We have a U shaped kitchen. On one long side, theres: oven with inbuilt micrwave oven, then stove with huge range, then bench with double powerpoint.
On short side is the double sink (with window above)
Then next long side, double powerpoint then long bench space. Bench is stone.
Opposite the sick is the wall with fridge and pantry.
What I like:
Glass splashback. I hate tiles (and grout), so this is great. You can get different colors, so if you want to update the kitchen cheaply, just change the splashback and the cupboard handles!
Lots of space.
Lots of storage space
The tap is an extendable hose - great for cleaning chopping blocks.
There are deep drawers under the stove wear we store the pots and pans - love it being in a drawer, where I don't have to bend down to much.
The range has an automatic sensor for steam.smoke and increases with need.
It's open plan with dining area
One of the most important things for me is that the area where you stand to prepare meals is not where the cutlery drawers are. It drives me insane when you're standing there chopping things and someone wants to get into the drawers. Mum has a kitchen island with a sink next to the drawers. It is the worst design - the spare bench space is above the drawers and people are trying to either get into the drawers or the sink
What I don't like:
Oven is too small. Would like 2 ovens, one on top of each other
Not enough powerpoints - for coffee machine, griller, micorwave, toaster, kettle etc
It came with the microwave, but we use our own, so it takes up bench space and powerpoint.
Wow it sounds like there are some beautiful kitchens between us all (and in our imaginations).
Kim, we are planning an island bench on wheels but never considered the powerpoint situation. Thanks for the heads up. The splash back sounds great and i'll look out for the oven you mentioned.
I'll be extending our kitchen into the family meals area that isn't used because of an extension. I just want a fully functional place for me to cook for my family and where they can also sit and be comfy, discuss their day (when their old enough) and enjoy the food i prepare for them.
The guys can have their sheds we can have our kitchens
our kitchen is awful - dark brown laminate cupboards, ORANGE benchtops (matched by the lime green in the laundry - and the red toilet...)
it lacks storage space for everything. we're getting a new one - when the shed goes up (which will likely have a kitchenette so we can still eat while the kitchen is being done - and so i can kick DH and his mates out there lol)
i think i'm going to push for all drawers - i'm sick on not being able to get to things!
want a narrow cupboard with lots of shelves for appliances so they're easy to access - not one behind another kinda thing
have a six burner gas cooktop, rangehood and electric stove.
apart from that - well, i have the panels to assemble it (bought for a previous house) - everything else is still up in the air. we've talked about turning the windows into french door kinda things so we can pass food/drinks outside to the bbq area we have out there. not sure - have to check on the expense. there is no major remodelling - just changing the windows over....
My kitchen is fabulous - my DH made it entirely himself. It has solid American Oak benchtops on one side and granite on the other, a nice shiny oven and glass splashbacks. But the best design feature is that it has NO CUPBOARDS - even the under sink part is a drawer and it is fantastic. I have two shallow drawers next to my oven for all my spices and utensils so I have nothing clogging up my benchtops.
Seriously, all drawers with good quality, 100%-opening drawer runners are the bomb.
I'm with Rory - drawers are the BEST. Especially the depth that takes spices.
Think seriously about cabinetry colour. We did our kitchen 8 years ago - I tossed up beween timber or white laminate for ages and chose the timber with black granite-look laminex. We moved a few years ago and did another kitchen and this time did white laminate and "real granite". I loved the white heaps more - it just always looks clean and bright and fresh. We have moved back to the house with the timber laminate house now and I miss my gorgeous white kitchen I have never seen a white kitchen that doesn't look "classy".
ETA - Also if you like to have things on your benchtop think about having deeper benches. I think the standard is 600 which is not that deep if you like to have a cook book or utensils always at the back of the bench. We have 2 long benches in our kitchen and one is the standard 600 but the one on which we do our preparation is 700 deep.
Last edited by anney; October 5th, 2009 at 07:37 PM.
We're building soon, and I've spent hours and hours and HOURS working on my kitchen I used to work for a cabinetmaker, so got lots of insider tips as well
*SABA benchtops - its a homogenous acrylic, manufactured in one single piece, so you don't have any lines or cracks for germs. It'll also be used for the splashbacks - again, no cracks. Its the same quality as Corian, at 10% of the price! In fact, its only very slightly more expensive than regular Laminex tops, so we'll be using it in the bathrooms and laundry as well
*Hettich pull out pantry - I can't remember what model it is, but its long and skinny, and you can pull it completely out and sit it long ways against the next cupboards/wall, depending on where you place it. So you can have a full sized pantry taking up the size of a broom cupboard!
*Soft close hinges on everything - These are the ones that catch BEFORE the drawer/door slams, and slowly guide themselves in, to prevent damage caused by angry housewives
*Two door dishwasher - because I'm sick of doing the dishes
*2 ovens - I definitely need more than a standard oven, but not ALL the time, so this way I'm not using up unneccessary energy.
*Pigeon pair fridges - so I can buy a decent amount of meat in bulk, and still make meals in advance!
*NOT all drawers - Don't get me wrong, as many drawers as possible is great, but by putting drawers EVERYWHERE you can actually have a fair amount of dead space at the back of your cupboards. We're looking at Lazy Susans, or Hettich LS style pull out shelves, as they actually sit in like a shelf would in the corner, except you can pull them all the way out, so everythings still accessible.
Caesarstone benchtops in Ivory
Other benchtops in stainless steel
Splashback (curved so there's no hard edge) in stainless steel
Drawers everywhere - no cupboards
An under sink drawer with little compartments to put washing up liquid and other bits n bobs in
An appliance cupboard to hideaway the kettle/toaster with a couple of shelves for mugs
A herb/condiment pull-out thingy
A pantry with shelves
Most of kitchen will be white except for pantry and a few panels in timber laminate for contrast
Plan on adding a little more colour by painting wall above splashback in a subdued green and adding stools in similar colour for breakfast bar.
(Went quite conservative because we may be selling in near future but didn't want totally white kitchen)
Now, I'd advise against a pull-out pantry. I've got one of those at the moment and it sucks. Maybe ours is just too small but we end up piling tins on tins and you actually can't see what you've got.
Registered User
I have never seen a white kitchen that doesn't look "classy".
I used to work for a cabinetmaker, so got lots of insider tips as well
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks