Chicken bald back

[majorbloodnock]

My take is that every kitchen is a set of compromises, and that the only right answer is the one where the imperfections you have to accept are ones you don't really care about.

 

My preference is heavily towards solid wood worksurfaces, with a couple of provisos. Firstly, I use a sawmill down in West Sussex where I can pick the boards so that I get the type of wood I want with the grain I want. Given I will then make the worksurface myself, it's a very cost-effective way of getting top quality. Secondly, I use a two-pack varnish which makes the finish VERY durable, to the extent that I've never had the varnish lifting, even near the sink and even after a dozen years. The compromise I make is that even treated like this, dropping something hard on it will leave indents no matter which wood I choose. I call that character, so don't care. Others won't like the limitation.

 

An earlier post on this thread mentioned the work triangle. I agree entirely; don't make it too big otherwise you'll be walking around too much. However, if the three sides of the triangle are less than (I think) 4.5m, it'll feel cramped.

 

Something else I personally dislike is splitting the worksurfaces up too much. Rather than having a hob or cooker in the middle, I prefer to put it towards one end and have a nice long run of uninterrupted surface, which then means you're not trying to roll out pastry in a small area, and have nowhere to put the pie dish beside where you're working.

 

Something else that's a considerable compromise is the set of dimensions of most kitchen units. The standard height of a kitchen unit is perfect for the average person, but if you're particularly tall or short, it may not suit as well. Unfortunately, whilst there are things you can do to raise a worksurface a bit, you probably don't want to lower it much from standard or under-counter dishwashers, washing machines, fridges and so on won't fit.

 

As far as flooring is concerned, try as hard as you can to find a friend with what you're considering already in situ. Something not mentioned yet is how slippery it can get with a bit of grease on it; I've generally found that even with a mop and a bucket with a fairly strong solution of detergent, it's very difficult to stop lino from being slippery once some fat has got onto it. Some tiles can be awkward too, and as well as the fact china and glass will shatter if you drop them onto tiles, it's even worse if you crack one of the tiles themselves because it's the devil's own job to try to get the damaged one up and replace it.

 

Cupboards that have fancy devices for making use of corners are great if there's little alternative, but far better is if you can work your design so there's plenty of door opening to allow you to get into the corners easily. That said, if you can't then it's dead space anyway and carousels at least let you make some use of it.

 

Power sockets. However many you choose to have put in, consider doubling the number. Whilst the room is in turmoil, adding more sockets is very little hassle, but once the kitchen's finished then you really don't want to realise you haven't enough.

 

Those are the only points I can think of at the moment that don't entirely repeat what's already been said. If I think of more, I'll post again.

[The Dogmother]

My take is that every kitchen is a set of compromises, and that the only right answer is the one where the imperfections you have to accept are ones you don't really care about.

 

I'd say that that's true about life!

[majorbloodnock]

My take is that every kitchen is a set of compromises, and that the only right answer is the one where the imperfections you have to accept are ones you don't really care about.

 

I'd say that that's true about life!

Agreed!

 

Although if we're going to get philosophical whilst staying kitchen (or at least food) related, I'll opt for a quote from the Small Faces.

 

"Life is like a bowl of All-bran; you wake up every morning and it's there."

 

[Valkyrie]

 

I have a brown/black/ multi-coloured surface - trying to wipe off a tea stain is very frustrating when you find it's just the natural colour of the stone!

[Cat tails]

 

I have a brown/black/ multi-coloured surface - trying to wipe off a tea stain is very frustrating when you find it's just the natural colour of the stone!

 

On a related, but completely unrelated note:

When I was little, my mom had been scrubbing for some minutes on some 'dirt' on my belly button, when it turned out to be a mole...

[Valkyrie]

Er I did that with my son - thought it was a bit of Biccypeg on his finger. A mole. But not as bad as my grandmother scrubbing my aunt's neck with Vim because she thought she hadn't washed her neck - it was sun tan!

[CatieB]

 

Anyway an update. It's ordered!!!! Excited!!!

 

My work top was the hardest decision and ended up being a bit different. It is a laminate but it's a German laminate and not like the usual ones at all so it is made to measure and slightly thicker. Bit more expensive but nowhere near other things like granite and quartz. They do lots of different looks like the normal laminates -mine is a wood look but very rustic sort of salvaged look. My view is that it looked better quality as it isn't obvious it isn't real wood if that makes sense. But each to their own and I know that there will be people who don't like the rustic look especially as it's not a light wood. I was too concerned about damage to real things. My final decision was made on Wednesday night when I dropped a plate with such ferocity it smashed to a million pieces and across my whole room. I am too accident prone.

 

I have three corners and they are having double hinged doors for full access. YIPEE now I will be able to get to my wok and use it!

 

A large pan drawer - although going to use it for plates. A composite one and a half sink.

 

Fitting in the first week of April. I can't wait.

 

All your suggestions were amazing and as you can see taken on board and used. Thanks everyone

[Valkyrie]

It's sounding really good. No wonder you are excited. You'll have to post piccies when it's finished (says bossy old woman here! )

[Plum]

Helloo another kitchen question. We are getting there with our planning and chosen a granite worktop but what are the pros and cons of having upstands? We are tiling under the wall cupboards. Any views welcome?

 

Is yours fitted CatieB? Or are you in the middle of chaos

[Daphne]

I've never had one, but I could imagine, if like me you often find yourself decorating the kitchen wall with tomato sauce (we seem to have it at least once a week, what with OH being half Italian), that an upstand with nothing above it would not be high enough to prevent annoying saucy episodes Here in England I spend too much time removing tomato sauce from woodwork behind the cooker and in Portugal I spend time scrubbing a painted wall And before you all say it, yes I do own frying pan lids but the sauce doesn't reduce properly if its confined

 

I suppose it would be OK if you tiled down to the upstand, but personally I'm not keen on grout in the kitchen as I manage to get it filthy so quickly and its quite hard to clean. My dream kitchen would have something like glass splashbacks either down to the worksurface or down to the upstand.

 

The rented house in Portugal has granite worksurfaces - hurray They look effortlessly stylish and are easy to keep clean

[The Dogmother]

I have wooden work surfaces, no upstands, just white metro tiles up the walls - looks fine and cleans like a dream.

[Plum]

You probably don't throw tomato sauce around.

 

Daphne perhaps you can get red grout

[The Dogmother]

don't you believe it! I'm half Italian as well, so there's plenty of the stuff around.

[CatieB]

No mess, no chaos, but no new kitchen yet either It is booked for the start of April.

 

However sort of mini chaos instead. It was all booked and sorted and now the surveyor / fitter has been and said that we need to change something pretty drastic so whilst it all felt sorted, it is now far from being so and is ultimately costing my sanity and extra expense!!! We were having our Rayburn surround plastered and painted which seemed simple. but it cant be done so now we need a builder to come and knock it out and rebuild it instead. Grrr

 

I don't know the answer about the pros and cons of up stands. I am having them to match the work top and then just painted walls, no tiles. Luckily my cooking is not tomato sauce rich (hubby doesn't like tomatoes!!!!! weirdo) but I can imagine that will be a con in due course. I have in the past learnt never to have un wipeable paint.

[Plum]

Oh no that's bad I'm dreading something like that happening.

 

At the moment we have a grotty smell at times in the kitchen. OH found that the waste pipe from the sink became detached so goodness what is awaiting us under the floorboards when we get the units out. He slung bleach down which has helped.

 

Also found the new units are lower than at present so the worktop will not clear the radiator

[clucker1]

We are on the kitchen research too, doesn't it take ages?! So much to consider for initially what was such a simple job, now more of a complete new kitchen, a agh! AnywAy re upstands we have just seen large glass sheets which are instead of upstands. Advantages, not lots of bits to clean, reflects light into kitchen too. Not sure what their proper names are but they looked good.

[clucker1]

[/http://www.stoneham-kitchens.co.uk/our-range/heritage/knole-ff]link for pic of splash back behind kitchen worktop we found, it's not very clear but you can have them whatever size you wish. Unfortunately, we found this supplier, a bit different to b and q which we looked at today! They supply to the royal family Lovely lovely products.

[CatieB]

I followed that link....my units are almost identical. However my colour is different. In some lights it looks olive, sage, beige or grey! Sounds like a combat material

 

Just remembered, I have a glass sheet like that behind my cooker and the work top up stands everywhere else. The glass sheets are amazing but too complicated for me as the choice of colours was In the hundreds. I have gone for a neutral silvery grey. They even had fluorescents.

[Plum]

Wow curvy units, and glass worktop how swish!

[Valkyrie]

Glass worktops!! Wouldn't last 5 minutes here - thankfully the multi-coloured granite hides everything including tiny chips!

[Grandmashazzie]

I have granite up stands and no tiling.I think it keeps walls clean and stops water at sink area seeping down back of unit.

[CatieB]

Definately not glass work tops, just one square sheet behind the cooker- nothing so fancy for the worlds most accident prone user!!!

[Valkyrie]

We have tiling. The grout is slightly discoloured around the back of the sink. As for the cooker, it has a glass hood to protect the tiles behind (cute harvest mice and poppy scene). But even so sometimes it gets splattered behind the screen - and I have often wondered how?! Nothing that Flash with febreeze can't sort out or Domestos. But for general use the lavender Method is nice and makes the tiles shiny. For the granite I use the liquid Astonish granite stuff. That is brilliant and I know it sounds daft but it makes the granite feel soft to touch. Then I have to buff it where I've lovingly wiped my fingers all over it.

My neighbour has granite at the back of her cooker - no glass hood screen - and hers always looks like a designer kitchen. Don't know how she does it. She's a brilliant cook - Italian hubby so lots of tomato cook ups. Here even baked beans seem to go flying.

[bluekarin]

For the granite I use the liquid Astonish granite stuff. That is brilliant and I know it sounds daft but it makes the granite feel soft to touch. Then I have to buff it where I've lovingly wiped my fingers all over it.

 

Glad it's not just me When I have cleaned the bathroom basin, which is a lovely (and I do mean lovely, not being sarky at all) shade of green and probably hails from the 70's, it has a sort of soft feel to it and is super shiny. I just love it

[Plum]

So you think if I polish it I might get to love my burgundy bathroom basin That's next years project.

 

So where do you get the Astonish?