kitchen design.......need tips/advise

Zxc01

Hi All

Not sure if this is in the right place, mods move if appropriate.

We are going to be ordering our kitchen soon was wondering could people give any advise on the kitchen design. I pretty much have it designed including an island....but want to make sure I have thought of everything, storage wise.....well as much as possible

For example:

• I need a press that is high for cereal boxes

• I want the microwave to be housed in a press so it wont be seen or on the counter.....

• I have one press with glass in it to store fancy glasses etc
• Socket in the island

Is there anything in your kitchen your not happy with and would love to change or would have done differently

I have a seperate utility and larder

Tks

Vanbis

Zxc01 wrote: »

Hi All

Not sure if this is in the right place, mods move if appropriate.

We are going to be ordering our kitchen soon was wondering could people give any advise on the kitchen design. I pretty much have it designed including an island....but want to make sure I have thought of everything, storage wise.....well as much as possible

For example:

• I need a press that is high for cereal boxes

• I want the microwave to be housed in a press so it wont be seen or on the counter.....

• I have one press with glass in it to store fancy glasses etc
• Socket in the island

Is there anything in your kitchen your not happy with and would love to change or would have done differently

I have a seperate utility and larder

Tks

The light from outside is important in your kitchen so the island you have is in line or direct with sunlight through a window?

Also i would stress that you meet the fitter before he starts building or fitting your kitchen. I have seeing it first hand and also have heard through a few people that it never turns out the way it was designed etc.

I was speaking to a kitchen fitter of a well know company in Dublin and he said this was the best advice he could give.

dandruff_ie

hi

looks like you have it all planned out if I were you i would visit as many kitchen showrooms as you can and tell them you have nothing in mind they should all give you a printout with loads of new and exciting ideas

windows doors waste pipes all play a big part :rolleyes:

Zxc01

Vanbis good idea about meeting the fitter, I would never thought of doing that. I think I am going to take a day off work the day its being fitted.

we have a kitchen with the dining table in it...like no seperate dining room and we are blessed with plenty of light as we have a wall of glass...south facing so lots of natural light.

Pinky123

Hiya,

Ask your supplier if they are putting a gas stay hinge on door in front of microwave, it is a smooth action hinge that keeps the door open while micro is in use. Also if they can give you one that slides up instead of out you won't be knocking off it.

For the cereal boxs just ask your fitter to move up one of the shelves in a unit to facilitate height of boxs.

If you have a spare cupboard ( 350mm to 600mm ) consider having a bin fitted internally.

If your budget runs to it have a good quality steel carousel fitted to any corner cupboard you have.

Ask fitter what type of joints he will be using on your worktop, try to avoid metal strips if you can.

Strip lights under wall units are great and your pelmet will hid them

Ask fitter to make sure all cut edges on your kicker are sealed and that he then uses clear silicone to seal them to the floor, it helps prevent water damage to kickers

If it is a wooden kitchen ask that all seen gables are made using veneer as opposed to vinyl as these will age with your kitchen.

Finally, ask your supplier to provide you with detailed drawings and floor plans when you place your order and copies of any changes made once they have done their site measurements. This way you can be sure that you will be getting what you ordered

HTH

Vanbis

Zxc01 wrote: »

Vanbis good idea about meeting the fitter, I would never thought of doing that. I think I am going to take a day off work the day its being fitted.

I think its very important you meet the Fitter/Carpenter and make sure you are there on the day as well. We got a kitchen a few years back and Fitters/Carpenters only saw the design that morning and within a couple of minutes he saw faults with it straight away and what would and wouldn't work.

Good luck.

Zxc01

wow pinky

That is some list!!

• right got the one about the cereal boxes. will do that.

• the bin one, actually that is a bit of a problem with us. I was going to buy two new stainless steel pedal bins (big ones), one for recycling and one for regular rubbish and put them under the lip of the island. I would love to have them integrated into the kitchen but don't want the crappy small bins that dont hold anything. They look good but don't function!! in my opinion. Will go home and measure my bin and see about your idea.
• Going to do the steel carousel I think, I will see
• "Ask fitter what type of joints he will be using on your worktop, try to avoid metal strips if you can.".... a very good point!!
• I am going to put strip lights under my presses, above the work top....not sure if I am explaining this right!!!
• "Ask fitter to make sure all cut edges on your kicker are sealed and that he then uses clear silicone to seal them to the floor, it helps prevent water damage to kickers ".....good point, will do
• "If it is a wooden kitchen ask that all seen gables are made using veneer as opposed to vinyl as these will age with your kitchen." its real wood wallnut,
• "Finally, ask your supplier to provide you with detailed drawings and floor plans when you place your order and copies of any changes made once they have done their site measurements. This way you can be sure that you will be getting what you ordered "...another good point

I would say wise words of experience!!

Thanks a million!!

Zxc01

Actually my mum has her microwave that way....must do that

Zxc01

I would be very interested to see what solutions people have for bins in their kitchens??

Mike2006

I actually prefer 2 smaller bins than larger ones because it forces you to empty the bin more regularly and therefore reduces the smell from the bin..

+1 for the bin located in a press. Pull out press with bins stored inside..

Mike.

Zxc01

Thanks Mike2006

I like the idea of a pull out press!! I might think about that a bit......I am good with my rubbish....at the moment I only empty is once a week and it never smells.....still think I would like the bigger bins.....thanks for your advise....:D

Pinky123

Hiya
Me again,
Ask your supplier if they deal with Frank Flannagan Fittings. They do a fantastic double bin called the Big Bio, i have one in my island and it is brill. Am a freelance kitchen designer so if you need any advice on different products just ask

Pinky

Lobsterlady

Pinky123 wrote: »

Hiya
Me again,
Ask your supplier if they deal with Frank Flannagan Fittings. They do a fantastic double bin called the Big Bio, i have one in my island and it is brill. Am a freelance kitchen designer so if you need any advice on different products just ask

Pinky

Thumbs up for the Big Bio too. We have one installed under the counter. Plenty of room in them, and there is a lid on them that retracts as you pull out the bin to use, and covers over again as you close it away.

Zxc01

Thanks pinky and lobster lady

I just googled the bin and it looks like it could be a runner but i need to see how big they are in comparrisson to the one I have at the mo

"36 to 64 litre capacity "

http://www.fff.ie/home/products_details/big-bio-1

All the advise has been really helpful

fm

http://www.fff.ie/home/products_details/tandembox-bin

these ones are better,there are more options with capacity and widths.they are integrated and come on blum runner systems.

Zxc01

hmmmmmm.......I really need to think about the bin options.....I think one of these we will go for.....so good advise

Thanks a mil

Zxc01

fm
actually I am looking at both now and arent they both built in
I cant see the difference is it that one has a surround unit and the other one doesnt??
[IMG]file:///C:/DOCUME%7E1/JMCFAD%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-4.png[/IMG]

fm

the big bio operates by you opening the door and then you pull out the bin,the other blum tandem box one is attached to the inside of the door so you just pull open the door and bin together.both systems use the same bins made by wesco,but use different running systems.the big bio has ball bearing runners while the one i showed you uses blum soft close tandem box runners-same as blum kitchen drawers-there is a huge difference in quality

Zxc01

Right....thanks a million FM.....you have been very helpful

i am trying to think now did I have any other kitchen problems....I needed advise on

dresstoimpress

Another piece of advice,
decide now if/where your having a tv so you can hide all the wires behind the wall

Pinky123

Me again,
Would defo recommend any of the Frank Flannagan products ( have been dealing with them for over 10 years ). Just one bit of advice, try not to have bin attached to door of the unit, keep your door on independent hinges and your bin on its own runners.
This way if you ever decide to move the bin its no problem as its just a matter of taking out the internal runners and it also means less weight for the bin runners to carry which will hopefully mean you will get a longer life outta it.

mel o

I have my gorgeous new kitchen about 6 months now and it's nearly 100% perfect but here's my list of loves and "****, I should have thought of that":
I had a full year to think through my kitchen so I thought about pretty much everything. I have a framed kitchen and a man made it for me so I got exactly what I asked for. I completely love it, it's the kitchen of my dreams!

Loves:

*The doors of all the presses open all the way back - great for when you're unloading the dishwasher etc
* Integrated bins- I have a door that pulls out like a drawer and there are 2 IKEA bins inside, one for rubbish, one for green bin. They have to be emptied about every 2-3 days, green bin more often.
* Larder press - on the recommendation of the man who made my kitchen, I have a press that has 3 shelves that have the inside scooped out of them,if that makes sense. I initially thought it would be a total waste of space but it's the best design ever- you can see everything and put your hand on everything instantly. I store all my food in there apart from biscuits, bread and cereal. He made a spice rack for the door of it too.
* Loads of drawers - I have mostly drawers under the counters. I have a wide deep one for pots, with an ikea rack for holding the pot lids which is the best thing ever. Then there's another one above it, not quite as deep for the frying pans. And above that, narrower again is the utensil drawer.
*Island with the sink in it - agonised over this cos had good and bad reviews from people but I absolutely love it. I have a little lip on the room side of the island (making it two-tier IYKWIM) so that you don't see the mess at the sink when you're sitting at the table.
*I love my Fisher and Paykel fridge to death. This was another thig I agonised over cos there's no ice on the door of the fridge whick I thought I'd miss.
*Eye level oven - love it.


Wish I'd thought of.....
* I have LOADS of baking tins/ trays/ bun and muffin tins etc, they easily fill a press. I wish I'd gotten him to make vertical dividers in one of the high overhead presses (over the ovens and fridge) so that I could store them vertically instead of having to climb up on a chair to get them cos otherwise they'd all fall out.
* I got a steam oven, very expensive, cos I thought I'd be sorry afterwards if I didn't get it. I only use it to make rice (it makes lovely steamed rice) but that's it. I should have thought about how I'd actually use it before jumping into it.

I'd suggest you make a list of EVERYTHING you currently store in your kitchen and whether its current storage solution works or not. A previous poster recommended a steel carousel - I had one in my old kitchen and hated it. Everything fell off it and when it was full, it was heavy to turn. Horses for courses....

Zxc01

Mel o your full of advise......thanks
We are on the same page with alot of stuff.
I like drawers also, we have loads of them planning using them for pots pans baking stuff tubberware and food stuff jars etc....
i would not be brave enough to have a sink in the island but I do like baking so I have a large island with plugs in it for mixer etc....
I also have two single eye level ovens......so excited about them.....dinner in one and brown bread in the other.......make my life complete....lol....sad I know.

I also have bought a F& P fridge freezer, E522S...its just so lovely to look at.....functional also alot winder than normal fridge freezer

Zxc01

Well thanks to al your advise everyone.....i ordered my kitchen last night.....i will be ready in 4 weeks for fitting...............so fregging excited......Its a weight off my mind now that we have 50% paid......Once I get the date of fitting I will book 2 days off.!!!......Roll on 4 weeks!:D

mel o

Congrats, hope you're really happy with it:D