New Kitchen planning

[sprintcyclist]

I'm planning on getting a new kitchen installed, I do most of the cooking and washing here.
This kitchen has never felt right to me, it is 25+ years old, so is reasonably due for a change.
We have no dishwasher, the oven is a stand alone style that fits into a 'gap' in the bench
It is a very small kitchen, feels too 'closed in' and is old yellowy/brown colours.
We want to brighten, lighten and open it up. Jazz it up.

The new design by the kitchen expert looks very good. They have a great reputation, put in about 15 kitchens every week.
There are a few areas I am not happy with. We'll probably alter a few things but basically do what he thinks.
We will lose working bench space - the breakfast bar. That is my main problem.
We will have to change how we manage our dirty dishes, utensils etc to allow for this.

If we clear the dishes after every meal, that will give us more space.
A dishwasher might be a good idea, how does everyone here use their dishwashers?
Do you rinse them after every meal and stack them on the machine?

[Valkie]

Kitchens are very personal things.

I have rebuilt 3 kitchens over the years
My father's, my sister's and mine own.

Each time I have been very careful to not just build what I thought was best, but to discuss how the person using the kitchen wants to do it.

If you need lots of bench space, build the kitchen around bench space.
If you cater for a lot of people, you will need larger washing facilities.
If you eat in the kitchen you will need an island.

It's also quite possible to multitask some parts of a kitchen is space is tight.
A benchtop that folds down over the sink or a stovetop that covers the stove while preparing will give you more room.

But the biggest benifit is how the drawers and pantry is set up.
A good layout is worth it's weight in gold.
Large deep drawers down low, smaller more shallow up high.
Use the space above with cupboards, corner cupboards can be better utilised with rotary shelving.

There are some brilliant devices for smaller pantries that give you easier access and allow more storage, but you need to know what you are doing when setting up.

If you are not happy with any part, don't live with it.
It's like an itchy sore, you just cannot get used to it.
Kitchens are not cheap, next to the bathroom, they are the most expensive work you can have done.
Get it right, and you will enjoy it for years.
Get it wrong, and there will be another kitchen in your future.

I did my kitchen myself 12 years ago.
It's still going strong and the little missus is happy with it.
But since I installed it, there have been quite a few innovations that were not available when I built.
Perhaps I'll have a do over sometime in the future.

[Black Orchid]

I think bench space is the most important aspect of a kitchen. I wouldn't compromise and lose any if the kitchen is small to begin with.

Just because this guy is good doesn't mean he is good for you. I would see others and compare their designs to see what is right for you. Most kitchen design places will whip up a design for free.

I rinse all the plates and put them in the dishwasher after every meal because I only turn it on about once a week. I wash everything else by hand still.

[sprintcyclist]

Thanks, that is exactly where my thinking is.

' .......... bench space is the most important aspect of a kitchen ........... '

We spend an enormous time in our planning. Took us a year to design our deck.
The benefit is, we end up with a successful design.

And this is the info I wanted to know
' ................. rinse all the plates and put them in the dishwasher after every meal because I only turn it on about once a week .................'


As it is, our kitchen 'works' well enough.
If we spend $20K it has to be a vast improvement in almost areas.
Else we might just modify what we have and live with that.

[sprintcyclist]

............ It's also quite possible to multitask some parts of a kitchen is space is tight.
A benchtop that folds down over the sink or a stovetop that covers the stove while preparing will give you more room.

But the biggest benefit is how the drawers and pantry is set up.
A good layout is worth it's weight in gold.
Large deep drawers down low, smaller more shallow up high.
Use the space above with cupboards, corner cupboards can be better utilised with rotary shelving.

There are some brilliant devices for smaller pantries that give you easier access and allow more storage, but you need to know what you are doing when setting up. ...............

Thanks Valkie

[brian ross]

Don't opt for cupboards. Drawers leave no empty, hard to get spaces. They open easily and all your crockery is displayed/incredients.

[sprintcyclist]

[sprintcyclist]

[sprintcyclist]

[Black Orchid]

Looks good Sprint.