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

blushingbride_3

vansboy wrote: »

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

Thanks for the photo i love your kitchen!
I dont mind not having a utility just wanted to check others opinions.
if we did away with the utility then the washing machine & boiler would be built into a cupboard. then we'll have a nice square room

blushingbride_3

Forris wrote: »

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!

well i want to make sure they are good quality and also my doors arent standard size and they are 18mm carcass so B&Q doors wont fit.
Also need to include cost of end pannels, plinth, cornice etc so it soon adds up.

blushingbride_3

TDA10 wrote: »

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.

I could paint, but in my opinion the doors are quite a dated style? also i am worried about the paint chipping etc with ages but if i cant find doors for a good price i will paint first to see how it looks.

blushingbride_3

TDA10 wrote: »

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

hehe i hate the floor, horrid vinyl i dont like cant wait to tile it!:)

also dont fancy glass blocks and dont think they will work as the corner is a supporting wall so if we remove need to install a new RSJ
I might also replace the tiles for some nice colourful ones depending on what is left in the kitty at the end

clou19750

Hi

To be honest i think your kitchen cupboards isnt that bad at all.... I think the main thing is to declutter etc like the previous poster said and I do think it may help ..... if not then do whatever need doing.

But seeing the photos and me being in the kitchen are completely different.. so maybe photo dont show the best way.

Good luck

blushingbride_3

clou19750 wrote: »

Hi

To be honest i think your kitchen cupboards isnt that bad at all.... I think the main thing is to declutter etc like the previous poster said and I do think it may help ..... if not then do whatever need doing.

But seeing the photos and me being in the kitchen are completely different.. so maybe photo dont show the best way.

Good luck

yes like i said kitchen isnt always like this! Just cause of the laundry etc.
Also i have been here 3 years so i know that its like this even when tidy

blushingbride_3

Ok i've been offered kitchen doors ready primed in MDF from a seller on ebay for £410 including delivery, this is the cheapest quote i've had. however is MDF suitable for kitchen doors? will it last etc? they are simple shaker doors which i would like and will paint ivory meaning i can paint the end pannels etc saving me buying new ones.

vansboy

Glad you like the pic!

I'm not a fan of swapping doors, unless you can be CERTAIN that you're able to get a proper size match. You'd be lucky. I reckon - unless you can get from the same company that made yours, maybe?

As for painting NEW doors, then I wouldn't bother - just paint the ones you have, already - much cheaper.

But for light reflection, you'll be far better with the gloss, flat surfaces. Ours are from Ikea, so not the most expensive you'll find!

VB

Doozergirl

OMG! You need to paint the existing kitchen doors! That kitchen is a prime candidate for a spectacular money saving makeover! They are real wood doors, yes? Primed properly and at least two coats of oilbased eggshell paint (or similar) and they will be beautiful, they will only chip if it's not got enough paint on it. I hear what you say about the style of the doors but it will change totally once you paint them - it's mainly the colour that dating it and bringing right up to date with Farrow and Ball paint for a really beautiful colour, the shape of the cupboard will look up to date as well.

You will have a lovely cottage style kitchen that some people would die for and enough money to do your doors and rooflights properly. Have a look at folding-sliding doors too if you're looking at 8ft - you'll end up over budget but they will add as much value to the house as they cost. B&Q do some lovely wood ones by JeldWen which are occassionally 20% off - when they are, the price is almost unbeatable.
http://www.jeld-wen.co.uk/resources/Wellington.pdf

Replace the door knobs on your kitchen for a bit of updating - you can actually fill the existing holes and sand down and then put on whatever handles you like - nice long bar ones perhaps. If I can do it, you can!

It's lovely to have a utility area but if you can still hide away your boiler and washers somewhere else then I would do so. You will succeed on getting more light in with the combination of clearing the utility space, knocking the wall down and new rooflights (which will work - looks great in a friends dining area and lots of light!) There's no real need to move any of your kitchen units. Task lighting for the worksurfaces won't feel bad if there is generally a lot more light in the room. If it's North facing, it's never going to be the brightest but those rooflights will really help.

Very simple renovation project, IMVHO Why you'd want to spend out on MDF doors to paint, I have no idea. I promise that the existing doors will look great - try it - it will cost very little just to test.

blushingbride_3

ok so friend came last night with builder!
bit down now as they said would not be cost effective to remove walls etc would be £4000+ because of new rsj plus plastering etc etc

So they suggested changing to a glossy kitchen.

They also suggested making the door to utility a window and then making the kitchen a larger 'U' shape and making a new door way from the dinning area where the patio doors are.

what do poeple think to that idea?

Also can i realistically get a kitchen for £2k?