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Choosing a kitchen

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It's a big investment isn't it? So it has to be something that will last, that you will continue to like and that will not go horrendously out of fashion. On he other hand, we plan on staying here, so it can be something that we like, we don't have to consider selling on.

I definitely want slab fronts - hate the dust settling into ledges.

We are currently thinking of having black gloss units on a sort of island like bit and cream gloss units wrapped in black (plinth and work surfaces etc) for the rest of the kitchen. There will be black gloss cupboards either side of the window with a fly over over the top of the window and the same either side of the hob with a matching black extractor between them.

Or with mock walnut or cherry instead of the cream.

Will I regret the black gloss? Anyone else picking a kitchen right now? What have you chosen?

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September GC £251.21/£250 October £248.82/£250 January £159.53/£200

Comments

  • cally1_2
    cally1_2 Posts: 392 Forumite
    My friend has black gloss. It looks stunning but she tells me it does require dusting a lot!

    I have white gloss with walnut worktops and love it. I agree about the slab doors and the dust/dirt. I also think you should go for what you like rather than please some theoretical buyer of the house in the future.
  • shirlgirl2004
    shirlgirl2004 Posts: 2,983 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    I had vinyl wrapped white gloss. they weren't cheap ones either but the vinyl started to crack and split on the edges. I wouldn't have gloss again. The slab front was easy to clean though.
  • pawpurrs
    pawpurrs Posts: 3,910 Forumite
    1,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 18 June 2010 at 9:46PM
    It may just be me, but I personally feel gloss units will date?
    But if you love them, as you say, if it pleases you thats all that matters, we are all different, thank goodness.
    I have just installed a new kitchen and have had hand made, tradtional hand painted units.
    My kitchen is on here
    http://thewillowtreeworkshop.co.uk/thewillowtreeworkshop.aspx

    Its the one with the cream smeg and the green cooker, the green cooker has now gone, and been replaced with a cream everhot!
    Pawpurrs x ;)
  • pimento
    pimento Posts: 6,243 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts
    I have black gloss (Howdens) with white worktops. No dusting required just a buff with a damp tea towel when required.

    I'm very pleased with it.
    "If you think it's expensive to hire a professional to do the job, wait until you hire an amateur." -- Red Adair
  • dander
    dander Posts: 1,824 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Photogenic Name Dropper
    Personally, I think all kitchens will date - whether you go for an ultra-modern or a country cottage style, they'll all be the 2010 version of that style and time moves on, so you may as well focus on what you think looks good now and enjoy it!
  • hebridean
    hebridean Posts: 95 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10 Posts Combo Breaker
    I'm in the process of building a new house and after visiting most of the well known kitchen retailers i couldn't see the value in MDF coated in plastic kitchens. Some retailers even promote their kitchens as having "real wood doors" which they put a premium price on.
    Fortunately i came across pineland through a recommendation on this forum and i'm in the process of finalising the layout with them. They are solid "real wood" kitchens reasonably priced which will last any amout of dating because you can paint them any colour you like and when you like.
  • MRSTITTLEMOUSE
    MRSTITTLEMOUSE Posts: 8,547 Forumite
    hebridean wrote: »
    I'm in the process of building a new house and after visiting most of the well known kitchen retailers i couldn't see the value in MDF coated in plastic kitchens. Some retailers even promote their kitchens as having "real wood doors" which they put a premium price on.
    Fortunately i came across pineland through a recommendation on this forum and i'm in the process of finalising the layout with them. They are solid "real wood" kitchens reasonably priced which will last any amout of dating because you can paint them any colour you like and when you like.

    I feel the same.
    At least with wood you can repaint or strip and stain and update.
    With a coated MDF or plastic gloss kitchen you can't rectify any damage if they scratch or dent or the coating starts to crack or breakdown .
    Which it will eventually.
  • Meepster
    Meepster Posts: 5,955 Forumite
    Any colour gloss slab door, with the exception of white or cream, will date fairly quickly. They are also more prone to showing any scratches and dirt.

    The main difference between the various different kitchen companies is quality. No two MDF vinyl wrapped doors are the same. The biggest problems occur with the cheaper doors, as the vinyl at the joint simply meets, not overlaps, making it easier for water ingress to occur.

    Some campanies will offer lacquered gloss doors instead of a wrap, and these tend to be more hard wearing. Have a good look round at the various options available and ask the salespeople about the quality of their doors...
    If it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, we have at least to consider the possibility that we have a small aquatic bird of the family anatidae on our hands

  • cally1_2
    cally1_2 Posts: 392 Forumite
This discussion has been closed.
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