Needs and wants in the kitchen

Lots of this today!

So I made a list today.  The idea was to drop children at the ferry, keep a couple of appointments then check on several things for up-coming projects in town before meeting the ferry and bringing everyone home again.  We managed the appointments then had a text to say the pick-up was in half an hour!  So much for planning everything on the same day - I'll just have to carry over one or two things to the next list.

We are trying hard to make progress with plans for the kitchen.  We have finally arrived at a working design that manages to optimise and maximise the small space to the best advantage.  It has been a challenge.  We originally started by wanting to change our slim-line 50cm conventional gas oven for a full-size 60cm convection (fan-assisted) electric one.  It soon became clear that in order to do that, it would make more sense to re-do the kitchen completely.  Once we had got our heads round that idea (and it did make sense), we realised we could take the opportunity to utilise the limited space we have in the kitchen better.  Then we started to look at the glossy brochures, visit showrooms and see other people's kitchens.  Out heads were turned by 'waste management cupboards', designer taps, full-height pull-out larder units (oh, I have yearned for one of those for so long!) and toasters that pop up when you open a drawer.  This evening N has been researching ovens and saw one with an 18-page instruction manual - so that's not the one for us!

There was a real danger that we were succumbing to our wants again, and forgetting about our needs.  We need a kitchen that uses the little space available in the most efficient way.  We need somewhere to prepare and cook food.  It has to accommodate the washing machine, a sink and draining board, the central heating boiler, a hob and oven (and extractor fan) and a fridge.  There is a door opening and a radiator to take into account. By the time all those essentials are in, there really isn't much room for a 'designer' kitchen.  The spaces are filled in with the biggest cupboards possible and a range of wall units.  There is no room for a larder unit (sob!), nor can we manage a tower oven, although we would have liked that too.  What we will have is more storage space, which in a small flat like ours is a priority.  We will have a far more efficient and economical oven and fridge - both our current ones are well over 20 years old.  We hope to move a couple of electrical sockets, re-site the washing machine so it fits properly under the worktop, and create a covered area for the recycling bins.  And we will achieve all this within our original budget.  We spent quite a bit of time seriously considering a very swish kitchen that would have cost twice as much without giving us anything extra, but thankfully, as is usually the case, we saw reason and made the right decision for us.  Phew!!  Just the oven and hob to choose and then we're there.  It's taken us three or four months of discussion and looking, but we're happy with what we've decided. 

Isn't this Bird of Paradise flower beautiful?  Just one of the exotic plants we saw while we were away recently.

I need to get my head around Christmas soon.  Cards and gifts need to be thought about and I'd like to make as much as possible.  I also want to make some bits and pieces for the house over the next few weeks, so I need to do some serious planning to achieve all these things.  I need another list, I think!