Must haves in a kitchen reno?

[memenee]

Big, small, anything! I’d love to hear your ideas. One thing I remember from these boards are the pop out outlets. Any other non- negotiable must haves?

(Not that they are necessarily must haves for everyone but I remember people really liking those pop out outlets)

[lilac05]

Lower drawers instead of cabinets. (Or drawer shelves inside of a cabinet.)

[Susie]

I don't think mine are revolutionary, but:

- Good use of cabinet spaces in corners.
- Getting rid of the soffits for ceiling height cabinets if possible. (I'm short, but it's still good storage for infrequently used stuff.)
- Cutlery organizer in a drawer to replace our knife block.
- Single deep stainless steel sink

I'll keep thinking.

[ohgillian]

Spice drawer.
Outlets in the island.

[jamaicam]

lots and lots of outlets
full height cupboards
lower drawers for pots not cabients

I'd like a faucet by the stove to fill pots

[laterz]

I wish we had space for an appliance garage.
Undercabinet lighting (we used Inspired LED and were v happy with them)
I wish i had drawers in the corner cabinet instead of a lazy susan.
+1 on lower drawers instead of cabinets.
light over the sink if possible
if you charge your devices in the kitchen, you can have an outlet strip in a drawer (so they don't have to live on the counter)
I wish our stainless steel sink had a raised grate in the bottom so that it didn't get scratched. i have yet to find one that fits.

[mrsd2006]

Ditto undercabinet lighting. We have LED lights and I love it.

[RockNVoll]

I think we regret getting a dual sink and would prefer a big single sink. Oh well.

I really like having a pull-out trash bin (and recycling bin) and not needing a free-standing trash can anymore.

Undercabinet lighting

Two ovens

We've been really happy with our induction stove. I let DH talk me into it and it really is so much easier to clean, heats things up much faster, and with our solar panels is an energy-efficiency win for us.

[dr.girlfriend]

Drawers everywhere! No reason for cabinet doors in lower cabs.

Things that are not necessary but I like a lot:
- touch faucet
- big Silgranit sink with grid
- instant hot water faucet
- microwave in lower cab (everyone said I should put it above the stove and I’m glad I held firm)
- pull-out trash
- big pull-out pantry
- “bonus” shallow cabinet on side of fridge - only 6” deep but holds a TON.

I’ll link to my posts when I’m at my computer.

[dr.girlfriend]

memenee,

www.google.com/search?q=site%3Apandce.proboards.com+dr.girlfriend+kitchen+reno&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS769US769&oq=site%3Apandce.proboards.com+dr.girlfriend+kitchen+reno&aqs=chrome..69i57j69i58.15475j1j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

[RockNVoll]

dr.girlfriend said:

microwave in lower cab (everyone said I should put it above the stove and I’m glad I held firm)

Oh yes, a real vent hood was 100% a must have. We removed our over-the-stove microwave in our old house and punched a hole in the wall to the exterior to install one.

[dr.girlfriend]

Also, I think I looked into the pop-out outlets and they didn't get great reviews? It seemed like it fell in the category of "great idea, shoddy execution." That was more than 6 years ago, though, so maybe they are better now.

[dragon's breath]

I have an old kitchen. One thing I utilize a lot, and will install when I build a house, are pull-out cutting boards (installed just under the counter, above any drawers and cabinets). The added temporary extra counter space is nice to have. We don't use them as actual cutting boards, but will pull them out for: a place to set lunch for work (can see from the front door, since I've forgotten it at times), set a cutting board on one and chop things right next to the stove, for when I'm making stuff that goes right into a cooking pot, staging ingredients for baking where they aren't in the way (especially if I'm doing something that takes up counter space, like kneading bread), a place to set canning jars before/after I'm done canning something (because the counter is usually still a mess with various cooking tools).

I also want to use the space under the cabinets, where there is usually a floor board, and put another drawer there, for things like cookie sheets that are too big for any other area.

I want a good magnetic knife strip. We used these a lot when I worked in a kitchen and they are very handy.

[atarianna]

We just built and the kitchen was where I had the most non-negotiable items.

Here is the kitchen right when we moved in. First, drawers! I have large, deep drawers for my plates/bowls, serving pieces. I designed the kitchen so this drawer stack is directly next to the dishwasher and close to the table.

Next, vertical storage. There is so much space wasted with pans and cutting boards laying flat inside a cabinet. I have a 9” vertical cabinet directly next to our cooktop that has our cutting boards. Above our wall oven and microwave (you know, that cabinet that is almost too tall to reach, and too high to be usable?) I installed vertical dividers instead of horizontal shelves and have all of my sheet pans and muffin tins stored in there. I can reach them all easily and it’s is such a better use of space. I love my spice drawer (also 9” wise) on the opposite side of my cooktop from where the cutting boards are.

I did drawers beneath the cooktop for pots and pans. Again, easier to access and easier to keep organized.

Most people argue against glass cabinet doors. I really wanted almost a hutch type look on one side of my kitchen and did two glass cabinet doors. I store my rarely used china in them and they look pretty.

Lastly, I opted against the pop up outlets and instead did an apron around the island that hides the outlets underneath. It’s hard to explain but works great for us. This is the side of the island where counter height bar stools go. I have deep cabinets on that side too that hold things I don’t use frequently.
 

Attachments:

[aprilsails]

Jan 13, 2020 21:19:21 GMT -5 atarianna said:

I have a 9” vertical cabinet directly next to our cooktop that has our cutting boards. Above our wall oven and microwave (you know, that cabinet that is almost too tall to reach, and too high to be useable?) I installed vertical dividers instead of horizontal shelves and have all of my sheet pans and muffin tins stored in there. I can reach them all easily and it’s is such a better use of space.

This is genius. I could definitely set this up in our new kitchen as well since so many of our upper cabinets are empty.

For us:
-Large uninterrupted one level island. No cooktops or sinks in it.
-microwave mounted in lower cabinets. Somewhat annoying but great for the kid to use.
-lower drawers with soft close mechanisms
-lots of lighting. Under cabinet, pendants over island and lots of potlights on dimmers. You can always dim down too much light.
-large stainless steel sink
-garbage centre with pull out garbage and recycling.
-We have a central vac kick plate for sweeping. It’s pretty awesome.
-pantry storage space for large pots and small appliances.

[memenee]

Thank you all so much. I’m taking notes!

I’m in full agreement with the microwave down low but getting brushback from DH who is 6’5”. Is he right? Will it be awful for him?

(Pls don’t tell me he’s right.)

[memenee]

Also, anyone have thoughts on porcelain sink vs stainless?

[bcv513]

Soft close drawers and cabinets! We had this in our old apartment, but not our house and I miss it. Every time my husband slams a cabinet my teeth clench.

[simpsongal]

some things that I don't think have been mentioned....

-If you can find a way to incorporate a fridge that's NOT counter depth but doesn't look massive/out of place, that would be my preference. I also prefer to put wood cabinet paneling on a fridge.
-walk in pantry
-gas cook top and electric oven


When we do our kitchen I want to add a lot more windows, particularly over the kitchen sink (probably crank open style).

[RockNVoll]

Jan 14, 2020 7:56:19 GMT -5 bcv513 said:

Soft close drawers and cabinets! We had this in our old apartment, but not our house and I miss it. Every time my husband slams a cabinet my teeth clench.

Can you change out the hinges and slides? I've never done it, but seems like the big box stores sell them at least.

[orval]

Jan 14, 2020 4:16:06 GMT -5 memenee said:

Thank you all so much. I’m taking notes!

I’m in full agreement with the microwave down low but getting brushback from DH who is 6’5”. Is he right? Will it be awful for him?

(Pls don’t tell me he’s right.)

I have a wall oven and a microwave above it.  I am 5'1" and the microwave is at eye level.  It is perfect.  The door opens down, not to the side, so you can use it as a shelf - like when you need to stir - without taking it all the way out to a counter.
My oven is also a great height.  I do not have to bend over to get items in/out.  I can't imagine going back to a floor over/stove.  
Induction cooktop is awsome as well as the touch faucet!

[atarianna]

Jan 14, 2020 9:24:09 GMT -5 orval said:

Jan 14, 2020 4:16:06 GMT -5 memenee said:

Thank you all so much. I’m taking notes!

I’m in full agreement with the microwave down low but getting brushback from DH who is 6’5”. Is he right? Will it be awful for him?

(Pls don’t tell me he’s right.)

I have a wall oven and a microwave above it.  I am 5'1" and the microwave is at eye level.  It is perfect.  The door opens down, not to the side, so you can use it as a shelf - like when you need to stir - without taking it all the way out to a counter.
My oven is also a great height.  I do not have to bend over to get items in/out.  I can't imagine going back to a floor over/stove.  
Induction cooktop is awsome as well as the touch faucet!

My microwave is basically the same as hers. My only problem is, I cannot reach the back wall of the microwave to clean it without a step stool. #shortpeopleproblems

[orval]

Jan 14, 2020 9:31:19 GMT -5 atarianna said:

Jan 14, 2020 9:24:09 GMT -5 orval said:

I have a wall oven and a microwave above it.  I am 5'1" and the microwave is at eye level.  It is perfect.  The door opens down, not to the side, so you can use it as a shelf - like when you need to stir - without taking it all the way out to a counter.
My oven is also a great height.  I do not have to bend over to get items in/out.  I can't imagine going back to a floor over/stove.  
Induction cooktop is awsome as well as the touch faucet!

My microwave is basically the same as hers. My only problem is, I cannot reach the back wall of the microwave to clean it without a step stool. #shortpeopleproblems

So true!!!  I just did this last week.

[bhnumbers]

Jan 14, 2020 4:16:49 GMT -5 memenee said:

Also, anyone have thoughts on porcelain sink vs stainless?

I've had both and while I love the look of the porcelain sink, the stainless one is easier for me to keep clean. Our porcelain sink was ivory and after several years it had a lot of little knicks and scratches that could make it look dingy. You can always make it look shiny and new by using Bar Keepers Friend or some other soft scrub type cleaner, but that's an extra step I don't need to do nearly as often with my stainless sink.

[bhnumbers]

Jan 14, 2020 4:16:06 GMT -5 memenee said:

Thank you all so much. I’m taking notes!

I’m in full agreement with the microwave down low but getting brushback from DH who is 6’5”. Is he right? Will it be awful for him?

(Pls don’t tell me he’s right.)

They are more expensive, but could you get a drawer microwave instead? My husband is 6'1" and has back issues so he said no way to have a regular microwave down low because he didn't want to hunch over to use it every time. But with a drawer microwave, most of them have control panels that face up and he's good with that.

[dr.girlfriend]

Jan 14, 2020 4:16:49 GMT -5 memenee said:

Also, anyone have thoughts on porcelain sink vs stainless?

Dodging the question but putting in another plug for my Silgranit sink...I love it.  It's huge and sparkly and scrubs clean without scratches.

[devonpow]

Our architect/designer went through all of our cupboards pre renovation and designed all the cabinets around what we had and wanted, with every cupboard and drawer labeled in his drawings so it was so easy to unpack and organize. The must haves for us were pull out shelves in the base cabinets, lots of areas with standing organization (one for cutting boards, one for trays, one for baking sheets/baking tins etc). I also love having the pegboard organization in lower, deep drawers and keeping our dishes in those instead of upper cabinets.

Having two ovens was non negotiable for us, but I know that’s not critical for everyone. We also really wanted a clear center island (no sink or cook space) so it was all prep/eating area and I love that.

The one thing I wish we hadn’t done was a charging drawer. Was good in theory but keeps breaking, isn’t used as much as I would have thought,

[devonpow]

We have a porcelain farmers sink and I love it. We have a stainless protective grill on the bottom and have had no issues

[deadwing]

One of my favorite things about my kitchen is the lower corner cabinet that doesn't have the lazy-susan style chelves. This is the closest picture I can find to what my cabinet looks like. I can keep my fully assembled food processor under the higher shelf. I have an organizer on the medium shelf that stores my pie plates, tart pans, cake pans, etc stacked fairly high. I can fit alot of stuff in the cabinet and it's all easy to see/access. I've never seen this anywhere else.  I truly hated the lazy-susan style shelves in my last kitchen.

[Violet]

Jan 13, 2020 13:24:03 GMT -5 lilac05 said:

Lower drawers instead of cabinets. (Or drawer shelves inside of a cabinet.)

This! When I bought my current house I thought the drawers in the kitchen were so dumb but now I will never live with them again. One drawer holds all of my pyrex, stacked and reachable.