Kitchen Design Mistakes to Avoid Like the Plague

[@MTKDofficial]

If you need a private consultation about your next kitchen, please reach out at www.mtkd.ca

[@Geronimo2Fly]

When you said "don't build for THEM," at first I thought you were talking about the people who will be buying your home. I can't believe how many designers say "do this, don't do that" -- all because of how it will affect resale value. I'm designing my house for ME -- the people who buy it from me years down the road can do whatever they want with it. I'm going to use paint colors that make me happy, designs that I like, etc. Anyway, by the time I sell the house, all that designing I did with the buyers in mind will be out of fashion anyway. The only time I think you should design "neutral" is if you're flipping the house. If you're going to live in it, design it however you like it.

[@MTKDofficial]

100%

[@johnborges5938]

Such good advice: Don't design for "Them". Some renos end up feeling like performance art where the proud owners checked off all the trend boxes. I find myself doing this once in a while, and it never leaves me happy with the results.

[@yosal5921]

It is funny, I live in Europe and Panneled appliances are just the Standart. The big fridges are out of budget for us. Anyway, even if not everything apply to my situation, your videos are very helpfull, and I learn English at the same time 😀

[@vociferonheraldofthewinter2284]

The most common design mistake I've seen (and done) is not taking account for garbage cans. The truth is, we interact with the trash can more than any other item in our kitchen. More than the sink even. (Yes. I've counted.) Each interaction might only be half a second, but by the metric of the number of independent interactions, the garbage can is the star of the kitchen in that sense. But we've pointedly ignored them. We sigh and say, "I guess it can go here." We try to pick out a more stylish can so it doesn't bug us. We treat it like... garbage. Once I realized that the garbage can was as important as the fridge, sink, or range my perspective shifted significantly. How can I make each interaction go as quickly and as smoothly as possible? I began to focus on how I use my can. I found that I actually need three cans in my kitchen to make it all seamless. A big can at the end of the island by the stove, a smaller can on the opposite side of the kitchen by the refrigerator and microwave, and a tiny can under the sink. That one needs to be hanging on the door so I can move it to a work zone. It's for tossing peelings and other scraps as I work to keep my work zone tidy. I can't believe that I've lived for more than half a century and not considered the trash can important. I wish I'd shifted my perspective on this decades ago.

[@MTKDofficial]

I agree! Trash cans are a major kitchen design blunder. I'm still not sure I have the best approach. I wish the trash could just go somewhere else. A closet or something .lol

[@Vic-Meow]

So true about trash can placement. I dedicated a 9-inch wide drawer next to my sink, where I do my prep work. I call it my "slop" drawer. It's where small kitchen garbage goes while I'm cooking. The regular trash can is at the other end of the kitchen, so it can be used by others without them coming into my space while I work. The slop drawer is one of my favorite features of my amazing kitchen.

[@Whoever68]

You’re 100% correct. We bought our current home about nine years ago. The kitchen, although relatively new, had no place for the garbage bin. The previous owners placed the bin in the walk in pantry. There is no place under the sink to accommodate a bin, the island in the middle of the kitchen prevents a bin being placed within the kitchen area otherwise it would block the walkway,so the only place to place it is in the walk-in pantry. I hate it being there as it’s unsightly and inconvenient due to the distance away from the sink. We don’t have the money to redo the kitchen so we have no choice but to live with it.

[@jeme7339]

Yes, I've seen the garbage in a pantry - gross! This is very unsanitary. Some people even store the vacuum in the pantry - ick. Under the sink is hot and moist - also not ideal. I do not want the garbage in a cabinet; sometimes both hands are full and not able to open a door and pull out a bin. A bin with a foot lever is good, but where to put it? Yes, this needs a place in the design!

[@carolgiffen8203]

I though I was the only one in the world who doesn’t want garbage in a cabinet! I want a lid on my garbage can to contain smells. Imagine, i have to stop, open a door, slide out the container, open the lid, drop in the waste, close the lid, side the container back, close the door. All because I want to toss a tissue. On should be able to do that on the fly. I really notice that when I work in someone else’s kitchen

[@earthangel2524]

Love my sink curtain. Bye, bye damp sink cabinet. Nothing kills a kitchen day quicker than mold and vermin in the sink cabinet. My space is never steamy, always ready for the plumber if needed and won't create future problems when my son inherits the place. Sweet-farm vibe works well with this.

[@gregbeckham1701]

What is sweet farm vibe, a store ?

[@earthangel2524]

@@gregbeckham1701 No. But it would make a good name for a store. I was just saying the aesthetic of my little house gives off the vibe of a cozy, farm cottage.

[@DawnM-g3d]

I had no idea it was back. Very common in kitchens back in the 60s still when my parents took me to visit grandparents, other relatives and their friends. Deep in the country. A lot of those old kitchens had standing furniture, not built in. And the sink was attached to the wall. People put skirts around them. And from a Childs point of view, cookies, pies and cakes I can smell them as I type. By the 70s that was mostly gone. The old kitchens, not the goodies.

[@taravo1780]

I hand wash my dishes so a dishwasher is not needed even though it has always been in the kitchen. A microwave is something I can’t live without. I find it’s very convenient to reheat something. My aunt doesn’t use the microwave so she ends up washing more items after reheating food (pan/pot, utensils, dishes, bowls, etc).

[@thelouiebrand]

The very best advice to me was DESIGN FOR YOU! I’m building my whole house the way I want but still looking for useful advice. Thanks!

[@tracystuder5910]

I know the poll is over, however, I’m currently in the middle of a new build. There will be no dish washer. It is just me (and my dog), it takes way too long to fill a dish washer enough to bother running it. I would much rather hand wash the few daily dishes, than fill a dishwasher for a week before it’s full enough to bother running it. It’s just another expense for something I don’t use. I will have a microwave though. I can sure live without a microwave, I currently am. But I like to have one, so I will.

[@MTKDofficial]

Just let your dirty dishes pile up in the sink for a week and then you'll be begging for a dishwasher. lol.

[@tracystuder5910]

@@MTKDofficial just hand wash your dishes daily and you won’t need a dish washer. Besides, you have kids! Lol

[@huson-7wk]

I just finished a reno on my kitchen. It was designed by me - location of appliances, changing a peninsula to an island, colours, bottom drawers instead of cupboards, back splash tiles, counters, etc. Then a company came in and built it. I would rather have a mircowave than a dishwasher. I LIKE washing dishes, as I find it therapeutic and relaxing. It gives me time to unwind from the day and get ready for down time. I have lived here for 14 yrs and never once even opened the dishwasher. However I have plenty of room for both so I do have a dishwasher.

[@MTLNTB]

Wow I really needed to see this video! Just about to embark on a renovation and I’m terrified!

[@MTKDofficial]

Be afraid...be very afraid.. lol. Kidding. With proper planning and a little patience, it will be fine.

[@Kevin_Rhodes]

I didn't have a dishwasher when I bought my place. It was awful even as a single. In my tiny galley kitchen, I made room for an 18" one and it's been perfect. I could not live without a microwave, I use it constantly - actually have a combo microwave\convection oven\air fryer that I absolutely love. So both are must haves. Looking forward to having a 24" dishwasher in my new house though - much bigger kitchen! And a medium size island with nothing in it!

[@GlenaGarrett]

About the contested corners... My kitchen designer had me do an extremely detailed list of everything I planned to keep in the kitchen along with how & how often they were used. Her idea was to use corner cabinets to store things I only use occasionally but on a fairly regular schedule, such as around holidays. For example, I like baking but in reality I don't do it all that often since I now live alone & don't often have more than one person visit at a time. I also have holiday china that I love & use when we do have family gatherings here. So I chose two blind corner cabinets. One stores the baking pans, cookie cutters, cake & pie serving tools, fondue set, cheese knife set, bar tools, etc. The other one stores fancy & themed dishes & serveware only used around Fall & Winter holidays. If I didn't have those cabinets, these things would take up my primary, more accessible storage space. It was and still is the perfect solution for me. Edit: I have two pullout racks under my large clean-up sink that has a center drill. One has two large bins, the other has a rounded bottom tray on top for storing an extra roll of paper towels, the bottom is a black plastic tray with metal rails where I store spare dish detergent, all-purpose cleaner, cleaning vinegar, baking soda, stainless cleaner, bin liners & air freshener. My microwave has a pizza drawer that I use a lot. It allowed me to let go of the toaster off the counter! When it goes bad I'll replace it with an air fryer oven & let go of another separate appliance!

[@MTKDofficial]

Cool that she took you through that process. I still would have blocked them off. lol

[@flufwix]

I had corner cabinets in my last home that I used exactly like you. The baking items were in a two tier lazy Susan in the bottom cabinet; the good coins was in the wall cabinet. They worked perfectly. I would have them again

[@evezford]

NOOOOOO! ok, I just found you today I’m listening while doing chores. Great stuff. Until The Broom Closet! It’s not a waste, it holds broom, dusting supplies, mop, bucket, cleaning supplies, maybe many other cleaning things that are needed in the kitchen because cleaning the floor is a very frequent task and people don’t want to travel out to the mud room.

[@tamaracovic-kovacevic5213]

Thank you, I needed to see and hear a video like this. I’m building a kitchen and feel overwhelmed. Too many inputs and opinions.

[@MTKDofficial]

You're welcome! Glad it helped!

[@ellen8996]

I've lived without a dishwasher for more than 60 years, including when a family of 7. Have had a microwave for 39 and replaced it within a month when it died. My mom remodeled a kitchen once and put the corner cabinet for a peninsula in backwards so that it faced the table and used it for place mats, tablecloths, seasonal serving pieces and table decor.

[@MTKDofficial]

60 years without a dishwasher.... you are a trooper!!! I can't go 60 minutes without mine lol

[@DawnM-g3d]

Love your mothers idea.

[@Msfelixthecatz]

We're nearly finished with our big kitchen remodel, and I wish I had heard about your ancillary design before we started. I do regret now not adding a pullout for the broom and step stool. It could easily have been added between the pantry and wall. It's too bad, now they're still in the laundry room, and not nearly as convenient as it could have been. I missed the poll, but I would love to get rid of the microwave.

[@HelenEttlin]

I wash by hand but we use the microwave for heating coffee, defrosting or warming up things, making popcorn and baked apples. Now when all of the kids and grandkids come home, I want the dishwasher.

[@signespencer6887]

My old house had the counter go diagonally across the corner, allowing for a full lazy susan behind the cabinet door. Like in his photo that also has a curtain under the sink. Also a lazy susan in the cabinet above which also had a diagonal door. With fitted plastic bins from amazon, these lazy susans were quite handy and the counterspace was more usable. Loved it.

[@HelenEttlin]

Block off the corners in the kitchen and put an access in the adjacent room with a slide out for longer term storage. It’s also an excellent space to hide something…or the grandkids to crawl into.

[@doubledragon9530]

Regarding the utility cabinet for brooms, vacuums, folding step stools and such, I love the Ikea cabinet idea, and I'm going to purchase one. BUT i'm creating a built-in coat closet in the living room and I'm planning on installing the Ikea utility closet inside that as well.

[@MTKDofficial]

Sweet! That's a great way to utilize IKEA's option.

[@Lavinuca]

The “broom cabinet” could actually be for tons of stuff. I’m planning to buy one of those from Ikea and put my vacuuum, broom, mop and bucket, cleaning products (to free my undersink space from them) towels, cloths, probably paper towels, shopping bags, all the stuff that’s not about food actually but has a place in the kitchen.

[@bittyblueeyes385]

Not having a microwave would inconvenience us a few times a week. Not having a dishwasher would inconvenience us multiple times a day (family of four) I would rather have a dishwasher.

[@joshjosh575]

I like my organic dishwashers that also make good sandwiches. Why do you need an appliance?

[@SamBaker-z9h]

@@joshjosh575 because you dont have to spend 30 minutes doing a chore that a machine can do.. what do you need a washing machine for when you can wash your clothes by hand as well? IM with OP, I dont ever use my microwave unless its just to reheat leftovers.

[@SusiGlover-yg5pm]

Really no one should be using a microwave! EMF on your food?

[@cuchanu]

​@@SusiGlover-yg5pm My ex was anti-microwave. So we didn't have a microwave for years. Finally I decided that I want one but I decided I had to prove to her that they were healthy because that was her concern and what she had grown up hearing. And this was about 10 years ago, but I couldn't find any evidence that microwaves were bad for you, other than the tendency to overcook food which could effect the nutritional value.

[@cuchanu]

I had two dishwashers break, and I got tired of replacing them so we started doing them by hand. Yes, sometimes the sink gets full dishes, but honestly it's not even bad to hand wash. And they certainly get cleaner. But I'm in the process of remodeling my kitchen and will probably get another dishwasher, although I will buy a used one this time

[@marciafirst2271]

I’m 5 feet tall-I need a stool in my kitchen😅

[@rfloomis2003]

Thanks!

[@MTKDofficial]

Thank you so much!!

[@lisahunter6080]

Great video. Per your poll: The microwave and dishwashers are both top of my list of wants. I could do without a stove. I could do without a freezer. I can do without an island or kitchen seating. But fast cooking and cleanup are the gold standard for me.

[@MTKDofficial]

Thanks Lisa! I appreciate the comment. It's cool to hear how different people prioritize some of these appliances!

[@darlene19668]

Good morning...couldn't catch the live but oh my word..just at beginning and your info is so much needed I could cry...people are so stressed and overwhelmed with life and finances...we just need this so much. Hope this will be a video that goes viral!!!! You do such a great job🎉👍👍👍👍👍Thumbs up all day everyday!!!!! With all that is inside of me...GREAT BLESSINGS TO THE TOBIN CREW👍👍👍❗❗❗& Gammy too🌷⚘🌹🌹🌹

[@MTKDofficial]

much love Darlene!!! Thanks for always showing support to the Tobin crew!!

[@johnborges5938]

I have a tiny (no really) 1920s-era-apartment kitchen. Obviously anyone could survive without either microwave or dishwasher, but given the space required for a dishwasher vs a microwave, I get more utility out of the much smaller microwave. Washing dishes by hand isn't a big deal if there are no kids around.

[@flufwix]

Not having a dishwasher would be awful. Using dishwashers dishes are cleaned and sanitized far more effectively, water usage is better and your hands are saved. Not having a microwave would be an inconvenience. Hard yes to having a broom closet to house broom, dusters, vacuum, dustpan and brush, step stool, and small set of handy tools

[@lindawright4553]

I choose to have the clothes washer in the kitchen instead of the bathroom which didn't leave room in the kitchen for a dishwasher. The home is small, 80 square meters. I also didn't put in a microwave. I hand wash and dry the dishes after each meal. Now I want to sell. Will no dishwasher be a problem? I am watching all of your youtube videos and enjoying them very much. Thank you.

[@edwardcasper5231]

I haven't used my harvest gold dishwasher in over 10 years. I live alone and don't use many dishes. But I'm going to get a new one, for no other reason than resale, and will use it once a week or so. I use my microwave every day to make coffee (and also cook rice at times).

[@MTKDofficial]

Good point on the resale. I'll use that info for sure.

[@pamelatadeo8036]

Hi. Dishwashers aren't that popular yet for the majority of us in our country. Microwave is popular, but it's something that we can live without. The two important things to consider in our kitchen are the LPG (liquified petroleum gas) and the sack of rice. These take up a big amount of space, and it's kinda headache in the kitchen design, unless there is a separate, auxiliary kitchen, which is often called the "dirty kitchen."

[@krisy-in-italy]

I could live without a microwave, although I have used it to reheat my coffee cup when I’ve misplaced it around the house. I found a microwave that also air fries (crisper I think some call it). Game changer. I can do 6-7 wings in it to die for. Don’t need the extra air fryer around and hubby is happy. He likes a microwave. He will heat water for coffee. I use the kettle for that. I am installing a full size dishwasher only because the half sized ones have very poor energy star ratings and with the price of electric here in Italy we need appliances with excellent energy star ratings.

[@MTKDofficial]

You need an Ember mug. Keep the coffee at the temperature you set. I love mine.

[@heatherd9340]

Watching the replay, which is usually the way I watch the lives. I'd like to hear any tips for getting the most vertical function/storage out of a kitchen with a ceiling lower than 7 feet ( probably closer to 6'7")

[@MTKDofficial]

That is a low ceiling for sure. It sounds like you could benefit from floor to ceiling shallow pantry storage. This depends on the layout and size of the room of course. Also, vertical lift doors might be useful.

[@chiefschicktx]

I could live with either but the dishwasher would be more important to me. However, I do use the microwave just enough to not want to go without one.

[@krys1933]

Loved your take on Budget Killers.

[@chris...9497]

I easily live without a dishwasher and have done so for decades. The few times I've had a dishwasher in the residence I vry rarely operated it. Even when I've used it, it doesn't really clean the dishes most times. I absolutely depend on the microwave. My thoughts on putting in a kitchen island: Well before getting a contractor, go into the backyard and build a basic island in the rough dimensions you think will work. I don't mean fine cabinetry, just a basic table with 2x4 legs, maybe a plywood sheet top, and a shelf or two underneath. Set the legs to match the intended footprint, extend the to an inch beyond that footprint. Place the ersatz 'island' exactly where you plan the real one to go. Now live with it in place for a month or more. Adjust the dimensions as needed, plus or minus. Use it the way you intend with the real one. Note what features you would add and where. You will learn what realistically the dimensions need to be, what should be built into it, and whether it's worth the cost. This is better than forcing an island into a space that's too small. Once it's put in, it's harder to take it out; three reasons: -Like a beautiful woman, you may be so charmed by how the island looks that you overlook how much trouble it is for everyone. -Pride may delay you, especially if putting it in was an argument with your partner and you don't want to be proven wrong. -The financial cost and general hassle, especially after an expensive renovation, may give you pause or require a delay. A basic 2x4 and plywood model gives you the practical experience of the island without any emotional investment. I've mostly lived in East Coast cities, with colonial and/or Victorian period buildings. Many of them had broom closets in the kitchen. Some of these even have built-in ironing boards (though I haven't lived with one). Kitchens need to be the cleanest room in the house, for food safety reasons. Kitchens are also a place where, historically, there is a water supply and a drain. Some older urban buildings had basements where they would place the only resident toilet and even a serious concrete sink, for clothes and butchering. But upstairs in the kitchen, cleaning activity began in the kitchen and moved out into the house. So, consolidating cleaning tools in a broom closet makes perfect sense to me. Broom/dustpan, vacuum/bags/filters, mop/bucket, and trash bag supply (including paper grocery bags) should go there. Thought through properly, there should be a shelf or two for bottled and canned cleaning supplies (which would clear a lot out of the sink base cabinet). Done properly, recycling could be put in there or even a donation box. And rather than wasting a drawer on 'junk', it would be a great place for tools, household supplies (like light bulbs), and the folding stepstool. Seriously, it would be very easy to fill a broom/supply closet of any size. That, or set aside space for these things in a proper pantry. As many people already do. Because kitchens are where these things need to be stored.

[@goodenoughgirl8102]

Well it’s a year later but I’d have to keep the microwave. Ideally I’d just have a small dishwasher and a small microwave. Don’t need big ones. My walls are tongue and groove so my “backsplash” will more or less be poly and/or semi gloss or high gloss paint. Q) What to do when you have a kind of square kitchen where the stove and fridge is side by side on the other side of the room. Other wall is cabinets and sink and a window is in between them. My main problem will be I think taking the prep food to the stove. There is room there tho. A small space between the stove and the fridge where I think maybe have a small countertop type surface that maybe a dish or two would fit on. Idk tho. lol.

[@shellygreenfield8193]

I'm planning a kitchen now, & considered a slide-in stepstool, but nixed the idea because it is very limited in area use. If it's needed in another part of the kitchen, or house for that matter, I'd be stuck. Oh, dishwasher. I can't manage without a microwave.

[@domenicamassaro8221]

I can't believe that panelled appliances are considered "high end". In Italy are the norm, from the cheaper brands up. They do not cost more than the freestanding type. We also have pretty standard sized appliances to enter standard cabinet, the example that we can share is Ikea. Ikea has a big difference with the Italian tradition because its base measure is 20 cm, so the cabinets are 20, 40, 60 or 80cm wide. In Italy the base measure is 15, so we have 45, 60, 75 or 90 cm wide cupboards. The fridge is 60x60, the cooktop and oven more or less the same, the dishwasher 45 or 60. Maybe a bit boring but easy if you have to design a new kitchen.

[@timp788]

I lived over 2 years without a dishwasher or a microwave. The thought of not being able to live without either is bizzare.

[@kristinnelson-patel442]

I could definitely live without a microwave easier than without a dishwasher, but I definitely don’t want to be without a microwave. It’s hard to beat for quick reheating of leftovers without having to wash a pan, thawing frozen stuff, etc. Although…having an electric kettle and milk steamer/frother takes out a lot of the daily microwave use just for coffee, cocoa and tea. All that said, I’m excitedly planning a combi oven in the wall above a main oven in our rebuild so I don’t have to have a big ol microwave taking up counter space.

[@tenaoconnor7510]

I rarely used my microwave before it died and my dishwasher broke years ago, it’s storage now. I guess I can do without both. 🤣. My grandmas broom closet had her cleaning supplies and a step stool in it not just the broom.

[@Strongasmeat]

I'm about to order my Ikea kitchen. Going from U shape to L with island. No seating in the island, purely storage. We have a bulkead and everyone says to remove it and go to the ceiling, but I have too many uppers already, don't need even more. I will build out the soffit to look like a wood beam

[@MTKDofficial]

Cool. I like the wood beam look, but I can hear myself now telling you to take out the bulkhead. lol. Old dog syndrome I guess..

[@Whattheheckins]

So useful, thanks. Maybe too niche, especially as I’m in the UK, but I am trying to design an IKEA kitchen for my narrowboat - literally a galley kitchen for my galley! But, I have some big challenges on a narrowboat - if like mine the kitchen is at the front of the boat, the space gets narrower towards the front - so how do you adapt an IKEA kitchen to fit varying depths while making the most of extremely limited space? Then, even more challenging, the walls above 2’11.5” from the ground come in by 4” then slope in from there to the ceiling. So again, trimming cupboards to fit or making something bespoke. And floor to ceiling is about 6’2.5” at the edges of my space, and 6’ 6” at the centre, because the ceiling of narrow boats are curved. The outside width of the boat is 6’10” at its widest, inside width at floor level is 6’’3”, narrowing to 4’8.5 at ceiling level. The length of the kitchen can be 10’ to 11’ since the whole boat is only 57’ long, including outside space and incorporates the engine under the rear deck where I steer the boat from, the bedroom, bathroom, saloon, kitchen and front deck and gas locker. It’s an awesome life, cruising the English and Welsh canals, but the kitchen design is a challenge!

[@Whattheheckins]

And I’m off grid, filling water from occasional taps, so no dishwasher. With improved batteries I can now have a microwave, but would not use it after the sun goes down since I won’t be getting any more charge through the solar panels until morning! And only in the summer!

[@MTKDofficial]

Sounds so interesting. Someone would have to be very comfortable with their abilities to customize cabinets in order to make the most of this space. I know a cabinet maker who made kitchens for sail boats and it was completely built on site. Not sure if IKEA is the answer here, though you could utilize narrower wall cabinets instead of base cabinets for some parts of the kitchen. Some of them have drawers. So I guess it's certainly possible. A very interesting challenge.

[@DawnM-g3d]

I have lived without a dishwasher for over 6 years now. No choice. Just my husband and I. The microwave is great for reheating things. Like cold coffee and tea and left overs for lunch. Also great for melting fat fast when baking or cooking. A must if making fat head dough. Might be able to do it on a stove, but you would need to stand over it. Not as fast. However, when the kids were at home I would have taken the dishwasher over the microwave.

[@JudyBarrette]

I could live without both. I have not had a dishwasher as I have no room in my kitchen and I have been here for 32 years. I do have a microwave and so seldom us it. I do use a toaster oven.

[@lisahahn173]

I thought I could upgrade my kitchen for about 25K; only to come to reality...it is going to land on 40K. That includes all new appliances, new hood vent w/electrical and ducting needed (none prior). Quartz countertops and backsplash...I can no longer deal with grout in my kitchen backsplash! New cabinets where required and new fronts on the other areas. New sink, faucet, required a plumber. Some lighting upgrades, nothing major. It all adds up fast. Still 3 weeks to completion. I'm in the thick of it, right now.

[@Coupal1]

Ouch! I got to redesign and renovate my kitchen for almost nothing when our condo building burned down. Insurance paid for most of it. It is so much more functional now.

[@MTKDofficial]

That's a pretty big jump in dollars, but it sounds like the end product will be pretty sweet. Feel free to send photos. 😃

[@NGilbertson3901]

I've had two dishwashers for 25 years. It's not that much more to buy or install. And I never have dirty dishes in the sink.

[@Karen-p5n9q]

Have you seen the integrated folding step stools that are built in to the spacers between cabinets? They are kept out of sight, but very handy when needed to reach the top cabinets. I think it's a great idea, especially for height-challenged people like myself. ;) What are your thoughts?

[@MTKDofficial]

I have and I think they are a great idea for a filler space. They fold down to the left or right, which is handy.

[@angelicalawrence2932]

In my current living situation, dishwasher is non existent and the microwave works but it’s hit or miss as to how functional it is since it is vastly underpowered.

[@YvonneHawkins-c8f]

Yep never building a house again. Too expensive and you don’t get exactly what you want

[@tammyramey7441]

I can and do live without my dishwasher. I do have one, but it's just used to store my oven pans.

[@MTKDofficial]

Nothing wrong with a little extra storage. lol

[@dqauto500]

We don’t have a dishwasher. But we use the microwave all the time.

[@minakindo3243]

Same here. I ditched the dishwasher to put a freezer

[@JessicaJLandi]

Oh boy...you nailed it...we have two things left to do for our kitchen to get finished: BACKSPLASH (and painting/staining the new cabinets). Backsplash no-man's-land is a perfect description. I'm REALLY trying to decide and get it done.

[@MTKDofficial]

Maybe we can try and race each other. Though I think I'd loose. I just don't have the motivation to start laying tile. lol

[@debburke8529]

Q: how big is too big for a kitchen island? Is 3x10 too big?

[@MTKDofficial]

That's a great size. It is big, but not too big in my opinion. Of course this has to be measured against the rest of the kitchen. But I'm all for the biggest island you can fit!

[@laurieharnicker5451]

Corner cabinet suggestions? I don't see them.

[@MTKDofficial]

I have a few corner cabinet videos. If you search my channel you should see them. I talk about the different types and options.

[@nogames8982]

I could live without the microwave. I only use it probably a couple times a month anyway. I have thought about getting rid of it, but I just can’t quite do it.

[@trinaroe5132]

I have two microwaves, couldn’t live without at least 1. I haven’t had a dishwasher for the last 34 years.

[@chantalmontgomery6085]

Can easily go without microwave now that i have an airfryer that i use everyday and dishwasher is a must for us , even just the 2 of us

[@Rougebasque]

I'm extending my kitchen in a little pied a terre we just bought. No dishwasher because I don't want to deal with leaks, plumbing, etc, and washing 4 plates isn't a big deal. But I don't understand people that don't use a microwave! I use it all day! I cook salmon, rice, heat my coffee mug that I left who knows where, heat milk in the morning, defrost vegetables, bread, Heat a bowl of soup. Just don't get it. Thank you for your videos, they helped me a lot to rethink my tiny kitchen and prioritize certain aspects.

[@MTKDofficial]

Hey! I'm thankful that my content has been helpful. Thanks for the comment.

[@signespencer6887]

Waterfalls make that section of the countertop not usable as there is no place for your feet or you have to bend over

[@edpomi]

I do love without both

[@karenbergstrand2772]

I know the poll is over, but I've never had a microwave (or felt a need for one), but I sure would miss my dishwasher.

[@MTKDofficial]

I'm with you on this this!

[@barbarawitt9989]

I am a family of one. Hard pass on the dishwasher!

[@henriettaescano7727]

I can live without a dishwasher. I don't use one. Dish washing is my stress reliever and because of this, I don't like my sink to be in the island. I don't like looking at people and vv when I'm trying to relieve stress!😂

[@alecmillea4539]

There is a lot that cannot be made without a microwave. There are no dishes that cannot be washed without a dishwasher. Dishwashers and Microwaves can both reduce the number of dishes needing washing by hand. I've lived with and without both. For me a dishwasher is a nice luxury, a microwave is a necessity. On a side note. Why are we even asking this question, microwaves and dishwashers are cheap. Often free if you go to FB marketplace.

[@cynthiacrumlish4683]

NO MICROWAVES! Removed ours.

[@vegasrenie]

I can, and have, live without a microwave. Now that I have an air fryer, having a microwave is even less imperative. Maybe I have funny taste buds, but I don't like the way food tastes when it comes out of a microwave. I have a dishwasher but I usually wash dishes by hand anyway. That said, until I had a plumbing blowout and have to have my bottom cabinets replaced, I didn't realize how much I miss the dishwasher. I have a ridiculously small kitchen, so there's absolutely no room for an island. However, I do have a very nice peninsula. Well, I did. But my kitchen plumbing/cabinet/countertop/hair pulling event is an ongoing saga. Hopefully, between the insurance and the contractor, I'll have it back. 😑😑

[@michaelcantu1766]

No dishwasher

[@SusiGlover-yg5pm]

Gotta have a dishwasher!

[@mayxiong5213]

I could live without the dishwasher. Never use it except to dry my dishes after handwashing

[@lynetteivanov1083]

I don’t have a microwave

[@doubledragon9530]

I have a dishwasher, it came with the house. But I don't use it. I haven't used a dishwasher in more than 20 years simply because they a) don't get the dishes clean and b) they scratch up the glassware and silverware. Besides, you have to wash the damn dishes first anyway, so why bother with the extra step, extra water, extra detergent, extra energy and extra time. Talk about waste!

[@MTKDofficial]

You make a good point. lol

[@Thingybob]

Totally my opinion!

[@danimcintyre]

Modern dishwashers and detergents are much more efficient than the ones from 20+ years ago. Pre-washing can actually contribute to eventual etching of glassware/silverware because you have taken away the layer of food/residue that the enzymes are meant to clean. I haven't pre-washed a dish in years - only scrape off the large pieces of food - and my dishes/glasses come out clean, no etching, and I've used much less water than hand washing. :) I could personally live without the microwave, if I had to choose, but I do like having one around for things like defrosting and quick reheating.

[@sharondesfor1861]

Technology Connections has a series of videos about dishwashers that's very interesting. I learned so much and have changed how (and how often) I use mine.

[@vociferonheraldofthewinter2284]

I could live without the microwave. But then I have a warming drawer, so that's a thing. Please don't take my dishwasher. I just learned how to use it! lol!

[@MTKDofficial]

The dishwasher is a must!!

[@carlesinseattle7660]

Dishewash is best! Gives a place to hide dirty dishes and then makes them clean- what is not to LOVE!

[@LynleyMcKernan]

I thought a dishwasher was a strange extravagance, but about six months after we moved into a home that came with a (high end) dishwasher my daughters in law showed me how to use it (properly) and it became my own Magic Cupboard - put the plates in dirty and take them out clean.!!!!

[@veronicawest1586]

Do you really need a backsplash? I chose not to have one and it causes no problem. If something splashes the wall, and it seldom does, I wipe it off. You have to do the same with a backsplash. And then you don't get stuck with something you tire of in a few years.

[@adrienneoeding9901]

Couldn’t live without dishwasher

[@TarotToTheTruth]

I can live without the microwave, but I hate washing dishes

[@Ninjamom4]

❤❤❤

[@Bg-xk1uw]

This new "fad" amuses and confuses me more than anything I have seen lately. Understand, I'm old. And over the last 70 years I've seen a lot of trends and styles come and go. Some need to go faster. But, putting curtains on the front of your kitchen cabinet? Prior to 1970's or so that was the sign of a desperately poor home. Something built so cheaply and badly that only the poorest of people would live there or built by people who didn't know how to make even a simple door to keep pets and dirt out of their food or dishes.

[@LynleyMcKernan]

Yes!❤

[@kerirobicheaux6629]

I tell my clients two dishwashers, two washing machines and dryers are the way to go for large families. I wish I had double when raising my kids.

[@juliewolf9235]

I can live without a dishwasher

[@lilianaortiz4004]

Dishwasher (we are 5)

[@deecarter5081]

Dishwasher

[@marycatto6718]

Microwave.

[@susanmock2276]

Microwave

[@roxanneherrman2107]

Ansullary is that something that's anal/unnecessary?

[@carolwiggins5834]

Microwave.

[@susanzack4001]

Microwave