Thread: Basic kitchen units recommendations please

Basic Thai (concrete) kitchen modules often only have doors and no drawers. So it is not quite comfortable to reach the pans, tableware and other things.

I don't recommend the tiled countertops. They are not easy to clean!

Standard Thai kitchen modules are often too low for Western people, causing back pain.

We have some plastic units from HomePro installed in the semi-outdoor kitchen of my parents-in-law. They seem to be quite sturdy and easy to clean. They last now more than 3 years of typically Thai «maintenance»... ;-)

Originally Posted by juehoe

Basic Thai (concrete) kitchen modules often only have doors and no drawers. So it is not quite comfortable to reach the pans, tableware and other things.

I don't recommend the tiled countertops. They are not easy to clean!

Standard Thai kitchen modules are often too low for Western people, causing back pain.

We have some plastic units from HomePro installed in the semi-outdoor kitchen of my parents-in-law. They seem to be quite sturdy and easy to clean. They last now more than 3 years of typically Thai «maintenance»... ;-)

Global house has drawer modules for concrete counters, you can see a 3 drawer version on the left of the pics I posted. Additionally the cupboards frames we bought all have two sliding trays (like low-sided drawers).

Nigel is looking at a 4m counter top, using 60x60 cm tiles he will need, er, 7 tiles I think which means 6 grout lines. A bit of crafty placement of sink and hob should reduce that to two or three. No big deal to keep clean.

Good point on the counter heights though, we just left our builder to get on with it and the counters are too low - well, they're too low for me.

Nigel - we don't seem to have any musty smell in our cupboards. Possibly the reason for this is that the counters are too low for me to comfortably cook at so my wife does most of the cooking and in good Thai fashion produces some fairly noxious smelling fare which kills of all other smells. If you're worried about yours then get 'em to tile the insides and make sure the doors you use are vented and all should be good.

Can't suggest much on how to deal with the wife's aspirations though, maybe get her to choose the door fronts - ours have fancy little gold metal signs on the front saying who the manufacturer is, maybe it makes them look a cut above the Isaan standard...?

Nigel.... Roobarb's post made me recall that Global House also has some nice upper cabinets with glass inset doors. If I remember, they were solid wood and not very expensive either. Would be a quick solution for hanging cabinets.

Originally Posted by Dillinger

I'd rather a nice oven and a bare kiitchen versus a Thai styled one

That's exactly what I have built with at least 10 square metres of granite counter top for food preparation.

One thing I like to have in the kitchen, is those watercooler devices that you put a big bottle on top.

There are so many nice solutions. I prefer a western style kitchen inside, and a simpler thai/concrete version in an outside kitchen for cooking some of the smelly food like frying dried fish and squids.

6kon

Originally Posted by Roobarb

If you're worried about yours then get 'em to tile the insides

Yes, a must.