ᐅ New Kitchen – Looking for Suggestions!

Good morning,

This is roughly the current plan (new kitchen-living area in an older building). Basically, all the utility connections are still flexible.

Questions:

0. Does anyone have suggestions on the overall layout?

1. Granite or stainless steel sink? Maybe from a different company than IKEA? We just want a large basin with a big draining area, definitely 1m (39 inches) wide overall, so the corner can be well used as a draining surface.

2. Does anyone have experience with the Smaklig induction cooktop, now available for €349? I don’t understand what’s better about the new Otrolig model, especially since it has lower power on all cooking zones. Or would it be better to go with a cooktop from Bosch or Siemens?

3. There is an existing built-under dishwasher. Would it be possible later to easily integrate a cabinet for a new dishwasher there without complicated remounting? I imagine the same for the microwave (also already installed).

4. Is the Underverk extractor hood worth the money? Ducted operation is not an option.

5. Are pull-out drawers in the 40cm (16 inches) base cabinet worthwhile?

Thanks in advance for your answers!

Niko

Hello Niko,

For the sink, I would recommend granite (see the Metod thread by the Froschkönigin). Drawers in a 40cm (16 inch) cabinet don’t offer enough usable interior width for me.

Dishwashers never have a cabinet; they are slid into a 60cm (24 inch) wide niche. So you can always install one later if needed.

In general, I would move the stove further to the left and place the dishwasher and sink on the same run. For example, in our household, tasks are usually divided: one person washes, the other dries and puts away. If the draining board is in the corner, you don’t have enough space for two people... of course, it’s also an option to avoid drying up altogether.

Regards, Wolfgang

For me, the extractor hood was the biggest challenge since we can only use recirculation mode. We have an open-plan kitchen, and the hood shouldn’t be as loud as a jet engine – and hoods in recirculation mode are usually much noisier than those with external venting and also significantly less powerful.

Since you have a large table planned, similar selection criteria might apply to you as well. The considerations are no different for slim under-cabinet hoods. You often have to gather all the data painstakingly and compare it very carefully. Most companies really don’t make it easy.

Oh no, not Bodbyn again...

I would install the sink exactly as you planned. Putting it in a line with the stove, in my opinion, wastes too much workspace on that side.

I’m familiar with SMAKLIG and can’t really say anything negative about it. For OTROLIG, you lose some usable depth on the left side due to the control panel, and it quickly becomes cramped on a cooktop. That’s why I would prefer a wider cooktop. It might be that the coils on OTROLIG have a different shape—oval instead of round—allowing you to fit three smaller pots on the left zone better. Perhaps AEG customer service can give you more details. Unfortunately, such information is often shared very sparingly.

If you want a really good range hood, you won’t find it at IKEA. Berbel is in a different league, but also more expensive.

For the dishwasher, make sure to buy the front panel at the same time; otherwise, it might not be available when you need to replace the appliance.

I think drawers are always worth it. In a 60cm (24 inch) deep base cabinet without drawers, you either don’t use items stored at the back, or you don’t put anything there, so the usable space ends up being less than with a drawer. Of course, you can also retrofit drawers later on.

SMAKLIG is also from AEG.

SMAKLIG is also from AEG.

Thanks, I’ve changed it
Otrolig – Whirlpool

Smaklig – Electrolux