Browse Forums Kitchen Corner 1 May 27, 2011 7:52 pm Hi All Looking for some style advice ... Our new kitchen will be open plan L shaped with the short side being floor to ceiling containing a fridge (bottom freezer), pantry and appliance cupboard leading to the long side of the L containing bench, the sink, dishwasher/bench, cooker/rangehood and bench. The space being taken up by a table with 6 chairs. At this stage we are looking at a standalone cooker with a canopy range. The perfect place would be in the middle of the L but unfortunately it will be on the side. So how do I balance the room? The dishwasher will be integrated but not sure about the sink and fridge. I have considered a stainless steel Belfast sink which I think will balance the cooker and I'd then conceal the fridge. The Belfast sink is quite expensive so if we opt for an undermounted sink are we best not integrating the fridge? Any ideas on how to balance the space? Would putting something above the sink help? There will be floor and wall cabinets with a tile splash back. Cabinets will be white and cooker stainless steel. Hope all this makes sense - and yep it's all silly detail to get caught up in but I really want to make it a lovely space seeing it will also be a dining area. Thanks! Re: To integrate or not to integrate, that is the question! 2May 27, 2011 10:05 pm what brand of fridge did you have in mind when you say you wanted to intergrate it? as there are many on the market, some better than others. the F&P intergration kit could be better, the Miele intergtaed fridges are great, and the Liberher [spelling] is also very good. That said, intergrated fridges are a lot of work to get right, really think it thru as its a cost that could be spent elsewhere in the kitchen. Re: To integrate or not to integrate, that is the question! 3May 27, 2011 10:46 pm Pitto what brand of fridge did you have in mind when you say you wanted to intergrate it? as there are many on the market, some better than others. the F&P intergration kit could be better, the Miele intergtaed fridges are great, and the Liberher [spelling] is also very good. That said, intergrated fridges are a lot of work to get right, really think it thru as its a cost that could be spent elsewhere in the kitchen. Thank you so much for your response ... We are looking at either Electrolux or F&P. I understand the F&P require an integration kit whilst the Electrolux fridge we are looking at hasn't a facia enabling the cabinet to be secured directly onto the door. Or so that is how it was explained. I used to have an integrated dishwasher that would come off the cabinet - I'm concerned this is one of the cons of having integrated appliances but hopeful integration kits have come along way in the last 15 years! Re: To integrate or not to integrate, that is the question! 4May 28, 2011 6:57 am intergrated dishwashers have come along way, and i would say that in the commercial highrise market, its about 95% of my jobs have intergrated [semi & fully] dishwashers specified. the majority of them being miele and bosch with ariston thrown in there from time to time. We have not had many defects when it comes to intergrated dishwashers. I would say the only issue we have is when an architect specifies the Handle-less look and the dishwasher is too high to run the shadow rail across the top of it. There are different height dishwashers, and some work better than others for this application. The F&P dishdrawer is also another that we have done without any problems. Re: To integrate or not to integrate, that is the question! 5May 28, 2011 7:45 am Pitto is right, intergrated fridges can be alot of work and cost alot to have installed. I have recently installed 4 pigon pairs with intergrated panels and they were a nightmare. I wasnt able to get the polyurethane doors to adjust right on the face of the fridge doors. The F&P intergrated fridges that use standard cabinet hinges for the poly door and a slidding mech are much better. Dishwashers are well worth intergrating. Think long and hard about the fridge though. Cutting Edge Kitchens and Cabinet Making http://cuttingedgekitchens.net.au http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cutting-Edge-Kitchens/290484196676 Mobile : 0419 430 575 PH: 9452 4772 Fax :9452 4772 cuttingedgekitchens@outlook.com Re: To integrate or not to integrate, that is the question! 6May 28, 2011 8:09 am CuttingEdgeKitchens Pitto is right, intergrated fridges can be alot of work and cost alot to have installed. Thank you for your feedback! As superficial as it sounds the consideration for integrating is more about styling! We are undertaking a major home renovation and the kitchen joinery is part of our fixed building cost so the cost of installing an integrated appliance isn't a concern. Styling aside, of course having an appliance that isn't hindered by having a panel facia from a functional point of view is also important. Re: To integrate or not to integrate, that is the question! 7May 28, 2011 2:20 pm BornFree CuttingEdgeKitchens Pitto is right, intergrated fridges can be alot of work and cost alot to have installed. Thank you for your feedback! As superficial as it sounds the consideration for integrating is more about styling! We are undertaking a major home renovation and the kitchen joinery is part of our fixed building cost so the cost of installing an integrated appliance isn't a concern. Styling aside, of course having an appliance that isn't hindered by having a panel facia from a functional point of view is also important. Fair enough. Just check the intergration method on the fridge. I would stay away from any intergrated fridge where the cabinet door is hung fully off the fridge door. It is very hard to get the door gaps right and the doors tend to sag with this type of intergration. Cutting Edge Kitchens and Cabinet Making http://cuttingedgekitchens.net.au http://www.facebook.com/pages/Cutting-Edge-Kitchens/290484196676 Mobile : 0419 430 575 PH: 9452 4772 Fax :9452 4772 cuttingedgekitchens@outlook.com Re: To integrate or not to integrate, that is the question! 8May 28, 2011 3:48 pm I would be inclined to have a nice big stainless steel fridge on the opposite end of the L to the cooker and then have the rest of the cabinetry in-between them all the same - so integrate the dishwasher to hide it a bit and as for the sink - I would probably go for the undermount. But this does depend on the size. If it is a really big kitchen then you could splurge on the stainless steel belfast one but if it is a smallish kitchen then do the undermount one. All your ideas sound good though - you will have to post some pics when you have finished! Re: To integrate or not to integrate, that is the question! 9May 30, 2011 9:51 am BayBuild I would be inclined to have a nice big stainless steel fridge on the opposite end of the L to the cooker and then have the rest of the cabinetry in-between them all the same - so integrate the dishwasher to hide it a bit and as for the sink - I would probably go for the undermount. But this does depend on the size. If it is a really big kitchen then you could splurge on the stainless steel belfast one but if it is a smallish kitchen then do the undermount one. All your ideas sound good though - you will have to post some pics when you have finished! Thank you! You've confirmed what I was thinking ... Either big sink and concealed fridge or concealed sink and stainless fridge. I do love the stainless Belfast but I think it's just that little bit too indulgent Re: To integrate or not to integrate, that is the question! 10Jun 01, 2011 9:19 pm BornFree BayBuild I would be inclined to have a nice big stainless steel fridge on the opposite end of the L to the cooker and then have the rest of the cabinetry in-between them all the same - so integrate the dishwasher to hide it a bit and as for the sink - I would probably go for the undermount. But this does depend on the size. If it is a really big kitchen then you could splurge on the stainless steel belfast one but if it is a smallish kitchen then do the undermount one. All your ideas sound good though - you will have to post some pics when you have finished! Thank you! You've confirmed what I was thinking ... Either big sink and concealed fridge or concealed sink and stainless fridge. I do love the stainless Belfast but I think it's just that little bit too indulgent /quote] Happy to help - Make sure you post some pics when your kitchen is done! Re: To integrate or not to integrate, that is the question! 11Jun 01, 2011 9:25 pm BayBuild Happy to help - Make sure you post some pics when your kitchen is done! I'm very excited as I found another stainless Belfast for half the price of the other so it may be back on the cards ... Now have to convince the other half Re: To integrate or not to integrate, that is the question! 13Jun 23, 2011 1:27 pm smch Your kitchen sounds great. I'm also searching for an affordable stainless steel belfast. Where did you find yours?? The two I was looking at are as follows: http://www.sinkwarehouse.com.au/product ... st-double/ http://www.thestonesuperstore.com/shop/ ... steel-sink I have purchased the cheaper of the two only yesterday although I am struggling with the lack of symmetry! There are many American sites with stainless Belfasts but none I contacted shipped to Australia. The two above are the only ones I found and are both based in Perth. Shipping to Sydney equated to $120. I have never actual seen one in the 'flesh' so am keeping all crossed that it will look nice in our kitchen! Re: To integrate or not to integrate, that is the question! 14Jun 26, 2011 9:54 pm Thanks for that. I had stumbled across the sink warehouse and am searching for a cheaper version, but am only after a single sink. Maybe I will phone the other and ask. Hope you're happy with yours, remember to post a photo!! The HIA contract, in the term & conditions section states that "Commencment" is deemed when the drainage is started or the piers are dug or the slab is formed up (incase… 2 6178 DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair But if it is a ground level open pit, then it is not a charged system. No surprises there. 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