Kitchen Essential

This young couple have one child and the possibility of more to come. In this first home, with a limited budget, they wished to spend it as wisely as possible. First priority is the working kitchen, which must be efficient, safe and as timeless as possible. They could not afford it to look old fashioned within a few years.

Sensibly, the washing machine and a sink were plumbed in the garage where the central-heating boiler had already been installed to allow more space in the kitchen. The fridge/freezer, fronted by decor panels to match the units, was placed next to the garden door. Adjoining this is the gas double oven. Base and wall units link up to the double-bowl, round red enamel sinks under the window. Continuing round the kitchen, units link up to the matching red gas hob with an extractor fan above. Base units continue fromthe hob up to the peninsular breakfast bar — also a useful extra work surface. To make use of the end of the wall unit (see picture left) a midway unit, normally wall mounted between worktop and cupboard above, was fitted to hold cruet, jam, sugar and so on in handy reach of those using the breakfast bar.

As the budget was tight, wall units were fitted at a level to allow another tier up to the ceiling to be added when funds permitted.

Family with teenagers

The same shape kitchen in a detached house is used by a family with two pre-teenage children. Their needs were similar to the first example, but there was a higher budget available. The growing family also meant a greater need for storage.

Their solution, in fact, was quite similar. Additional storage was provided by fitting cupboards underneath the breakfast bar and taking the wall units right up to the ceiling. A much-needed dishwasher was included in the layout which proved suitable for several stages in the life of this growing family.

A busy kitchen

The next example is a family with three children aged between 13 and 20, two dogs and numerousfrequent visitors. Their house is large and detached with a morning room between the kitchen and the front of the house. The washing machine and other utility equipment were installed in the garage to free space in the kitchen.

Whilst they had no need to eat main meals in the working kitchen, they wished to have breakfast and snacks there, while maximising on much-needed storage space. The family decided to make some structural alterations when planning their new kitchen and these gave the room more useable space. The garden door was moved further along the same wall and the door to the morning room was moved to the right which allowed a longer run of units between the two doors. One of these base units holds a pull-out table for snacks.

On the left of the morning room door a tall cupboard holds brooms and folding chairs. Adjacent is a built-in fridge and a built-in gas oven. Base units link up to the window wall where a dishwasher is installed beside the double sink. To the right of the sink a gas hob and grill are fitted with an extractor fan fixed above. Wall and base units complete the layout up to the garden door.

Living room/kitchen

This detached mock Tudor house had three large store cupboards designed as part of the house, but entered from the garden. Probably originally intended for storage of fuel and gardening implements, these store cupboards backed onto the kitchen.

The family with two teenage children desired a comfortable living room-cum-kitchen as a refuge in which to escape and relax (right). By incorporating these substantial outside-opening store cupboards and taking some 750 mm of the adjacent garage space, a comfortable kitchen and living room could be created. All the internal walls were demolished and the rear wall of the garage moved forward. The resultant redesigned shape lent itself to all the demands of the family.

As the drawings show, the plan was quite radical and the family adventurously accepted all the recommendations.

The sink and the hob were placed in an unusual combination. Although the hob is almost at the end of the run of units, there is generous space around it as it is set forward to form a natural break between the working kitchen and the living area. This work surface ensures that there is no danger from projecting pan handles. The fridge/microwave housing unit is unconventionally sited next to the oven — again providing a divider between cooking and eating areas. Behind the oven, but opening out into the working kitchen, is the larder unit.

All the cooking and refrigeration equipment is built into brick housings. These reach short of the ceiling and striplights are fixed on the top to provide diffused light onto the ceiling. Beams and rough cast walls blend well with the mock Tudor beams on the house exterior.

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