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.
Why no draining area? I actually need it quite often. Sometimes to quickly rinse a cutting board that doesn’t go in the dishwasher, sometimes knives that shouldn’t be washed in the dishwasher. Also larger salad bowls that would only take up dishwasher space needed for really dirty dishes. And during celebrations, the champagne glasses that have to be washed by hand.
The distance from the stove to the sink is no longer an issue for us. I like it that way. I can place a hot pot there briefly to drain pasta water, for example. I also really appreciate the small basin between them. We chose the Franco sink with a small basin to the right of the large basin. It’s a handy spot to put a used spatula that I might need again soon and don’t want to put in the dishwasher immediately.
I think this solution is much better than having to walk across the island potentially dripping over to the sink. Besides, the stove is often used for quick frying. I don’t want an island covered in grease splatter everywhere. An island for food prep only works well for us.
I guess it’s a matter of personal taste.
The distance from the stove to the sink is no longer an issue for us. I like it that way. I can place a hot pot there briefly to drain pasta water, for example. I also really appreciate the small basin between them. We chose the Franco sink with a small basin to the right of the large basin. It’s a handy spot to put a used spatula that I might need again soon and don’t want to put in the dishwasher immediately.
I think this solution is much better than having to walk across the island potentially dripping over to the sink. Besides, the stove is often used for quick frying. I don’t want an island covered in grease splatter everywhere. An island for food prep only works well for us.
I guess it’s a matter of personal taste.
These are not valid arguments for a fixed draining area.
Rinsing something quickly → the sink is sufficient for that. Since there is limited countertop space here, I would dry freshly rinsed items immediately and put them away (because I need the space for something else).
Large bowls or pots → same, I don’t leave those lying around.
Delicate glasses → if needed, I place a dish towel underneath; otherwise, I have free surface area for versatile use and not dedicated as a draining space.
Hot pots → if you don’t have a stone or ceramic countertop, you have a trivet that you put away when not in use, so the space is available again.
And no one ever said that the sink and stove must be separated. I would ALWAYS want a sink near the stove. Possibly a small rinsing basin by the stove and the main sink elsewhere. But that’s not the topic here.
Having the stove on the island was not an issue either. From experience, I can say this: with good planning, nothing gets splattered. We have the cooktop on the island (otherwise it would have been in front of the window, and I didn’t want splashes on the glass), and nothing splashes, even with quick-frying (which we sometimes do without a pan, as we have a teppanyaki grill). However, our island is fairly large—and it has a sink directly by the cooktop.
That said, I wouldn’t want the cooktop on the island here.
Rinsing something quickly → the sink is sufficient for that. Since there is limited countertop space here, I would dry freshly rinsed items immediately and put them away (because I need the space for something else).
Large bowls or pots → same, I don’t leave those lying around.
Delicate glasses → if needed, I place a dish towel underneath; otherwise, I have free surface area for versatile use and not dedicated as a draining space.
Hot pots → if you don’t have a stone or ceramic countertop, you have a trivet that you put away when not in use, so the space is available again.
And no one ever said that the sink and stove must be separated. I would ALWAYS want a sink near the stove. Possibly a small rinsing basin by the stove and the main sink elsewhere. But that’s not the topic here.
Having the stove on the island was not an issue either. From experience, I can say this: with good planning, nothing gets splattered. We have the cooktop on the island (otherwise it would have been in front of the window, and I didn’t want splashes on the glass), and nothing splashes, even with quick-frying (which we sometimes do without a pan, as we have a teppanyaki grill). However, our island is fairly large—and it has a sink directly by the cooktop.
That said, I wouldn’t want the cooktop on the island here.
I might have forgotten to mention that my husband cooks differently than I do.
I always try to clean up and rinse dishes while cooking, but it works better if I don’t have to dry everything right away or put things away when they’re still damp. So, I’m fine with having the dishes stay on the draining rack with the drip tray underneath.
When my husband cooks, it looks completely different. He’s a great cook but extremely messy. I’m very glad we have extra shelves or ledges in the sink area. And when he cooks steak, it always gets hot and splattery.
Well, I guess everyone has to decide for themselves what’s important to them and what’s less so. I just wanted to mention that I don’t see the kitchen as a design mistake.
I always try to clean up and rinse dishes while cooking, but it works better if I don’t have to dry everything right away or put things away when they’re still damp. So, I’m fine with having the dishes stay on the draining rack with the drip tray underneath.
When my husband cooks, it looks completely different. He’s a great cook but extremely messy. I’m very glad we have extra shelves or ledges in the sink area. And when he cooks steak, it always gets hot and splattery.
Well, I guess everyone has to decide for themselves what’s important to them and what’s less so. I just wanted to mention that I don’t see the kitchen as a design mistake.
Some people believe there are right and wrong ways to design kitchens. In reality, there are different needs and therefore different concepts. However, certain combinations can result in more or less practical kitchen layouts. These should then be reviewed by someone with experience.
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