Kitchen layout

[RevHappy]

Legend83 said:

RevHappy said:

Kids and pets are also not great with range cookers, you really need to love the concept and ideally have had one before so you know what your in for.

What is your experience?

Experience with range cookers, mostly holiday homes, the odd relatives homes. But as a designer it's my job to ensure clients are fully informed. If they really want one that's great as long as they know the pit falls. Clients on there second or third decent kitchen rarely go back to them.

[singlecoil]

I'm not aware of any pitfalls with range cookers, I know many people who have them, AGAs and other types, and they all like them.

[dmsims]

singlecoil said:

I'm not aware of any pitfalls with range cookers, I know many people who have them, AGAs and other types, and they all like them.

Hmm I had always thought that range cookers and AGA's (which are only good for drying clothes on) were different things ?

[singlecoil]

dmsims said:

singlecoil said:

I'm not aware of any pitfalls with range cookers, I know many people who have them, AGAs and other types, and they all like them.

Hmm I had always thought that range cookers and AGA's (which are only good for drying clothes on) were different things ?

AGA themselves describe their product as a range cooker.

http://www.agaliving.com/aga-range-cookers/range-c...

My wife has done a lot of cooking on AGAs and would love to have one herself. Our current kitchen is too small to make having one practical but some day it may well happen.

[craig1912]

Had a range cooker for 8 years and love it. No issues with kids or pets either. Would have another one although next time maybe induction hobs rather than gas.

[Flip Martian]

Someone mentioned the unit over the sink being awkward and I would agree. Having looked at plenty of houses over the years, most kitchens leave space around and over the sink and draining board - and to be honest, if anyone is standing at a sink for even 20 seconds its nice to have it in front of a window to look out of/provide natural light. Having a cupboard over the sink might be ok if you're both short, I suppose.

Likewise be aware of hoods/cupboards over the cooker and sharp edges. I've banged my head on our extractor hood many times! Nice big kitchen space though.

[Neil - YVM]

RevHappy said:

Kids and pets are also not great with range cookers, you really need to love the concept and ideally have had one before so you know what your in for.

I dont understand this comment.
Range cookers are just larger free standing cookers, no better or worse with kids or doogs.
The OP's drawing shows a Rangemaster oven. There are drawbacks with the size of the ovens tending to be small compared to conventional ovens.
If you mean Aga's then to some extent I agree, as they tend to keep fairly hot. Some people love them.

[RevHappy]

Neil - YVM said:

RevHappy said:

Kids and pets are also not great with range cookers, you really need to love the concept and ideally have had one before so you know what your in for.

I dont understand this comment.
Range cookers are just larger free standing cookers, no better or worse with kids or doogs.
The OP's drawing shows a Rangemaster oven. There are drawbacks with the size of the ovens tending to be small compared to conventional ovens.
If you mean Aga's then to some extent I agree, as they tend to keep fairly hot. Some people love them.

The same issue can be with any low / under counter oven, the inside of the oven door even allowing for a bit of cooling would be a good 160 plus. Small kids and pet can take more than a passing interest in anything at their height. Built in oven higher up don't have this issue and far safer.

Edited by RevHappy on Friday 31st July 20:41

[Harry Flashman]

I think that when we have kids, I shall take a similar approach that my parents did.

If the little monsters get through being watched whilst I'm cooking and manage to burn themselves, they'll learn not to do it again.

[Legend83]

Harry Flashman said:

I think that when we have kids, I shall take a similar approach that my parents did.

If the little monsters get through being watched whilst I'm cooking and manage to burn themselves, they'll learn not to do it again.

We are fairly lucky in that our two are pretty good when it comes to stuff like not running across the road, touching hot things, playing in the kitchen when cooking is going on etc.

Thanks for all the responses to date. Two things to mention:

1. We are off to Howdens on Thursday to assess the bargain basement end of kitchen design - we like their Tewkesbury units and potentially could complement these with more expensive laminate worktops and appliances.

2. We have applied for a NMA to have a side access door in the kitchen because we think we will regret just having the bi-folds / french doors as the only way to access the back - main issues would be dealing with the bins weekly, plus the need for a cat-flap.

[Legend83]

Wozy68 said:

OP, do you mind I ask what the general cost was for the different designs, and does the prices include install. Not trying to pry but more from a proffesional point of view. If you prefer not too, no probs. It was just an interest.

Personally. I absolutly hate kitchen designs where a S/steel chimney extractor has wall cabinets virtually butting up to it. (I'd assume this isnt a bespoke kitchen company?) Sometimes it can't be helped, but generally I feel its a design no no, there are far better options, and if they have to be like that, its better to keep some distance from the extractor to the cabinets.

Wozy - apologies I never did answer your question. The quote for the first option was around £19k including appliance but not fitting. The second option is still a moving target but is likely to be in the region of £20k.

Re: the chimney hood - would it be better to make it a 600mm one rather than the 1000mm one that is currently included to give that gap?

[Legend83]

Howdens design:







The problem I have is I much prefer the design with a butler sink as in the first render we had below BUT our worktops are laminate which is a big no no with butler and belfast sinks. Might have to consider stone on the wall worktop run to accommodate sink and keep wood laminate for island:

[silverous]

Apologies in advance if I've missed it in the above, but have you considered integrated bins? We have them but they are under a work area which is a pain - as I'm chopping up food the missus is emptying dysons and stuff into it which isn't great ! They are a very nice way of concealing bins....

[Legend83]

silverous said:

Apologies in advance if I've missed it in the above, but have you considered integrated bins? We have them but they are under a work area which is a pain - as I'm chopping up food the missus is emptying dysons and stuff into it which isn't great ! They are a very nice way of concealing bins....

Hi, good question.

The run along the wall goes (from left to right):

70/30 FF
Larder
Under counter freezer
Pan / Cutlery drawers
Range
Pan / Cutlery drawers
Integrated bins
Sink
Dishwasher
Larder
Broom / Ironing Board cupboard

I think in terms of kitchen working it flows quite well.

[singlecoil]

Legend83 said:

Howdens design:

I should imagine that is substantially cheaper.

On the sink run I concur with Wozy, those wall units should not be so close to the extractor.

If you are wondering what the extra panels running to the ground on the sink units are there for, it's because the designer needs the extra 40mm to make the dimensions work out. If you want to have them, get them cut off at the level of the bottom of the base units, they look daft like that.

[dmsims]

I simply do not see 20K in that kitchen

[mondeoman]

Legend83 said:

Wozy - apologies I never did answer your question. The quote for the first option was around £19k including appliance but not fitting. The second option is still a moving target but is likely to be in the region of £20k.

Re: the chimney hood - would it be better to make it a 600mm one rather than the 1000mm one that is currently included to give that gap?

£20k???
WTF

[singlecoil]

Legend83 said:

Re: the chimney hood - would it be better to make it a 600mm one rather than the 1000mm one that is currently included to give that gap?

I missed that question until someone quoted it. Keep the wide hood, and make the wall units a bit narrower. 100mm less on the wall units would give you a 50mm gap each side, could make the wall units narrower still at the cost of less storage sapce.

[Neil - YVM]

mondeoman said:

Legend83 said:

Wozy - apologies I never did answer your question. The quote for the first option was around £19k including appliance but not fitting. The second option is still a moving target but is likely to be in the region of £20k.

Re: the chimney hood - would it be better to make it a 600mm one rather than the 1000mm one that is currently included to give that gap?

£20k???
WTF

This kitchen could easily be £20k.

An induction range will be £1.5- £4k alone, plus all the other appliances, if using quality brands, then £5k +
Assuming it will have a stone worktop of some type, the will be another £4-7K
Units - inframe, with some bespoke units, will be £5-8K.
plus installation, electrics, flooring, wall tiling.

[Legend83]

singlecoil said:

I missed that question until someone quoted it. Keep the wide hood, and make the wall units a bit narrower. 100mm less on the wall units would give you a 50mm gap each side, could make the wall units narrower still at the cost of less storage sapce.

SC - thanks for the comments. Agree with your point on cutting back the panels on the plinth to achieve a more streamlined look. Re: extractor - the problem is the Howden's units are standard size I think so might be easier just to buy a 900mm extractor instead (and actually that size extractor seems to give us more choice).