help, what can i do about my kitchen?!advice please

blushingbride_3

MX5huggy wrote: »

How about some more lights! under the wall units to start. over them as well or in the plinth. The cornice on the wall units is very over bearing. take this off. In the end there is too much stuff! may be some wall units or a big full height unit in the utility room.

I really want more natural light rather than lights, there are lights under the units and we will be putting spot lights up when the work is done.

I know there is 2 much stuff i did mention that i am currently studying for my finals so house work hasnt been a priority.

TITEASCRAMP

Could you not just put in the roof window and french doors and see how much that makes a difference?
I dont think your kitchen is that bad really. Without being rude though why is it in such a mess? I think it would look fine if everthing was tided away.
£2.5k is not a lot of money and you seem to have lots of cupboards

MX5huggy

blushingbride wrote: »

I really want more natural light rather than lights, there are lights under the units and we will be putting spot lights up when the work is done.

I know there is 2 much stuff i did mention that i am currently studying for my finals so house work hasnt been a priority.

You did'nt mention anything about exams.

The problem with getting more light in to the D room and U room is that it will be borrowed light into the kitchen ie you won't get much bang for your buck!

If you want to get it right I would have all the walls out, put the kitchen where the U room is with an open plan dining room, then decide if you need a utility room in the dark centre of the house where the kitchen is now.

But as I said get rid of the pelmet from the wall units.

vansboy

It's nice to have a seperate utility room, but could you do away with this & enlarge the kitchen that way?

The double doors look OK, so could these then remain?

For your new kitchen units, think gloss white, slab style, without all the contours, it'll look much more neater. Also. the cornice on the tops of wall units, as well as the one around the ceiling, are putting more 'intrusion' to your headspace. If you do away with these, you MIGHT be able to fit taller wall cupboards, again making the room reflect more light.

Have a look at what we did in our flat, we could have had taller ones, but weren't sure if it'be just a touch, too much......



VB

Forris

blushingbride wrote: »

hi thanks for comments, there were 3 points, i.e. 3 options not for us 2 do all the work.

I have already had a quote of £2000 to do the new patio doors and remove the walls

£800 to replace the kitchen doors for ivory ones

£1000 for the roof windows

That seems a lot of money for the doors. Is that for fitting as well? Just had a quick Google and come up with an average of under £25 per door (check out Ikea), and its not the most difficult DIY job in the world!

TDA10

What about just painting the doors? B&Q, amongst all other DIY sheds sell cupboard paint suitable for the job, and of course if your units are real wood (they look like it), then a quick sand down and you can paint with gloss or satin paint.

Would be a lot cheaper, then you can focus on spending your $$$ on another of your jobs instead.

TDA10

Oh, and I second a lighter floor too - lovely though yours looks, it will definitely make the room look bigger and brighter.

Have you considered replacing a wall with glass blocks to allow more light in?

Paint the tiles a lighter shade? It can be quite effective

helenjg

I think you could do a lot without spending too much money.

Declutter your kitchen - try and get everything put away that can be put away (when did you last use the sandwich toaster .

Remove anything on the walls that is dark - shelving other than your fitted units.

Get rid of the tall table in the middle of the room - it make it look too busy.

Remove the dark curtain from the french doors.

Remove all the stuffs in the area next to the doors.

Paint the walls and off white (not white as this can be too cold). I've got Leylands "antique white" Has a bit of yellow in it that reflects the light wonderfully, making the room feel bright and summery.

If you are still not happy having done all that then condsider going down the more expensive routes.

And apologies if this comes across as rude - I'm the person my friends call in to sort their houses out, I just stand there going "what's this" "is this here for a reason" "when did you last use this and do you really need it" so I'm not saying anything other than what I would to the people I love!

vansboy

helenjg wrote: »

And apologies if this comes across as rude - I'm the person my friends call in to sort their houses out, I just stand there going "what's this" "is this here for a reason" "when did you last use this and do you really need it" so I'm not saying anything other than what I would to the people I love!

& it's soooooooooo hard to actually get people to REALLY speak their mind!!

We've asked everone, that's seen our new place, what they like & more importantly what they DON'T like, or for suggestions.

We had a party last night & we had someone suggest a lock on the bathroom door! A simple thing, but as there's only 2 of us here usually, hadn't been a thought, but it does make sense!!

VB

blushingbride_3

helenjg wrote: »

I think you could do a lot without spending too much money.

Declutter your kitchen - try and get everything put away that can be put away (when did you last use the sandwich toaster .

Remove anything on the walls that is dark - shelving other than your fitted units.

Get rid of the tall table in the middle of the room - it make it look too busy.

Remove the dark curtain from the french doors.

Remove all the stuffs in the area next to the doors.

Paint the walls and off white (not white as this can be too cold). I've got Leylands "antique white" Has a bit of yellow in it that reflects the light wonderfully, making the room feel bright and summery.

If you are still not happy having done all that then condsider going down the more expensive routes.

And apologies if this comes across as rude - I'm the person my friends call in to sort their houses out, I just stand there going "what's this" "is this here for a reason" "when did you last use this and do you really need it" so I'm not saying anything other than what I would to the people I love!

haha hubby actually used the george foreman 2day!:)