Designing a kitchen for cooking from scratch
Hi! I hope no-one minds me posting this here ... I know it's not really 'recipes'!
We're just designing a new kitchen - the old one is completely falling to pieces, so it is a 'rip everything out and start againh' job. It's a medium-sized, but narrow u-shaped kitchen opening into a dining area. As a regular box-customer I cook from scratch using lots of veg nearly every day of the week, for myself and husband, plus 2 young children (3year old and nearly one).
Many of the kitchen designers I've spoken to don't seem to be very used to people wanting to really cook in their kitchens! And definitely don't expect to provide solutions to things like how to store and prep muddy veg efficiently.
So, I'm wanting to ask like-minded cooks if anyone has any hints and tips on things to do, or avoid doing, in designing the new one. What do you most hate and love about your kitchen? What would you do differently if you could design it from scratch? All comments welcome! Thanks
Cathy
We're just designing a new kitchen - the old one is completely falling to pieces, so it is a 'rip everything out and start againh' job. It's a medium-sized, but narrow u-shaped kitchen opening into a dining area. As a regular box-customer I cook from scratch using lots of veg nearly every day of the week, for myself and husband, plus 2 young children (3year old and nearly one).
Many of the kitchen designers I've spoken to don't seem to be very used to people wanting to really cook in their kitchens! And definitely don't expect to provide solutions to things like how to store and prep muddy veg efficiently.
So, I'm wanting to ask like-minded cooks if anyone has any hints and tips on things to do, or avoid doing, in designing the new one. What do you most hate and love about your kitchen? What would you do differently if you could design it from scratch? All comments welcome! Thanks
Cathy
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Kirsty Hale on
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Hi Cathy, the best thing I ever did was install 2 really big stainless steel sinks - the biggest I could find. I am still jealous of my mum's old English Rose double sink unit circa 1950, but it's the next best thing! Great for washing really muddy veg in one then rinsing off in the other. Also go for more storage than you think you will ever need! I put in what I thought were enough cupboards, then realised I needed more. Luckily the nice kitchen company were great at accommodating this. I also went for a simple classic style. Very tempting to go ultra modern with all the gadgets, but after 5 years I still love the traditional wooden cupboards and it will look good in another 20 years time. Two ovens are also really useful if you have room, a fan one but also a traditional one if you do a lot of baking.
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Permalink Reply by Zephyr on -
Hi Cathy. Sink, have it central with work space either side, if possible somewhere there is a window / nice view, you spend time there make it quality time, smiles. Split hob and oven is good, esp if you can see into oven, if oven is low you get a rush of hot air in your face as you open it, and it's more difficult to see whats cooking. You need clear space either side of the hob too when juggling a lot of cooking. If you don't have room for a double oven a large slow cooker is a handy extra, you can cook the christmas pud in it leaving the stove free and they are economical for one pot meals. Tray slots etc are a waste of space go for max cupboard space. If you have tall wall cupboards make sure they are deep enough for bulky items you use infrequently.
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Permalink Reply by Cathy Dalton on -
Thank you both for taking the time to reply- that's really helpful, and confirms some things I was wondering about, as well as giving me new thoughts. Thank you!
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Permalink Reply by Nathalie Marshall on
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We're wondering if we wouldn't have been better off with more cupboard space and no dishwasher....
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Permalink Reply by Cathy Dalton on
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Thanks for the comment - Suspect that my husband would refuse to sign the cheques if we weren't going to have a dishwasher! Fortunately, I think we've managed to incorporate more than enough cupboard space and still keep the dishwasher as well!
Design now more or less finalised- building starts in 4 weeks time, I can't wait!
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Permalink Reply by victoria whittard on -
Hi Cathy, I am going through a similar process after my dishwasher caught fire and damaged my kitchen! I have read with interest the comments and replies. I have been investigating replacing my gas hob and am going to go for induction this time around - it doesn't get hot to touch so safer for children and gives you real control over the heat when cooking. I am also going to incorporate lots of pan drawers as I loved these last time and couldnt do without them - they are so handy much better than dragging heavy gadgets out of the back of cupboards. I love kitchen gadgets and have machines for almost everything - soup making, ice cream, pannini etc. Not a really catchy topic when thinking about kitchens but I have also been focussing on ensuring that I incorporate the right number of bins - for peelings, cardboard, plastics etc Looking forward to hearing how you get on with your plans.
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Permalink Reply by Anna Colquhoun on -
Hi Cathy, I agree with all the other comments - especially having a really big and/or multiple sinks, separate hob and ovens, and lots of work space either side of both stove and sinks. I would add that having a few open shelves/cupboards (out of reach of little hands) is really useful for all those things you use all the time (salt, pepper, oil, mortar & pestle, sugar, favourite pans, dishes etc) so they're easy to access but not taking up precious space on your working areas. Also, I hate bins hidden under lids or in cupboards - stinky, hard to reach with hands full of rubbish, and not emptied often enough! I have two simple tubs which can move round the kitchen to where needed most - easy to use and to empty. But I wish I'd put in more space for recycling. Now that the council takes EVERYTHING we need a huge space to collect all the plastic, glass, card etc. Finally, if you can, I think having the stove on an island or jetty is nicer than against the wall. When cooking at the stove I'm facing others in the room rather than having my back to them. Good luck with it all! Anna
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