Kitchen re-model

[pct001wine]

Mrs Wine and I are looking to get our kitchen gutted and a new one installed.  It's really old and unworkable (the kitchen, not Mrs Wine )  (i.e. we get in each others way, no dishwasher, limited storage etc.).  Has anyone done similar and are willing to share their experiences ?   We're getting some quotes - and we have our own ideas (not exactly the same as each other, but close enough) - but would love some ideas from the CS team.

What's ultra-important to you in a kitchen ?

Or maybe, what did you think was ultra-important and once it got done turned out a bit unimportant ?

Or what didn't you consider then thought really important after the kitchen went in ?

There's a thousand companies out there doing it, and ten thousand opinions!

Thanks in advance

[pct001wine]

Thanks for your thoughts everyone, some interesting observations.  Pics are great too.  

[mugssy65]

Yep Freaky we did the same, gas cooktop and fan forced oven. Personally I don't think you can go past a gas cooktop, instant hot and much better temp control. I did fancy induction but the only people I know with it wish they hadn't! My sister has a top of the range induction cook top and 3/4 of it doesn't work, still under warranty and they won't fix it!

[freakiness]

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@mugssy65 wrote:
Yep Freaky we did the same, gas cooktop and fan forced oven. Personally I don't think you can go past a gas cooktop, instant hot and much better temp control. I did fancy induction but the only people I know with it wish they hadn't! My sister has a top of the range induction cook top and 3/4 of it doesn't work, still under warranty and they won't fix it!

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Ouch, I'd not be happy about that.

[lloydslights]

My opinion:  

if it's a small room, and depending on funds, glass fronted top-cupboards help "open" the space.;

drawers for the lower units are the way to go (especially for more mature bodies) ;

pantries  can be built into the  wall cavity space - one tincan depth shelves (less intrusion of floor space and things don't get lost at the back of a deep pantry cupboard

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I was down on my knees delving into a deep cupboard, decided to pray whilst in that position.  The prayer?  O please Lord, let my joints enable me to get back to an upright position.

DEB.

[lurker17260]

pantries can be built into the wall cavity space - one tincan depth shelves (less intrusion of floor space and things don't get lost at the back of a deep pantry cupboard


That is such a good idea! I had some wall niches put in our bathroom reno, in the shower and above the spa, but never thought of it for the kitchen.

[daydream**believer]

Hubby did our kitchen 2 yrs ago.

He did all the work himself except moving the oven gas connections from one side of the room to the other.

Ohh and i dont have a dishwasher either. Never had one. Never needed one.

[soul_art]

Love what you've done to your kitchen joadster.

I remember when your hubby did your kitchen daydream.  Do you wish you had more drawers instead of cupboards?  It's the one thing I'm really glad about, so much easier to see stuff.  I like the idea of wall recesses and glass fronted overhead cupboards.

Wish my OH could have done our kitchen but he's never home long enough and these guys did it all in one day.  I thought about a gas top but because we have solar ( no bills) it would mean paying an extra bill.

We can always have an island with gas cooker in the future and use the area at the other end for the dining table, atm we have the table in the kitchen.

The handyman is doing the tiling next week and preparing the wall that has the lovely orange striped wallpaper on some of it !!  When it's all finished I'll take another pic.

[daydream**believer]

Hiya Soul.

Ive got the drawers near the sink but also have two deep drawers next to my oven. I keep my saucepans in one of those and my plastic containers etc in the other.

Hubby bought the bulk of the cupboards and the benchtop from an auction, but the two deep drawers, we bought from Bunnings and then he also made two cupboards himself. He had to cut the granite benchtop as well to fit our design

[soul_art]

Even having the two deep cupboards would be so much better than the kitchen was before....lucky to find most of what you wanted at an auction !  This kitchen area has limited wall space..only overhead cupboard is the micro one. but the pantry was a lifesaver ! and I love that it hides the understairs.  We have a great corner cupboard, I know you can get corner drawers but apparently they're not that good.  This one, the cupboard pulls straight out and then swings around so the whole area is used..a metal contraption that holds lots of stuff.

Don't know where all the "stuff" comes from LOL  got rid of 4 boxes and still have things I probably don't need !

[lloydslights]

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@soul_art wrote:

Even having the two deep cupboards would be so much better than the kitchen was before....lucky to find most of what you wanted at an auction !  This kitchen area has limited wall space..only overhead cupboard is the micro one. but the pantry was a lifesaver ! and I love that it hides the understairs.  We have a great corner cupboard, I know you can get corner drawers but apparently they're not that good.  This one, the cupboard pulls straight out and then swings around so the whole area is used..a metal contraption that holds lots of stuff.

Don't know where all the "stuff" comes from LOL  got rid of 4 boxes and still have things I probably don't need !

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I love your technical talk..............."metal contraption" and "stuff"

Throw those items away and you will find a need the next day!!!LOL

DEB