Bought a house, estimated the renovation budget plus 10-15% for inevitable extras, and we set aside 5000 EUR for the kitchen!!!!
That’s how it started... at first, I was in a bit of shock, but we still had time. First step: remove all the walls for a new layout—I need space...
Let’s start with the (according to the agent) move-in ready property. The small kitchen, just under 8 square meters (about 86 square feet), had its 1970s pass-through removed. The wall including the kitchen door is gone! The wall next to the cellar stairs is gone too! Actually, the entire slanted wall, nearly 7 meters (23 feet) high, removed completely...
The window had to go as well since we needed a different working height than the standard 90 cm (35 inches). New screed installed, we switched to underfloor heating, all electrical wiring and water pipes are new.
After almost six months, the realization slowly sank in: the kitchen budget will not exceed 5000 EUR, so we had to look for a used kitchen... something special, but very cheap.
The search criteria: within a 100 km (62 miles) radius, up to 1000 EUR, because I still want new appliances.
That’s how it started... at first, I was in a bit of shock, but we still had time. First step: remove all the walls for a new layout—I need space...
Let’s start with the (according to the agent) move-in ready property. The small kitchen, just under 8 square meters (about 86 square feet), had its 1970s pass-through removed. The wall including the kitchen door is gone! The wall next to the cellar stairs is gone too! Actually, the entire slanted wall, nearly 7 meters (23 feet) high, removed completely...
The window had to go as well since we needed a different working height than the standard 90 cm (35 inches). New screed installed, we switched to underfloor heating, all electrical wiring and water pipes are new.
After almost six months, the realization slowly sank in: the kitchen budget will not exceed 5000 EUR, so we had to look for a used kitchen... something special, but very cheap.
The search criteria: within a 100 km (62 miles) radius, up to 1000 EUR, because I still want new appliances.
Oh dear, I would run for the hills, at least if I had to clean that thing.
Has the kitchen showroom already promised you toothbrushes for the cartridges? Otherwise, you won’t get them clean if you use the kitchen regularly. Especially near the stove, a fine layer of grease settles into the grooves. Just lovely! It’s really fun to pick that out again.
Under no circumstances would I ever have those open bottle racks in the kitchen. Besides the common grease film, these things also tend to collect dust. And honestly: good wine is not stored like THAT. Usually, they turn into a catch-all for random stuff. I would have preferred an extra slim base cabinet instead.
Personally, I’m also not a fan of cabinets with glass inserts (whether upper or lower). Maybe that’s because I’m a bit of a collector and my cupboards tend to be pretty full. For me, the priority is to store as much as possible rather than “it must look nice,” which is what you want with glass-front cabinets.
I like the window seat, but I wonder where you’re supposed to put things when you take items out of the dishwasher and oven (those on the left are dishwasher and oven, right?). Maybe it’s not that obvious here, but I find the distance to the island quite large. How do you handle it if the roast or bread or something else needs to be brushed, basted, or otherwise treated during preparation? There’s nothing within easy reach to set things down.
And the fridge (the tall cabinet next to the dishwasher/oven, right?) feels too far away from the main work area for me (usually between the kitchen island and the parallel kitchen counter). Again, it’s quite far from the island. If I need something for cooking, I have to carry it all the way to the island, and if I need something during cooking, I have to go around the island to the fridge.
This kitchen would be too much of a workout for me. You have to run around a lot, clean frequently, and keep everything tidy (glass inserts).
Has the kitchen showroom already promised you toothbrushes for the cartridges? Otherwise, you won’t get them clean if you use the kitchen regularly. Especially near the stove, a fine layer of grease settles into the grooves. Just lovely! It’s really fun to pick that out again.
Under no circumstances would I ever have those open bottle racks in the kitchen. Besides the common grease film, these things also tend to collect dust. And honestly: good wine is not stored like THAT. Usually, they turn into a catch-all for random stuff. I would have preferred an extra slim base cabinet instead.
Personally, I’m also not a fan of cabinets with glass inserts (whether upper or lower). Maybe that’s because I’m a bit of a collector and my cupboards tend to be pretty full. For me, the priority is to store as much as possible rather than “it must look nice,” which is what you want with glass-front cabinets.
I like the window seat, but I wonder where you’re supposed to put things when you take items out of the dishwasher and oven (those on the left are dishwasher and oven, right?). Maybe it’s not that obvious here, but I find the distance to the island quite large. How do you handle it if the roast or bread or something else needs to be brushed, basted, or otherwise treated during preparation? There’s nothing within easy reach to set things down.
And the fridge (the tall cabinet next to the dishwasher/oven, right?) feels too far away from the main work area for me (usually between the kitchen island and the parallel kitchen counter). Again, it’s quite far from the island. If I need something for cooking, I have to carry it all the way to the island, and if I need something during cooking, I have to go around the island to the fridge.
This kitchen would be too much of a workout for me. You have to run around a lot, clean frequently, and keep everything tidy (glass inserts).
What really annoys me is the corner sink – but since this is a rental apartment with fixed connections, I didn’t have many options. When two of us cook, that spot always causes bottlenecks. The fridge and dishwasher (next to the fridge, only 45cm (18 inches) wide) are also located there, so it’s definitely the most critical corner of this kitchen.
Unfortunately, I don’t have any nice, animated views of the new kitchen in the house yet. We’re having it custom-made by a cabinetmaker who doesn’t use that kind of software. The drawn plans are currently being prepared – if I remember, I can bring them along, and maybe I’ll take the time to update my Alno planning accordingly. But for now, I can’t really provide anything.
Climbee schrieb:
Under no circumstances would I have those open bottle shelves in the kitchen. You definitely shouldn’t write something like that here. After all, it’s none of your business whether others have that kind of thing in their kitchen or not.
Only pictures are allowed to be shown here.
C
chand19866 Apr 2019 14:31As long as "social acceptance" of the use of open shelving in the kitchen is not brought in as an "argument," this is just normal feedback...
By the way, I find Yosan’s design very appealing visually, but I share the concerns regarding maintainability.
By the way, I find Yosan’s design very appealing visually, but I share the concerns regarding maintainability.
I like the kitchen from @Yosan.
I would not want to clean it, and it wouldn’t fit in our space.
I would also reconsider the bottle racks. They look good visually, but practically, everything will end up there except bottles.
[USER=29528]@Climbee, that’s a large kitchen for a rental apartment. The sink was probably once fully in the corner. That used to be modern.
I’m curious about the custom-built kitchen.
I would not want to clean it, and it wouldn’t fit in our space.
I would also reconsider the bottle racks. They look good visually, but practically, everything will end up there except bottles.
[USER=29528]@Climbee, that’s a large kitchen for a rental apartment. The sink was probably once fully in the corner. That used to be modern.
I’m curious about the custom-built kitchen.
H
hampshire6 Apr 2019 16:02Yosan schrieb:
and I’m really looking forward to that window seat bench...especially in summer when the first morning sun rays just shine in. That will be a very cozy kitchen, and the seating area is great.
Climbee schrieb:
Oh wow, I would run for my life. At least if I had to clean that thing. A kitchen like that will develop a slight patina over time—that’s part of it. We’re definitely not cleaning enthusiasts and have a cassette-style front on our current 2001 beech wood kitchen. It still looks quite decent.
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