Kitchen design advice please ? Is it too crowded ?

designerrugby

3 years ago

Hi,

This the first design we got it from local kitchen designer. Is it too crowded ?

Thinking to get white worktop and island

and units in graphite or some grey . But not 100 % sure about the colours.

I have attached small plan regarding the room plan.

Any ideas really helpful.

Many thanks

Featured Answer

rinked

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

Are you certain the kitchen designer got the right measurements? As I've been trying to recreate their design, but by doing so was left with a 110cm wide island. Aisles are about 110cm too.

With the american fridge and two side by side ovens, a peninsula would fit.

Or a longer peninsula and stacked ovens, as drawers give tons of storage space, with plenty workspace as well.

Though for looks I'd advise built in fridge (tall) and freezer (under an oven).

Or more tall units and some worktop space for breadbox, coffee machine, toaster. Leaves the peninsula free for cooking and cutting.

And by getting rid of the island/peninsula you'd have a spacious family kitchen, where multiple people can walk around, the table could be enlarged, etcetera. One oven on a freezer, one tall refridgerator, one pull out larder. Cooktop centered on two drawer units.

Notice in neither peninsula I used overhang, as overhang without stools is just an unbalanced island and a hazard. And by using shallow units you gain tons of storage space.

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Comments (33)

hedgehog99
3 years ago
It does look a bit crowded. Do you have the overhead plan of the units so we can see how much space there is around the island etc?
designerrugby
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks for the reply @hedgehog99 . Please see the attached picture.
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Ok, first of all I think we have very similar tastes because I looked at the pics you tagged in your idea books, but this layout is not efficient at all. your working triangle is non existent and I think there is way too much crowded in one corner. The island is staring out into nothing, and definitely needs to be rotated 90 degrees and I think the shape looks like something you would see in a bar. I am currently doing my own kitchen in two shades of painted cabinetry and will post my drawings and actual images, and then some images that you might like. I think the sink and DW need to be in the island. The fridge needs to be integrated to avoid this much stainless steel since you clearly like a more eclectic, non modern look, and the hood can be more elaborate. I personally think a 48" range with a dramatic hood on that back will with the island turned the correct way will be a nice focal point for your kitchen. You could also do a microwave drawer in your island, that way you only see the range from the front. Also, where is your pantry? Where are you storing food? The second image is a range hood you will probably like The third and fourth are drawings of my kitchen, and the first is a painted on painted kitchen with whimsy you might like. I will attach photos of my project on an additional feed since 4 photos is the limit.
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I love the tall units but you need to go straight to the ceiling to prevent dust and dirt settling on the top. I would put a row of small up and over cupboards along the very top as an option. Very handy for unsightly bulky items. I don't like the end open shelves by sink very dated but what you could do is a long double shelf all the way along the island with a wine racking either side for balance vertically. I think shelving each side of the sink would be better. You have a lot of cupboards but no deep drawers which are highly valued these days. Good selling point. I Like your colour suggestions... The little Greene paint company have a lovely grey so does farrow and ball. Where are you sourcing your Quartz and what flooring? Do your ovens have easy open shelf doors ..handy as they retract so don't get in the way as you take food out..Neff offer best ones. If you want a better balance of tall you could always do fridge freezer one side and pull out pantry on the other with racking. Then on sink side don't go all the way along the wall just have it as centred space so you can pull out larder doors. On your island you will need your bin as this'll be prep area? What is the room opposite tall cupboards? Need the island to look good from that side as that is what you will see. Hope of help. I'm embarking on the same thing and have spent hours and hours researching!
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Hello everyone! I would love some advice on how to design the kitchen in our new build. As you can see from the design there is a long 4 m window at the front of the house. This will be quite low and will be 50 cm high, so basically it will act a bit as a splash back. So my question is: can I fit in 4 tall cabinets in the kitchen (1 for oven- 60 cm, 2 as pantry - 60 cm each and 1 for the fridge-80 cm)? I am starting to think I need to shorten that window as I would like the keep the feel of the kitchen bright and airy with an island with seating without over crowding the space and not blocking the passage into the living room on the left? Thoughts anyone? Ps: please disregard the design suggestion on the plan, it was put down in the first draft by the architect.
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Ellie
3 years ago
If your island is only 1.4m max in lenght then you'll be fine, however it looks like your island length is closer to 2m and there is definitely not enough room for that.
designerrugby thanked Ellie
Ellie
3 years ago
Where is the door into the room?
Ellie
3 years ago
And what is the square in bottom corner near the glass doors?
designerrugby
Original Author
3 years ago
Hi Ellie, Thanks for the reply. In the first plan there is arrow saying glass doors, that's that door to go in the living room and bifold doors are to go in the garden. The square is a box room .
Neasa
3 years ago
Yeah, the island is too big and too close to the run of units. It looks like that gap is only 0.7m - which is just mad. I think the island size needs to be reduced from current 1.8 x 1.2 to around 1.4 x 1.0, and moved back to give a minimum 1m clearance all around, but ideally 1.1 or 1.2m clearance.
minnie101
3 years ago
There looks to be enough space for an island looking at this plan below. However, the island would need to be pushed towards the table and therefore the table towards the wall. You could consider cabinets just one side of the island and an overhang the other so it’s just 900mm deep. The sink layout doesn’t work though and this plan doesn’t represent the 3D images which definitely wouldn’t work?

Does the box room have to stay?
hedgehog99
3 years ago
I'm really confused - the 3d image shows a U shaped kitchen with an island but the overhead plan shows an L shape with island. Are we looking at two different plans? I'd be concerned about going with a kitchen designer who hasn't followed the usual principles of kitchen design - it feels as though they've tried to cram in as many cabinets as possible, so unless this is what you asked for, I'd walk away and find someone with more experience before going any further with this particular designer!
Ellie
3 years ago
Is the room there already? Are the bi-folds/windows fixed or can you move them? The bifold go right almost to the wall, it wouldn't leave any room if you wanted curtains pulled back (I don't have curtains/blinds on mine but some do)

You might have space for maybe....
designerrugby
Original Author
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
@hedgehog99 @minnie101 sorry. I have to clear few things. The designer who gave the 3d plans they didn't gave us the overhead plan. They just gave us the 3d plan. The overhead plan is from someone else who i asked them to do L shape kitchen. But now we changed our plan to U shape kitchen. So just for measurements I have attached the over head plan.

@Ellie @minnie101 For some personal reasons we have to built the box room in the corner .

@Ellie We ordered some bi-fold doors with integrated blinds. So we are thinking to leave the bi -fold doors without curtains. I am not sure whether we can move the doors/ windows without planning permission. Sorry . This is the first time i am planning something like this.

Could you explain about the picture bit more please. Thank you

@Neasa @Ellie Thanks for pointing out the changes about island size. Definitely i will look in to it.

This is really helpful tip .

@minnie101 It is really good idea that moving the island bit towards the wall. Thank you
hedgehog99
3 years ago
you need to get overhead plans for the u shape before we can properly comment i think? otherwise we can't see the layout and distances properly
designerrugby
Original Author
3 years ago
@hedgehog99 . Sure. I will ask the overhead plans and post them asap. Thanks
Wumi
3 years ago
I think a peninsular on a L shaped kitchen would work better than an island. I would remove upper wall cabinets on the sink wall and push back the dining table.

You’d get a large peninsular work surface for food prep/plating up. It could also house the dishwasher and dinnerware.

Green - 600mm pantry cupboard

Blue - 1000mm void for American F/F

Red - 600mm Tall oven unit

Orange - 800mm extractor hood over built in hob

Yellow - 1600mm upper wall cabinets (50mm left for filler pieces)

Purple - sink

2400mm peninsular

You could even make the pantry larger, say 800mm woth double doors and store your microwave, toaster etc in there as a breakfast station.
rinked
3 years ago
Did you request that amount of units? Is it your only storage space? Laundry too?

Are you set on the american fridge? Sink location? This the only dining area?

Aisle is too narrow, should be at least 90cm, preferably 120. Working triangle could be smaller. Overall downsized, as there are a LOT of units. What's your family size?
designerrugby
Original Author
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
@Wumi Thanks for the new design. We never thought of this peninsular one. This is really good idea. Definitely we will think about this.

We are going to get the overhead plan today . So that i can share that too.

@rinked we asked the design to fit this room with american fridge and some pantry section. So they planned like this. We got separate room for washing machine and tumble dryer. This is the only dining area we got. We are happy to change the style or location of the fridge or sink .

We are family of 4.

2 adults and 2 children.

With all your valuable advices I think it is better to leave one wall empty without any units.

So that we will have much space around the island.
Wumi
3 years ago
We’re a family of 3 and I find my American style fridge freezer invaluable! I shop less frequently, buy in bulk, cook larger meals and store them in the freezer.

Have you thought about having your sink or stove top on the island/peninsular?

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Ellie
3 years ago
I'd integrate, think it can ruin the look of a kitchen. You could get a full size fridge and freezer side by side integrated.
Ellie
3 years ago
The photo number 1 posted by wumi is a gorgeous kitchen but spoiled by the FF
Tryphic
3 years ago
You seem to have been given a huge amount of cupboard space, do you need it all. I would see if you can store everything in the lower cupboards and loose the wall cupboards completely. Do drawers rather than cupboards, they hold more and are easier to access everything. We also have a pull out larder unit and Le Mans interiors for our corner cupboards.
Kris Nocker
3 years ago
Flip some of this. If you've got that big of a kitchen with all those cupboards it can be daunting and crowded. Get an induction hob and put it on the island - they're flat so they can be used better when they're not being a hob (and they're just as responsive as gas...!). Don'e get loads of units on the wall, but perhaps get a tall unit at both sides, maybe even a tall one to house an oven, and to be honest, personally I'd also get a nice pretty built in fridge too (but that's just me).

So, if we imagine the first picture (with the U shaped kitchen), you'll have no wall units (this gives a great sense of freedom, height and space for yourself as nothing is blocking the walls - maybe add some open shelving or some cool images to the space. On the left you've still got the sink at the window, on the back wall at the right you've got the oven, then on the right you've still got your fridge. In the middle you've got your hob, this means you can cook and look out to your family/guests.

Here's another cool idea - instead of just an island, at the other side of the island you can incorporate/build in a table that is joined to the island (slightly lower level) meaning you can really interact with your guests/family etc while cooking prepping.

Laying it out like this also means you have areas of your kitchen for prep (between fridge and hob, on the island) areas for cooking (hob and the right side of the hob), directly behind you is the oven, and areas for cleaning up (right side of the hob/sink). Everything being served goes on plates etc behind you (next to the oven) - dishwasher at the left (near the sink, or on the same wall as the sink).
designerrugby
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you everyone for the replies.

Just now I am reading all these msgs. I will ask him to do more changes later on.

I asked for the peninsula design. Today they sent me one new design . Please see the attached pictures. I also attached measurements of the room. . Please ignore the placement of sink and hob. They are going to change it again. They are going to put the hob in place of sink and sink in place of hob. It is just a small miscommunication.

I am going to ask to remove the long tower which is next to the fridge. And the empty place between long oven tower and fridge is going to be a corner pantry.

They didn't gave me any over head plan yet.
rinked
3 years ago
Keep in mind you'll require about 3m width for the dining area. The stools might have to go.
designerrugby
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you @rinked . . I will ask the designer.
PRO
OnePlan
3 years ago
oh my word - change designers - the plans you have posted (original poster, DesignerRugby) are not safe ! My word ... frightened to think they are in business. Sorry, I don't usually like to critique someone else's work - but this is dreadful.
Su L
3 years ago
I think a peninsula seems to work well, hv a think about an induction hob with an integral extractor, they aren't cheap but you then don't hv that visual distraction of the extractor fan. Also think about having your wall units the same colour as your walls so they disappear. Think carefully about the hob or sink on the island, you can lose a lot of socialising space with them on the island/peninsula
dietschi
3 years ago
it's nothing to do with the layout, but those units look much too dark to me.
glendevon
3 years ago
I too think the units are far too dark and will date very quickly.

When we had our kitchen done we went to all the main companies for layout ideas. If you are not completely happy, shop around - I think I would have lost trust in this designer by now.
spookyduderino
3 years ago
I don't think the island is the problem (although the peninsula ideas people have posted look great!). To me it just looks like all those tall dark cupboards covering so much of the walls, and the oversized fridge, dominate everything and crowd out any sense of light or space. Fewer upper wall cabinets, or a lighter colour for uppers, and an integrated fridge freezer would make a huge difference.
Kris Nocker
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
We got a joint island/table. Got an induction job and skipped a hanging extractor fan to put one integrated to the island (it rises from the island). We’ve even got a pop out sockets at the side of the island (the circle thing). Got lots of photos on our Instagram
designerrugby
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you very much for all the replies . We decided to go with integrated tall fridge and freezer and I like the idea of mixing light and dark colours for units.

But i am not good at choosing the colours. So i am going to another designer to decide the colours. I will post the updated plan . . Thank you so much once again.
PRO
Katie Older Lighting Design
3 years ago
Hi, I am a lighting designer if you need help designing a scheme and specifying fittings. Kind regards, Katie

Kitchen design advice please ? Is it too crowded ?

rinked

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