Owning your own home

Bit undecided what to do with the kitchen at my new place. What's there at the moment is limited in terms of worktop and cupboard space as the kitchen is really only part of one wall plus the cupboard by the door that contains fridge/freezer and washing machine.

Intention is to have a table down where the bay window is but pondering what else to do. Thinking some more units and a worktop on the opposite wall next to the door bu undecided on how to get the best use of the space. Also not sure what to do where the chimney breast is. Any bright ideas?

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How about a mini island thing going across where the armchair is in the picture?

Gives a little separation between the kitchen and dining room, and you could have a breakfast bar with stools on it for friends or loved ones to sit at and eat while you flap around cooking for them.

Edit: I think I mean a peninsula rather than an island because it would be coming from the wall.

http://www.bigredremovals.com/ is my neighbour, never used him myself though (would be interested if anyone else has).

France ...Britain is light years ahead of theirs. Estate agents are lazy...

CSB incoming but...

... when my folks tried to sell their old place they really struggled with EAs. Then a new guy moved to the nearby town and set up what we'd think of as an estate agent - rather than just a shop that displays pictures of houses and numbers in the window. He became a local focal point of scorn coming into the place with his new fancy concepts of returning calls, listing on property sights, and most gauche of all selling.

I think the main problem that many people start a new EA with the idea of being honest, decent, reliable, communicative, etc and find that it's multiple times as much work as just being a lazy, unreliable twat for only about 10% more money.

In fairness I think France has changed a lot over the last 10yrs. Especially when you think how many young people moved to the UK in the '00s - a lot of whom I assume have moved back if they haven't moved to Canada.

But there are still definitely plenty of hilariously French anti-commercial anecdotes about business basically turning their noise up at anything approaching business.

Pretty much what @tbc said but have it connected to the cabinets on the left hand side making an L shape. Would give you a bit more storage and worktop plus give separation to the areas. If there is space it could have stools on one side for those breakfast pants moments.

This is quite a nice example... http://www.nimtim.co.uk/cork-house-completed/4594526764

I'd so fall down that stepped kitchen @chrisbmx116

All that wasted space under the bench seat.

Yeah I’d rather have the head height it was more an example of a peninsula and how they can work.

I live the one step but think the double would just annoy me.

Not French but this whole French business critique sounds a bit like an UKIP bus slogan...

We need a dedicated kitchen planning thread.

Says me, who is planning their kitchen rejig too.

Things I learned from our kitchen rejig:

Don't bother with wood work tops. Yeah, look lovely but too much maintenance.

Don't bother with terracotta floor tiles. Yeah, look lovely but too much maintenance.

Think carefully about having units built round a freestanding fridge freezer - when that one dies will you be able to find another the same size?

Other than that, I'm quite happy with how it worked out.

Edit: oh yeah, and you will always need more sockets.

oh yeah, and you will always need more sockets.

O rly?

I've registered for a valuation, but I didn't see anywhere that asked for a referral code

Cheers and @chrisbmx116

Had considered a peninsula/breakfast bar but was a bit concerned about it splitting the room up, hadn't really considered it as an intentional feature.

Not sure whether to try and get and the same worktop or do something in wood.

Another one to add imo - don't get a white (butler) sink. It's impossible to keep the bloody thing clean.

All good points - Stone worktop, steel sink, ceramic floor tile*, new fridge freezer is a fairly standard size.

I'll be installing at least one pop-up socket in the island too.

* We'll just keep the existing tiles, which are fine for what they are, and easily replaced when I dig new plumbing in.

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Another thing to consider, do not have your back to people when you're preparing and cooking food.

That's my mates house!

Ha, no way! Looks great, how are they finding it?

I used to know the owners of the architecture firm they used. Lovely couple.

Mrs wants to replace entrance door.
We have been quoted 3,460+VAT Including installation. It is a quality door and includes the glass on top. Design is standard. Is that a sensible price?

RE the pop-up socket - I love the ideas of these, however, a lot also have the USB ports built-in. I think most things will be moving to a USBC standard in the coming years so maybe try to pick one of those up to not render yours obsolete in a few years.