Which kitchen to go for maple or light oak? Opinions please

sec79

Hi

I'm the most indecisive person I know, and can't decide which kitchen to go for. I prefer the maple, but as I hope to move in the next 18 months I'm a bit worried it will end up looking dated then. I don't think it helped a kitchen salesman telling me that maple was the 'in' look about 2 years ago.

The kitchen is small, so think the maple means it would end up looking bigger, compared to the light oak. Worktop will be gray/ pale black, with dark grey floor. Thinking of going for black glass splashback too, and painting kitchen in a light colour, to make it appear more roomy and light. Any advice much appreciated. The links are below:

http://www.diy-kitchens.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=840&cat=BALTIC+MAPLE+KITCHEN+DOORS

http://www.diy-kitchens.com/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=856&cat=BROADOAK+LIGHT+KITCHEN+DOORS

thanks

cally1_2

Out of those two I prefer the oak.
I have just had a new kitchen fitted and have chosen the flat slab doors in a high gloss white. In my opinion, it looks fabulous and reflects the light - so might be good making a small kitchen look bigger.

LandyAndy

cally1 wrote: »

Out of those two I prefer the oak.
I have just had a new kitchen fitted and have chosen the flat slab doors in a high gloss white. In my opinion, it looks fabulous and reflects the light - so might be good making a small kitchen look bigger.

And I prefer the maple.:D

Hope that helps.:rotfl::rotfl:

sec79

Arrgh!!! Whatever I choose I still want to look modern in 18 months or so time. I know everyone has different preferences, but don't know if both maple and oak will look dated then. However, if I'm putting dark grey tiles in, with dark work top and black glass splashback I guess this will make any unit I put in look modern and stylish.

Alikay

My kitchen is virtually the same as the maple one, with dark speckly worktops and beige mottled tiles. I've got Cornish Blue striped ceramic bits and bobs to accessorise and the blinds and walls are the cream and blue of the china. After 3+ years I still love it and get loads of compliments about it....only negative is that the little horizontal ledges on the shaker-style doors collect dust whereas my previous flatter fronts didn't.

Don't worry about your kitchen dating too much...our old one would've been 20 years old and similar is still being made now. I think it's only the more extreme designs which go out of vogue quickly - both styles you're considering are nice modern classics.

Doozergirl

Sorry to say that I agree that maple is perhaps not of the moment.

I think maple kitchens are lovely but there is a degree of it already having been done a few years back - I'd say more than 2 to be honest, we put maple kitchens in a development back in 2002 and that was the kitchen to buy at the time. If you look at the types of wood being sold in the fashionable furniture shops, you won't currently find maple - it is erring on the side of darker woods.

Perhaps oak will have moved on as well in a couple of years but I think it is more timeless; it's a British thing I think. Oak will forever go with an English country cottage.

Ultimately, it's your kitchen, so who really cares. You can't please all buyers and I'm positive the maple will look lovely with the black and glass. I disagree that you think your kitchen will look lighter and bigger with the maple - there really is not that much in the tone of those cabinets to make much difference. Kitchens are all about lighting as well.

ccygirl

I'd go with the Oak. Maple was popular about 9 years ago. If your kitchen is small it might be worth going for a white or cream kitchen and keeping the whole space light including the floor and worktop.

cattie

Whenever I chose a kitchen I always go for one that isn't going to look outdated during the next 10yrs or so. I avoid anything of the moment or the latest trend.

I Agree with ccygirl about keeping kitchen units light to make kitchen look bigger if it's a small room. Gloss kitchens can be very classic & classy & reflect light back into the room.

sec79

cattie wrote: »

Whenever I chose a kitchen I always go for one that isn't going to look outdated during the next 10yrs or so. I avoid anything of the moment or the latest trend..

What type of look would you go for which isn't going to be outdated in the next 5 years or so? I am now toying with going with the light oak as the look is fairly timless I think.........thanks

rachbc

i'd go for oak but I think the who black gloss tops and splash backs is very now and therefore in a year or so will look dated

sec79

rachbc wrote: »

i'd go for oak but I think the who black gloss tops and splash backs is very now and therefore in a year or so will look dated

I was going to go for dark matt worktop (gloss ones scratch too easily). Instead of having splashbacks, what would you suggest I go for (in terms of what goes on the walls and behind the hob). Cheers