Kitchen

[Damien Thorn]

Before and....



A nearly complete after

Massive and excellent difference!

[Doctor Congo]

Amazingly it didn't cost that much to do, but was a lot of hard work, particularly for me, who is a total DIY spastic, worse than TT even.

Doors were solid wood so was a pity to get rid of, sanding and painting was easy. Worksurfaces are wood (oak) and have done pretty well, though I probably need to oil them again.

[Damien Thorn]

Your 'before' is a lot like my current kitchen, except I have a light beigey-grey laminate worktop which is totally horrible.

[stuart]

My new kitchen, ordered it today





Only differences is their will be a dark greyish coloured TekWall behind, with a glass panel on it where the cooker is.

I wanted the white granite worktop, so it was smooth, but it was just too expensive. I can't afford it given all the other work that needs done

Also the wall mounted units in the pictures look like they have a bit that sticks out at the bottom, they don't. It's all flush. I'd say the wood is also a bit darker than it looks in the photos.

[Clown Ice Skater #4]

Question: microwave integrated? I have never been keen on this, or any integrated appliances. Could you have had a free standing one in the corner below it?

[Pigeon]

Question: microwave integrated? I have never been keen on this, or any integrated appliances. Could you have had a free standing one in the corner below it?

Integrated appliances suck big hairy balls. When they go wrong it is a massive pain in the arse just trying to get to the point where you can see inside them, as opposed to normal ones where you just take the lid off.

[Käsemeister]

What rubbish. Four screws and ours all just slide out, very simple to access.

[Pigeon]

Well that's not what I've found any time I've had to fix one.

[CJ+]

Well that's not what I've found any time I've had to fix one.

And how many times is that?

I didn't have you down as Kitchen Repairman, Mender of Fridges and Dishwashers

[Barbarianna]

For what they are, kitchen units are the biggest rip off going. Carcases are pretty much the same whether they come from Ikea or Smallbone (and you don't see them anyway) so just get them fromI kea or similar and find some nice doors that any decent chippie can fit. Then it's down to whatever work surfaces you want, wood, granite etc although the latter will be the priciest element if that is what you want.

This, this, this, this and only this.

Now. Let's add some flesh to this very good skeleton.

All kitchen companies, regardless of name or reputation, charge waaaaay too much. There is absolutely NO way to argue this otherwise.
Like Ghosty says: All kitchen 'carcasses' are basically the same. Same construction, same standardised measurements, same heights, widths, all.

If anything, the really high end companies may actually be better value, given the quality of some of their fantastic materials.

Before you read on, you may want to consider whether you want the 'effort' of designing a kitchen, measuring and coordinating the install etc, all taken away from you. This is the main thing the kitchen companies trade on. In reality, even if you did this bit entirely on your own, it would barely be more effort than dealing with the company.


So, assuming your plumbing stays put, the contents of your spend are:

Carcasses, Doors, Worktops, Appliances, Lighting, Flooring.

1. Look online and in designery magazines for the main design idea for your kitchen. Blue Steel, or Le Tigre?
2. Decide the basic layout you want. Where the cupboards and worktops will be, and where the appliances will go.
3. Get carcasses to fit that basic structure. They're all standard so you should know how many of what. Your own ones, new cheap ones from wholesalers online, or even ebay/gumtree for 2nd hand ones, if you are OK with collecting.
4. A chippie is your go-to person for fitting carcasses, doors and worktops. You can source the materials yourself of course, but this precision fitting work is better left to a pro. Expect a top kitchen chippie to charge £350-500 a day, and a standard kitchen should not cost more than £1500-£2000 for the labour to fit.
5. There are specialist worktop cos that sell all the best materials - solid wood, granite etc, online, for cheap. They can even pre-cut the design you want.Second hand granite is obviously as good as brand new, so have a hunt.
6. Appliances- get the very best that you can afford. Always pays off. If necessary, getting 2nd hand good make ones (Miele, Neff etc) is still better than brand new shit ones.
7. Floors- depending on square metrage, again, online specialists are your best bet for this.

You're welcome.
Ciao!

<phone rings> "Oh hi Zaha, how was Mumbai?...."

[thekungfury]

What rubbish. Four screws and ours all just slide out, very simple to access.

Also my experience with our numerous integrated appliances.

[stuart]

The microwave was cheap enough, and even the fridge freezer etc, if they break once they are out of warranty in five years, they are replaceable.

[Firkin]

I used these people when I replaced my kitchen 10 years ago. Kitchen still looks good and is wearing really well. Nothing has broken on the units and it cost me the same as a high street kitchen would've.

[Barbarianna]

Anyway Damo.
What are your broad brush strokes on the kitchen design canvas?

Country?


Ultramodern?


Shabby chic?


IKEAn?


Superquirk?


Playful?


Hmm??

[Deuteronomy]

We've just finished ours - it now looks 100% the tits.

It's a painful process Damo but worth it in the end.

[Damien Thorn]

Handleless gloss white with black/grey granite tops and wood floor.

[Barbarianna]

Deuce-
Assuming it was pretty finished when I visited- the appeal lay equally in consciously deciding what what not to put in. It had an attractive sense of lit space, for the eye, and the inhabitants, to be at rest.

[Disastrous]

We've just finished ours - it now looks 100% the tits.

It's a painful process Damo but worth it in the end.

Indeed. I couldn't like ours at all when it was finished as I just saw imaginary price tags hovering over everything in the room and an opaque Ducati Sport Classic revolving in the centre of the room as if on a display plinth. "Let's see what you could have won!" shouted my inner Jim Bowen before resolving into a demon and cackling as he and my Ducati faded from view.

Nearly a year on though, I can't really remember how much it all cost so I don't hate it as much and concede it's a far nicer place to be for Germany. On top of that, the integrated wine fridge ensures a constant supply of correctly chilled prosecco is always to hand, meaning I'm unlikely to ever remember the actual cost ever again.

There's no downside.

[Deuteronomy]

Deuce-
Assuming it was pretty finished when I visited- the appeal lay equally in consciously deciding what what not to put in. It had an attractive sense of lit space, for the eye, and the inhabitants, to be at rest.

Bless you for saying so, it was pretty much there when you saw it, only minor bits here and there to finish.

[span]

Deuce-
Assuming it was pretty finished when I visited- the appeal lay equally in consciously deciding what what not to put in. It had an attractive sense of lit space, for the eye, and the inhabitants, to be at rest.

Bless you for saying so, it was pretty much there when you saw it, only minor bits here and there to finish.

Gasp! Did he have the ladders?

[Firkin]

wood floor.

Not a real wood/laminate in a kitchen

[Dirk]

wood floor.

Not a real wood/laminate in a kitchen

Engineered wood flooring is fine in a kitchen. We have it.

[Damien Thorn]

wood floor.

Not a real wood/laminate in a kitchen

Engineered wood flooring is fine in a kitchen. We have it.

I thought it was OK, too.

[Käsemeister]

Nowt wrong with wood in a kitchen.

[Pigeon]

Well that's not what I've found any time I've had to fix one.

And how many times is that?

I didn't have you down as Kitchen Repairman, Mender of Fridges and Dishwashers

You didn't know me at the right period then.

[Deuteronomy]

Deuce-
Assuming it was pretty finished when I visited- the appeal lay equally in consciously deciding what what not to put in. It had an attractive sense of lit space, for the eye, and the inhabitants, to be at rest.

Bless you for saying so, it was pretty much there when you saw it, only minor bits here and there to finish.

Gasp! Did he have the ladders?

Span wins!

[Dirk]

Nowt wrong with wood in a kitchen.

Well sort of.

Engineered wood floors are ok, solid wood is not recommended for kitchens, e.g.

Engineered wood flooring has the advantage over solid wood that its stable structure means that it is much more resistant to expansion and contraction than solid wood. What this means is that it can safely be fitted in rooms where temperature and moisture fluctuations are significant, like bathrooms and kitchens. Engineered wood flooring can also be installed over under floor heating.

https://www.woodandbeyond.com/blog/engineered-vs-laminate-flooring-which-is-better/

[Damien Thorn]

Hard to believe this was a year ago, as finally it's happening. The extension starts on Monday, and the kitchen gets demolished later in the month.

Or builder is a neighbour and friend, and the kitchen itself comes from Wren. I know how much it should all cost, and hopefully it won't go too insane from there: the kitchen itself plus all the appliances is just over gbp7k, fitting looks to be 2 more.

I'm feeling trepidation about the process*, but excitement about the result: it will be the first time I've had a new kitchen.


* my phone autocorrected that to 'prices', which seems apt, but oddly doesn't feel true.

[Damien Thorn]

Ooh ooh! Floor help, please. We've been arguing for a whole year about flooring in the new kitchen and still can't agree. But have to, because THIS MONTH.

She's always insisted on tiles, and I wanted wood. But now I've finally capitulated about her tiles, she suddenly wants something with some "give" in it, because for some reason. Broken tiles? Dropped plates? No idea.

Anyway. What? I won't have carpet obv, so what's left? Vinyl (ugh!), rubber? She still won't agree to my wood.

[minimoog]

Ooh ooh! Floor help, please. We've been arguing for a whole year about flooring in the new kitchen and still can't agree. But have to, because THIS MONTH.

She's always insisted on tiles, and I wanted wood. But now I've finally capitulated about her tiles, she suddenly wants something with some "give" in it, because for some reason. Broken tiles? Dropped plates? No idea.

Anyway. What? I won't have carpet obv, so what's left? Vinyl (ugh!), rubber? She still won't agree to my wood.

Amtico/Karndean.