, finally going to update our kitchen and I need it to last. So what is essential, apart from a wine chiller of course! My mum says a pan drawer is essential, what do you reckon I should fit in if I can? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geoid Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Oven? Fridge? Hob? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjmack Posted May 2, 2012 Author Share Posted May 2, 2012 Oh yes! That would help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 I have all my pans hanging on a rack...not everyone's taste I know but absolutely brilliant for access...also if I was redesigning our kitchen I would have one of those wardrobe-y looking cupboards for all the china...sooo much easier than scrabbling around under the worksurface to get out the plates etc!... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patsylabrador Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Lots of sockets and lighting all around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Wouldnt be without the dishwasher and the pull out full height larder cupboard is brilliant, makes finding things so much easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jules. Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 A pyrotecnic (sp?) oven which cleans itself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HarrisonFamily Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 A full time chef, waiter and cleaner ...I think you hire 2 and get 1 free.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluekarin Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 My dream kitchen would have large range cooker, pans drawers, a massive larder cupboard, boiling water tap, a decent shelf for all my recipe books, under cupboard and skirting lighting, a corner bench and table, extractor fan and a marble top only for rolling out pastry and biscuits But what is essential...... plenty of worktops and cupboards. It maybe it would be best to work out what you need to house in your kitchen and then work out what you'd need to store it all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinnamon Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Am American fridge,if you have more than 1 child to feed. Mine has been worth its weight in gold over the years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lydia Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Wouldnt be without the dishwasher and the pull out full height larder cupboard is brilliant, makes finding things so much easier. Seconded about the pull out full height larder. That and having a small, pull out drawer for my oils/vinegar/salt & pepper etc right by the hob. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Lots of work surface & decent worktops that don't scratch easily & a sink that doesn't stain easily! Forget the dishwasher - wash up - it's good exercise! I don't see the point of them unless you have a huge family. We are all too spoilt these days! I would say Pan drawers are good - as are those pull out larders if you don't have a pantry. Good lighting & lots of organisation for your cupboards. Lock & lock or similar. Forget under floor heating - stupid idea in a kitchen. Everyone knows bacteria loves warmth!! New blinds? Enjoy your new kitchen!!! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sadietoo Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Forget under floor heating - stupid idea in a kitchen. Everyone knows bacteria loves warmth!! Emma.x I wouldn't be without the underfloor heating in our kitchen...but I don't eat much off the floor so seven years on and not had a problem with the bacteria yet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted May 2, 2012 Share Posted May 2, 2012 Don't forget a sink Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saronne Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 I have most of my pans hanging from a pan rack not far from the cooker. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mercedes55 Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 I think a pan drawer sounds an excellent idea, wish I had one. We have a dishwasher, only got it last year, have to say we don't use it a great deal, but it's one of those items that people seem to believe is essential. I like to have a decent sized double sink with a draining board and I'd love to have one of those taps where you have the spray nozzle at the end that you can pull off to wash fruit and veg. Not sure how kitchen drawers are made still as we've had our kitchen a good few years. We opted to pay extra to have really thick bottoms to the drawers and they've been great, no problems with the bottoms starting to bow after a few years. We also have one cupboard that has a couple of metal baskets on runners and they are excellent too. I like the idea of lights set into the plinths of units too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Palmer Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Workspace next to your hob. Larder cupboard (ours has separate pull out shelves). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddie Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Sounds daft and boring, but why not draw a scale of yr kitchen, then cut out scale units, sinks etc, and move them about until happy, this also lets the socket arranging be in the right place!! I would love a double, or 1 plus half sink.... there is a corner in our kitchen near the sink, where the kettle etc is, and it gets very congested.... I cant afford to re do the kitchen at all, so am livng with what I've got.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iar fach goch Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Had our new kitchen about five years ago after spending months thinking about what we needed. Decided on an eye level oven and separate hob, seemed to make more sense all round, what with young children and dodgy back. Put in pan drawers under hob, and really happy with them, also put in large drawers rather than cupboards to hold all my crockery, much easier to find things rather than having to try and dig things out from the back of the cupboard. Wanted lights in plinths but one of my friends who had them advised against as they show up all the dirt on the floor! So glad I took her advice. As others have said, plenty of lights and sockets. Take your time planning, I drove my OH mad planning where I was going to keep everything and how the kitchen was going to work, but it was worth it in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
majorbloodnock Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 The kitchen planner software from Alno might be worth a squint..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 If you are planning an island, plan for electric socket. I didn't bother and its really daft but drives me mad that I can't plug the electric hand whisk in and whisk where everything else is, including the recipe. Book shelves for the cook books. I didn't but would go for underfloor heating if I had my time (and money again), we have two radiators that waste good cupboard space. How much do you really cook, sit, eat, prepare food, iron, in the kitchen? We have a little flat screen TV on a angled wall bracket that is useful if you spend a lot of time in there. Do you entertain much? We wanted an eye level oven, which we use everyday, but instead of getting a hob we got a slot in ceramic top cooker, this is great when entertaining as we have 2 full ovens and 2 small oven grills and is easy to replace. The spare ovens also double up as storage for the large ceramic dishes we use when entertaining. So this works really well but........ We planned our kitchen which does work really well for our family but we opted for granite worktops. Very expensive and not flexible. We needed to replace the cooker, which was fine, but we had to go for exactly the same size, and I couldn't have my solid fuel range, and we have had to replace the taps, twice now, so we can only have exactly the same taps, well ones that will fit the hole. I still love the granite 10 years on and it looks good as new, but you need to be happy with your design. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Space Chick Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Here are the differences I went for when I had my kitchen redone... Range cooker - my best investment ever, I LOVE it. American fridge freezer - freezers are small but the fridge is a lovely size and I love the ice cube maker (as does Purpletrees oldest two lads ) Pan drawers - make storage easier... I keep all my baking things in them aswell. A pull out larder - mine is my cocktail cabinet Small pull out drawers - these are next to my cooker and contain all my herbs and spices Sockets, sockets, sockets - never underestimate how many you need A tall cupboard - houses my mop, ironing board, iron etc A sink with a half sink aswell - can pour things down the half sink rather than dirtying dishwasher A colour changing tap - ok I got it for the "wow factor" however with a young nephew and friends with little ones, it's actually a very good health and safety feature for making sure the water isn't too hot (blue for cold, purple for warm, red for hot) I too do not have a dishwasher, OH and I wash the dishes together, and having one would have been a waste of space for us. If I had my design time over, I'd have more pan drawers and less cupboards. Have fun with it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowberry Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 When I eventually have my dream kitchen, then this is at the top of my 'must' list http://www.affordablegranite.co.uk/black-galaxy-granite.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowberry Posted May 3, 2012 Share Posted May 3, 2012 Also, food is a necessity Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jjmack Posted May 3, 2012 Author Share Posted May 3, 2012 Wow, thanks for all the fantastic ideas ..... guess what I will be doing this weekend! I like the colourful tap never seen one of those before! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
