New kitchen - no idea where to start please help

shona_2

Yes, I'd say Ikea too if you're on a tight budget, and they were really helpful in the shop checking you have all the bits you need etc.
Plates in drawers... that's the way forward, I think... and cupboards right up to the ceiling.

dld2s

Don't get a washer dryer, I had one and only used it two to three times, I found it was to hot when drying clothes (so hot you could hardly hold the clothes) there is also the downside of you not being able to dry while doing another wash load, and then if one breaks down you've lost both

sec79 wrote: »

Hi all thanks for replying. DIY kitchens is one place I'm definately going to go to to have a look at. The feedback from customers is very good on the website too.

I'm getting there - it is just such a lot of money to spend I want to make sure I end up with what I'm happy with.
I've decided to go for an oven hood built in, as the large chimney style stainless steel hoods would overpower my kitchen - it's fairy small.I can't decide whether to have tiles or a splashback - any views would be appreciated.
2nd dilemma - I currently have a seperate tumble dryer and washing machine. I don't know whether to keep these, or go for a washer dryer. I have heard that washer dryers are not very good. Grr I'm not good at making decisions. this would affect the design of the kitchen so better make my mind up smartish.

One wall currently houses the radiator, tumble dryer and fridge freezer. Here I'm toying with switching the fridge freezer and tumble dryer round, and having worktop from the end of the other wall, which would finish after the tumble dryer. Doing this would give me extra cupboards and worktop for half a wall length. The door is in the middle of one wall, and the other two walls have cupboards and units on them. So I'd end up with worktop and cupboards round 2 1/2 walls.
I'm after birch shaker style design for the cupboards and axiom everest matt laminate worktops.

sec79

I've decided to keep tumble dryer and washing machine seperately, and not buy one integrated washer dryer. Washing machine which is white will go under the sink, and I'll get a silver one when I can afford it. My large appliances are white and would look better silver as the worktop and floor will be black/ dark grey and light wood units.

On the wall behind my door will be radiator which is side on, white fridge freezer, and then worktop will then start with cupboard above and underneath for the remainding half a wall. My white tumble dryer will go underneath the worktop. Would it be better to get a cupboard door fitted to hide this? The fridge freezer I'm not too bothered about as it is in the corner behind the door, so it is largely hidden. Then when I move in a couple of years (hopefully) where the tumble dryer is, will just look like it is a cupboard.

The boiler is in the far right hand corner of the wall where my cooker is. This will be boxed in, but go right to the ceiling in order to cover the pipework. The rest of my cupboards on that wall will be 20 cm off the ceiling height, as there is a plug socket above the oven hood which needs to be easily accessible.

I'm getting there re layout slowly. Bin and veg rack will need to go in a cupboard as there will be nowhere else for these to go, but that's just a minor point really.....

Canucklehead

sec79 wrote: »

The boiler is in the far right hand corner of the wall where my cooker is. This will be boxed in, but go right to the ceiling in order to cover the pipework.

Good morning: How do you plan to box in the boiler as this could have repercussions i.e. accessibility, servicing and safety? What is the make and model of your boiler as the manufacturer's instructions supercede everything else?

HTH

Canucklehead

sec79

Canucklehead wrote: »

Good morning: How do you plan to box in the boiler as this could have repercussions i.e. accessibility, servicing and safety? What is the make and model of your boiler as the manufacturer's instructions supercede everything else?

Sorry I meant the boiler would be cased in (like a cupboard) but there would be a door on for access. From the outside it would look just like another cupboard. It is an ideal classic NF fanned flue gas boiler. Second thoughts not sure if it could be boxed in, as the bottom bit opens up and drops donwards to reveal the operating buttons.....

Canucklehead

sec79 wrote: »

Sorry I meant the boiler would be cased in (like a cupboard) but there would be a door on for access. From the outside it would look just like another cupboard. It is an ideal classic NF fanned flue gas boiler. Second thoughts not sure if it could be boxed in, as the bottom bit opens up and drops donwards to reveal the operating buttons.....

Hi...your boiler will require permanent air vents in the cupboard (Higher and lower level). It is a large beastie (and the last good boiler made by Ideal;)) so I doubt you would be able to get an 'off the shelf' cabinet. Contact Ideal and ask if they could email you the manual if you don't already have one then you will have all the relevant information from the horse's mouth.

HTH

Canucklehead

toffeegirl

DIY-Kitchens make a 'cupboard' to front boilers: it is called a SINGLE STOWAWAY UNIT

My use of the term 'cupboard' here is a very loose one: it is essentially a frame with door hinges attached. The frame is fitted to walls / cupboards which adjoin the boiler and then the door is fitted on the front.

There is no base, no sides, no back and no top.

They made me one to take a 600mm wide / 900mm high door to hide my wall mounted boiler.

sec79

Well been to visit DIY kitchens today, seeing as it is fairly close by. I really wanted a birch colour, but the closest match to that in their range is scope maple. It is one of the lower pricest door options, but the quality seems to be fine. I was given a sample of the door to take away so I can get worktop and floor to match. I was very impressed. If I go with them, the cost of units, doors, handles and delivery will be under £1000!

The colour of the scope maple is still a little bit too "yellow" for my liking but if I can get a dark worktop and flooring to match I will go with that one. I am waiting for a quote from a local firm which had exactly the colour birch I was after. I'll go with one or the other, depending how much difference in price there is.

Ahh that frame seems like a good idea to conceal my boiler. Only issue is my boiler is slightly higher than my existing cupboards, so the door concealing the boiler may need to be higher than rest of the units.

I'm hoping I can place my order in the next 10 days. Will keep you updated! Thanks to everyone for their help.

Meepster

sec79 wrote: »

I really wanted a birch colour, but the closest match to that in their range is scope maple. It is one of the lower pricest door options, but the quality seems to be fine.

Depends what you mean by the quality seems fine. The scope doors are a paper wrapped MDF and are the second worst quality doors you can get, behind MFC doors...

sec79

mwilletts wrote: »

Depends what you mean by the quality seems fine. The scope doors are a paper wrapped MDF and are the second worst quality doors you can get, behind MFC doors...

Ohhh that sounds worrying. Do you think I would be better having a look at the baltic maple colour again, as that is one of their most expensive doors? Thankyou