jocelyn plummer
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WHAT A FABULOUS KITCHEN !!
- Thread starter malcolm
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malcolm
& Clementine the cat
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After two years I still haven't finished the kitchen but I have made excellent progress! The best thing is I don't need to put a horrible American Fridge in there any more. 
That creates enough room for a table and chairs at the end. (The utility pipes at that end were to be hidden by a big cupboard but will now be hidden behind hollowed out oak posts matching what is visible of the structural one in the corner.)
The natural light added by opening up the door to the snug has brightened up the gloomy end of the kitchen quite well There should be more light later when I get around to putting doors and windows in the utility room.
I'll probably use black granite worktops. The sink will probably be stainless and might end up towards the right of the window with drainage further to the right out of view from outside. I had planned it to the left but need somewhere to put a sensible fridge.
I'm stuck on the sink. They do flush mounted sinks these days which look smart, but I am concerned that someone (maybe even me) might want to replace the sink in 20 years time and if the exact size and shape isn't available then the whole work surface would need to be replaced to match the new sink. Everything else I've set up to cope with another 100 years of neglect so it doesn't feel right to set the kitchen up to need replacing every few years.
I don't like under-mounted sinks. I'm thinking it might be safer to go for over-mounted but everything else has turned out so slick and level it might be nice to match the sleek style. Any thoughts would be handy.
That creates enough room for a table and chairs at the end. (The utility pipes at that end were to be hidden by a big cupboard but will now be hidden behind hollowed out oak posts matching what is visible of the structural one in the corner.) The natural light added by opening up the door to the snug has brightened up the gloomy end of the kitchen quite well There should be more light later when I get around to putting doors and windows in the utility room.
I'll probably use black granite worktops. The sink will probably be stainless and might end up towards the right of the window with drainage further to the right out of view from outside. I had planned it to the left but need somewhere to put a sensible fridge.
I'm stuck on the sink. They do flush mounted sinks these days which look smart, but I am concerned that someone (maybe even me) might want to replace the sink in 20 years time and if the exact size and shape isn't available then the whole work surface would need to be replaced to match the new sink. Everything else I've set up to cope with another 100 years of neglect so it doesn't feel right to set the kitchen up to need replacing every few years.
I don't like under-mounted sinks. I'm thinking it might be safer to go for over-mounted but everything else has turned out so slick and level it might be nice to match the sleek style. Any thoughts would be handy.
Cubist
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Hi Malcolm,
I also am no fan of insert sinks and much prefer traditional porcelain. When we bought Fircroft the kitchen was equipped with deep Belfast sink the top edges of which sat underneath the edges of the oak work surface. However, we soon found that the thing was so deep it was sometimes painful to use and to avoid wasting too much water a plastic bowl was always in evidence. Also, we found that grime would build up in hard to reach corners and of course there was always the threat of water penetration stains on the edges of the work surface.
I'm not sure if it was purely for aesthetic reasons or to save my aching back for more productive activities elsewhere around the house but the First Lady found a modern porcelain sink, shallow of course, the rear and side edges of which sit on top of the work surface. A great improvement from my perspective and in keeping with the general decor of a traditional kitchen in a house of this age and type. However, to every up side theres a down - the alterations to the cabinet below and work surface around were very simple, sorting out the spaghetti that was the plumbing (resulting from the less than zealous plumbers use of push fit connectors and no wall connectors/brackets) was another story altogether.
One of the lessons my father taught me, and to which I have applied myself at all turns, was/is to leave the design work to the First Lady - I can then only be blamed for the execution.
Cheers,
Cubist
I also am no fan of insert sinks and much prefer traditional porcelain. When we bought Fircroft the kitchen was equipped with deep Belfast sink the top edges of which sat underneath the edges of the oak work surface. However, we soon found that the thing was so deep it was sometimes painful to use and to avoid wasting too much water a plastic bowl was always in evidence. Also, we found that grime would build up in hard to reach corners and of course there was always the threat of water penetration stains on the edges of the work surface.
I'm not sure if it was purely for aesthetic reasons or to save my aching back for more productive activities elsewhere around the house but the First Lady found a modern porcelain sink, shallow of course, the rear and side edges of which sit on top of the work surface. A great improvement from my perspective and in keeping with the general decor of a traditional kitchen in a house of this age and type. However, to every up side theres a down - the alterations to the cabinet below and work surface around were very simple, sorting out the spaghetti that was the plumbing (resulting from the less than zealous plumbers use of push fit connectors and no wall connectors/brackets) was another story altogether.
One of the lessons my father taught me, and to which I have applied myself at all turns, was/is to leave the design work to the First Lady - I can then only be blamed for the execution.
Cheers,
Cubist
Abi Cott
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In my experience as a kitchen designer, no two sinks have exactly the same size and shape of cut out. With granite, replacing the sink is always going to be an issue.
In all honesty the Belfast is probably the most replaceable type of sink, though it's back breaking propensities are well known. There are stainless steel versions available.
If you are eschewing the Belfast (which I would) then there is the option of the undermount or overmount. The undermount with drainer grooves is significantly harder to replace.
With overmounts I don't think there is a lot to choose between flush mounted and classic. The shape of the hole is not significantly different. Though of course varies from one sink to the next.
In all honesty the Belfast is probably the most replaceable type of sink, though it's back breaking propensities are well known. There are stainless steel versions available.
If you are eschewing the Belfast (which I would) then there is the option of the undermount or overmount. The undermount with drainer grooves is significantly harder to replace.
With overmounts I don't think there is a lot to choose between flush mounted and classic. The shape of the hole is not significantly different. Though of course varies from one sink to the next.
malcolm
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Thanks, I'll aim for over-mounted rather than flush. I would hate to have some accident with the sink and need to replace it, then find I need to replace the work surface as well. I'll go for a stainless 1.5 bowl with drainer. The last decision before I start fitting cabinets will be where to put it!
I have a dish washer and plan to have a sink for filling buckets and washing dirty hands in the attached utility room, so will try to avoid putting the sink under the window.
I have a dish washer and plan to have a sink for filling buckets and washing dirty hands in the attached utility room, so will try to avoid putting the sink under the window.
Zebra
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Hello malcolm. Not been on here much recently but....... Sinks! On my mother's advice, I eschewed the insert sink and also the Belfast, in favour of the full-depth sink (what's the proper name for it?) I had to get one second hand as they're not sold in DIY stores, but I have to say, it's so practical. You can slosh water all the way around the taps, wipe it all the way from the back to the front, and I don't know how replaceable it would be if it needed changing, but more so than an insert one.
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Abi Cott
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They are definitely available new if you hunt hard enough. A customer of mine bought a double drainer one last year.
I've only ever heard them called 'sit on' sinks.
I've only ever heard them called 'sit on' sinks.
Zebra
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Is that because you can sit on them? I've had to, of course, to paint the windows, but generally prefer the sofa.
Feltwell
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Mind the taps!You can get them new, I bought one for my garage (SO useful having a sink where you can safely make a mess, cleaning up paintbrushes etc....). Mounted on a beautifully crafted handmade bespoke frame of course, made in about half an hour from only the finest bits of old softwood that were knocking about in the pile in the garage.
I think my sink came from Fleabay.
malcolm
& Clementine the cat
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Hi Zebra! That's the sort of depth I'll be looking for but I haven't started looking around yet. I think the kitchen will be a winter project. I'm trying to finish off windows while the weather is still good, but working in Sweden again isn't helping with that.
It's good to have the kitchen laid out in place. Every now and again I'll go in there and move something to a better location. Seems to have settled down now, but it is an annoyance the sockets were planned and walls plastered before the big fridge was deleted as that forces the sink under the window unless I delete workspace between the fridge and the left of the window where the sink was originally planned.
It's good to have the kitchen laid out in place. Every now and again I'll go in there and move something to a better location. Seems to have settled down now, but it is an annoyance the sockets were planned and walls plastered before the big fridge was deleted as that forces the sink under the window unless I delete workspace between the fridge and the left of the window where the sink was originally planned.