I had a new kitchen fitted last year, this being the 7th kitchen of my experience, so I feel I have some idea about what are must haves for a kitchen for me. You need to think about and plan a kitchen before you go ahead and have someone who is not going to have to live with it make a design for you.
Firstly, SPACE – make the most of the floor space you have. No island installations unless you have a kitchen the size of a barn. Islands may look fine but you keep walking into them and no-one ever eats their meal sitting somewhere with no leg room. If you want something in the middle of the kitchen make sure it’s on casters and will move. If space is pretty limited but you do have dining space have an adjustable table that either folds up or converts to seat more people when you need it.
Secondly, CUPBOARDS – keep your cupboard space flexible – those corner cupboards with shelves that are attached to the door can be useless if you have a couple of tall pieces of equipment you want to store. Mine used to end up like a jumble sale anyway. Also don’t think that cupboard space up to the roof is necessarily a good idea. Unless you are a giant even steps will not help you see into the back and things will die there and you will forget you have them. There are some excellent ideas for in-cupboard storage, flexible and adjustable shelving, tiered storage for plates etc. If things are easy to get out you will use them, if not, they won’t! Your DIY store will be full of storage ideas,
Thirdly, APPLIANCES – don’t try and fit every known appliance into your kitchen. I have decided that my kitchen appliance must have is my dishwasher (I only succumbed last year and now wouldn’t be without it). I also need my cooker, microwave and fridge freezer. My fridge freezer is relatively modest, but I have a small chest freezer in the garage to boost frozen food storage. I have my washer and dryer in the porch: few kitchens can take the dampness generated by these without turning mouldy. Even so with the steam from the cooker and dishwasher another must have is a decent sized extractor fan. I do have to say that this is my third kitchen with washing stuff in a porch and a large porch was a must-have when buying this house.