Hi from a new member

[Colour Republic]

Clever play by Wickes/Benchmarx making their units an odd height so replacement can only be bought through them!

Benchmarx units are cam and dowel so can be taken apart and modified to size. If you are to reduce in depth then you'll have to specify you want 450mm deep drawers. I think bench marx put a 450mm in the top then 500mm for the bottom 2, shouldn't be a problem as Benchmarz supply drawers unfitted these days where as before they used to come prefitted

With regards to the central units under the island, get full depth units and reduce in size. Don't let them talk you in to using wall units with feet stuck on the bottom. Their wall units are rubbish and have far too much play in them due to a hardboard back and are not suitable to support heavy worksurfaces like quartz.

From your plans it looks as though you have 1.1m between tower units and island, this is a perfect gap in normal use but as you have seating on that side you may find you're asking people to squeeze in when trying to use the F/F or ovens. Not always but it's just on the boundry of being annoying. So again for me it's a reason to reduce the island down to 1050mm

I see what you're trying to achieve with the F/F's but you'll lose too much space by having 2 50/50 splits. I would go for a full height fridge and a full height freezer as you'll got more storage and in all honesty how often are you going to open both doors at the same time?

Having a microwave hidden behind a door is fine, especially if you have bi-fold doors which you can leave open when in use and doesn't get in the way like a standard door would.

Design and layout wise there are a few things i'd change. Firstly the wall units on the left hand side. I would place them on the back wall next to the window like the other side. I see you have gone for bi-folds there too so I suspect Benchmarx don't have suitable sized bi-folds for that to work? Shame really.

I'm not sure I really like the 2 x 600 drawers under the hob. Personally I would go for a 900mm wide drawer set and then 2 x 150mm pull-outs either side to make up the 1200mm.

Lastly I see you have had to move the DW out of the island with your new design. Have you taken the corner units down to a 500 door? and then made the 2 x 500mm base units 600mm's instead? of course then replacing one with a dishwasher?

[ladybird1234]

Added plan for room size,its been changed many times!

As it stands now from top left,600 base is dishwasher,then a void in corner,then 150 pullout then 3x 900 pans,then 150 pullout,1000 corner with 600 door,then 600 door base. Bringing the base units at sides out a bit to avoid fillers as they dont do 1000 pans and to try and avoid a join in quartz along the longest stretch of units?
I really wanted that 'look' of a run of drawers,unbroken with doors so thats why I've changed the pans to longest run rather than the 2 sides.

From your plans it looks as though you have 1.1m between tower units and island, this is a perfect gap in normal use but as you have seating on that side you may find you're asking people to squeeze in when trying to use the F/F or ovens. Not always but it's just on the boundry of being annoying. So again for me it's a reason to reduce the island down to 1050m
This was one of the thoughts I had with regard to opening and closing of doors so another reason to reduce width of island.

Design and layout wise there are a few things i'd change. Firstly the wall units on the left hand side. I would place them on the back wall next to the window like the other side. I see you have gone for bi-folds there too so I suspect Benchmarx don't have suitable sized bi-folds for that to work? Shame really.
Yep,you're right there! 900 or 600,opted for 2x600 as gives more cupboard space so had to go on that wall but then it does line up with base lines.
Back to back walls were suggested for island but i prefer a bigger cupboard as have bigger things to store in the units.

Am off to look at appliances today so will check out FF styles,Im still leaning to 50/50's though

Any ovens I should avoid?? Going for 2 singles,side by side.
would have loved to add 2 warming drawers but I believe there has to be a filler panel above oven for airspace so with Aventos above there isnt enough height?

[Colour Republic]

Added plan for room size,its been changed many times!

Bringing the base units at sides out a bit to avoid fillers as they dont do 1000 pans and to try and avoid a join in quartz along the longest stretch of units?

Be careful with doing that on a Benchmarx kitchen. It's a nice little trick we use to avoid filler panels as you say, but last time I checked benchmarx decor end panels were only 605mm deep. So if you bring those units in anymore than 5mm off the wall you're going to have problems with gaps behind the dishwasher and the hob units.

So double check that with Benchmarx decor ends aren't 605mm. Hopefully they have made their panels 650mm deep like most others

They could I suppose supply you with an island bank panel which you could then cut in half and use either side, but again last time I checked their bak panels weren't lacquered like the doors and are instead laminated. this can be quite noticeable to the eye as laminated panels often have a slightly bumpyness to them on high gloss finishes.

Sorry sounds like i'm all doom and gloom. Not trying to be, just advising you on the possible pitfalls and what to look out for.

[ladybird1234]

You're right again,Ill be supplied with a breakfast panel to be cut,but they assure me my fitter is top notch so will make a good job of it,fingers crossed.

You're not doom and gloom,what you are pointing out as potential problems are things I'd notice if it wasnt done properly.

Ill post a pic of the current filler later,you'll love it! ;)

Thank you.

---

You're right again,Ill be supplied with a breakfast panel to be cut,but they assure me my fitter is top notch so will make a good job of it,fingers crossed.

You're not doom and gloom,what you are pointing out as potential problems are things I'd notice if it wasnt done properly.

Ill post a pic of the current filler later,you'll love it! ;)

Thank you.

I've got 11cm to lose

[Daniel]

CR you should become a kitchen designer

[Colour Republic]

Why because I'm full of s**t?

[Daniel]

that was a good one