Where do we start??

Lizzy69_2

CKdesigner wrote: »

Hi, I think you need someone who knows about good design and what needs to be done with your house to achieve this. I really wouldn't bother with the DIY stores, most of their sales people are not designers and frankley if they were any good at design they would not be working in a DIY store. (I will probably get in trouble for saying that) Try a local independent kitchen specialist as these generally are 'Owner/designers' so it is their business to know all the latest products and designs.

I get customers in very similar positions to you regularly visit our kitchen studio, so we are very used to helping with this type of enquirey. We work closely with local builders so can generally look after the whole project.

I am sorry if this sounds like an advert, I don't mean it to, I just think you need someone with 'good' design experience, building knowledge, an understanding of local houses and regularly deals with this type of enquirey.

Good luck.

Yes, this is just the type of advice we were looking for and it has given us something to think about.......

richardw

richardw wrote: »

With the kitchen vist the diy stores, Magnet etc and start looking at what you like and don't like, same for the bathroom, you can go over the top or just keep it simple.

I was only suggesting to visit and see what is there to help you build up a set of preferences as a starting point for your requirements, I didn't suggest their designers were the best to consult.

Designers will try and incorporate many items, some of these that you don't actually want.

Doozergirl

CKdesigner wrote: »

Sorry Doozergirl, I don't agree. I regularly have customers in this situation and I will often look at the whole ground floor to make sure all the spaces work well together.

It all depends where you go.

I could go around and do it too but you probably wouldn't call up a property developer out of the yellow pages either to redesign your downstairs. It's fair enough that you have customers in that situation and that you seem to know what to do but a random kitchen shop is not going to be the best place unless you have a recommendation. Or you and me can go around together

I think you'd need to pay for advice from someone with architectural knowledge, who is going to tell you which walls to take out and actually design the ground floor with knowledge of how it will fit the given budget. If I were paying out for a major refurb of downstairs, I'd pay a few hundred quid for someone to come and suggest the new layout

brownbake

Good advice from others. I would give the conservatory idea a knock on the head for the moment unless you are considering extending / altering the kitchen layout / space as this would be money better spent.

We have just remodelled a large bathroom in a Victorian house - everything new - bath suite from Band Q tiles from Wickes - total cost £2400 - we have learnt from our mistakes!!

Kitchen - a kichen fitter has told me that basically all carcases are the same - apart from Ikea stuff!! - where the expense is is in the type of doors, soft close fittings, worktops, etc. If you want integrated appliances he said "double the price"!!!

90% of decent kitchen fitters will get their stuff from Howdens - basically make all the DIY shed kitchens but available at trade. He said that he would show us a brochure that will say 50% off but he can get them all at 70%+ off and give us the saving but charge us labour.

From extensive experience, and tons of mistakes!!! We have learnt as large as possible kitchen / dining / living / sitting area - open plan makes the best return and most enjoyable investment. It just turns into your living area even if you have a separte lounge and dining room as we do!!

Hope this helps :cool:

Lizzy69_2

brownbake wrote: »

From extensive experience, and tons of mistakes!!!

We too have made lots of mistakes and want to get it right this time, so we need to make the right decision from the word go, hence the question who do we need to advise us?????

Doozergirl

Do you have me on ignore or something?

I'm recommending who you might need, I'm giving you reasons why, I'm asking you questions to glean more detail and yet you're blanking me entirely!

BonBon_3

An exciting idea but understandably an apprehensive time too. However there is lots of information you can get for free.

I would advise a visit to your Local Authority Planning and Building Regulation Department first off. They will talk things over with you and provide you with lots of free advice and guidance regarding your proposals and will advise you if your ideas are unworkable or unfeasible. They may also be able to recommend local designers.

Also, free is information from the Glass and glazing federation (GGF) they produce guidance documents and good practice guides for conservatories. See http://www.ggf.co.uk/catalog/

Prices for Conservatories are available free from http://www.conservatoryprice.com/

You can also obtain lots of free and useful information on building from http://www.diydata.com/general_building/index.php
The guide on avoiding cowboy builders is especially useful.

Good luck and don’t be put off – it will be worth it and done correctly and carefully might enhance the value of your home. It is certainly a good time to do it as builders are crying out for work at the moment and you should get some really competitive prices!

Good luck.

lisal0u

Hi Lizzy,

We are in the process of completly gutting our 1930's semi. I got most of my inspiration from magazines (House Beautiful and Ideal Home) and also a lot of internet research. I didn't use an architect as you can save money by visiting all the DIY places and getting them to design something for you. You can then pick out the bits you like! Also Ikea has a kitchen planner tool which is really handy (http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_GB/rooms_ideas/splashplanners.html). I designed my kitchen this way.

I have also had a lot of help and ideas from a forum thread on here: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1186031. Most of us have set up blogs so you can have a look at what our renovations have involved and what we have done when! Mines http://www.stuartandlisashouse.blogspot.com. Most of my followers are helpful people that post in the house renovation thread above!

One thing to remeber is that you may need to contact building control if you are thinking of removing load bearing walls, chimneys, wastepipes etc.

If I can be any more help please ask!

Lisa

Lizzy69_2

Doozergirl wrote: »

Do you have me on ignore or something?

I'm recommending who you might need, I'm giving you reasons why, I'm asking you questions to glean more detail and yet you're blanking me entirely!

No, i'm not ignoring you :shocked:

What is an achitectural technician???

We can't knock down any walls at all. The bathroom and kitchen are next to each other, (both windows back onto the garden), across a small hallway is the lounge and between are the stairs that has a radiator fixed to it, so as far as we can see we can't knock any walls down.

We would love a conservatory but wouldn't know how we stand with the porch between us and next door (it's like a "T" shape with no door). Ideally we would like the conservatory to have a high wall to give us privacy between our "attached" neighbours and thus we could use some of the conservatory as a dining area.

I think it's a case of we can't see the wood for the trees and just need advice on what our options could be...........

Lizzy69_2

BonBon wrote: »

An exciting idea but understandably an apprehensive time too. However there is lots of information you can get for free.

I would advise a visit to your Local Authority Planning and Building Regulation Department first off. They will talk things over with you and provide you with lots of free advice and guidance regarding your proposals and will advise you if your ideas are unworkable or unfeasible. They may also be able to recommend local designers.

Also, free is information from the Glass and glazing federation (GGF) they produce guidance documents and good practice guides for conservatories. See http://www.ggf.co.uk/catalog/

Prices for Conservatories are available free from http://www.conservatoryprice.com/

You can also obtain lots of free and useful information on building from http://www.diydata.com/general_building/index.php
The guide on avoiding cowboy builders is especially useful.

Good luck and don’t be put off – it will be worth it and done correctly and carefully might enhance the value of your home. It is certainly a good time to do it as builders are crying out for work at the moment and you should get some really competitive prices!

Good luck.

This is great advice, many thanks! I will go and have a look at your links.

With regard to competitive prices I'm not so sure....... Originally our plan was just to update the bathroom and then perhaps move. Some of the quotes were what we thought on the high side, one being 4k just in labour to replace the suite & overbath shower like for like, part tile & plaster the wall, the bathroom is quite small.

Can't see a new bathroom would add much to the value of the house, that's when we decided to stay put for a few years and make alterations to our liking.

Thanks once again!!!