Shabby Chic; Volume III

MrsMoo2U

Hi, Danemi - why not take a look at Bibbitybob's kitchen makeover. I think that gloss white units could never be classed as shabby chic but you can easily decorate around it to make it a mix up of shabby meets modern surely. In my last house I had white gloss slab units with oak counters and oak floors I then prettied the kitchen up with accessories and lovely colours on the walls. Remember you are spending a lot on the kitchen so you want it to last. White units can be perked up with accessories and colours when you get fed up. If you are making it a family room I imagine that the living part could be really made to feel cosy. Good luck and I look forward to reading more on your blog

shirlgirl2004

danemi1 wrote: »

thanks hun - on their site - they said the average kitchen was - what was it 5K - but ood to read your prices there - thank you - let us know how you get on - the rest of the building work is costing an arm and a leg - having an extension, then three wals taken down to make big family room and we have nicking a 1/4 of the garage to add an en suite so as you can see - the kitchen has to be very very very affordable - ohhh I could do with a win on the lottery - actually had two wins recently - 2.60 and 2.90 - that may buy me a pack of napkins - lol!!!

Yes I remember you are doing very similar to us. We have had 2 walls removed (they started on the 4th July) and are building an extension and then extending our bedroom above part of it. It makes me laugh how on the property programmes they do it all for so little money. Our build price for the basics (no flooring or anything like that) is £62k so we are keeping a close eye on the budget but I have a pic in my mind and I want it to look like that too. I'm not sure how long we will stay in this house so it neees to look really good. The house is in high price bracket so the kitchen has to suit the house IYKWIM. If If could get away with Ikea I would believe me.

On a very shabby chic note I recently painted a litlle drum table bought from ebay for 99p and also a bookcase which I bought for £8.50. £8.50 is way over what I normally spend but I bought it by mistake! Never mind it looks lovely in DDs bedroom now. I just have to upload pics and the camera on my phone is playing up.

Oscar_the_Pug

Our kitchen came from Pineland, and I would recommend them.

I'm going to post up some pics but please bear with me as I have not done this before and had to sign up to flickr just to do this!

The units cost about three thousand - we bought the worktops, sink etc separately. Like you we had a very limited budget, but I also had a fixed idea of what I wanted, and quality was also important. I shopped around like crazy on the internet to get the best prices for things, and the only thing I regret is the kitchen tap. We got this from screwfix for about 50 quid but the one we got is stiff and doesn't move from side to side (though it looks the part with ceramic levers). It wasn't so much the cheapness as not testing it when I picked it up and asking for a replacement.

Ironically the mega cheapie utility room tap from Aldi (15 quid or so) works much better!

Oscar_the_Pug

Didn't have enough posts last time to get this up, hopefully this will work: http://www.flickr.com/photos/65305511@N02/?saved=1

Oscar_the_Pug

And with apologies for clogging up this board with posts about my kitchen, I just wanted to say that our very talented kitchen fitter painted the units for us, using a lacquer which was as closed in colour to Fired Earth's Antique Verd as we could find.

The sideboard and larder were also painted by him, this time using Farrow & Ball's slipper satin.

The big plus to the lacquer is that it is pretty much wipe clean and yet isn't too glossy - I much prefer flat matt paints, and this has fit the bill.

Since we got the kitchen in we've acquired 2 dogs and it is holding up well with muddy pawprints, claws etc, so I would definitely buy from Pineland again if I had another kitchen. The other benefit to us was it enabled us to use up every cm of an awkward space, and nothing had to be cut down to size.

Hope that helps!

emg

love your larder cupboard, very jealous!

bexster1975

Hi danemi

I got some of the cup handles you described/pictured on ebay last year when I re-did my kitchen. They were 99p each and then a couple of quid postage. Brand new with all fixings. Look lovely on the drawers of my newly revamped kitchen. Cupboard doors/drawer fronts/plinths were from a mahoosive deal at B&Q last September. They were selling off cooke and lewis doors etc from several different ranges. I got a lovely country cream style for £65! That was for 10 doors, 3 drawers, plinths and edging tape! Got lucky on the Grabbit board one evening and ran around like a mad woman trying to measure all units etc. before the website sold out!

I also got some matching door handles but they are a more traditional bar handle, also off ebay.

Good luck with the refurb.

bexster:j

shirlgirl2004

Oscar_the_Pug wrote: »

Didn't have enough posts last time to get this up, hopefully this will work: http://www.flickr.com/photos/65305511@N02/?saved=1

Lovely kitchen. If mine turns out as good as that I'll be happy. Do you have any more details on the laquer? Laquer sounds as though it is a spray paint in a can?

Oscar_the_Pug

Aw thanks, we are really pleased with it.

The lacquer wasn't a spray can type of thing - seemed to be proper industrial type stuff - we've still got some in the old tin which is labelled Morrells. The kitchen fitter used to be a cabinet maker so he had a spray gun and all the equipment. He did it on a chilly day in January:eek: and it gave a good consistent coverage. The website for Morrells is: http://www.morrells.co.uk/

Good luck with yours!

hmo

RowenaRubysMummy wrote: »

Hi all, Been lurking around here for a while getting some inspiration for my spare room and I've been overwhelemed with ideas! Was up while 3.30am the other day with my mind working overtime! Not really a good idea when you have a four month old!!

I need some help though I have some crocheted granny squares in white and pale yellow that I made that i was going to make into a blanket for my baby but ended up making her another two without using the squares, was wondering if any of you have any idea what I can do with them as I would hate them to go to waste!

Thanks
Rowena x

make a cushion with them, sew them to a piece of plain fabric which will be your top you wont see the fabric just the knitted squares.

then cut another piece for the back, if you make a simple envelop style it should be done very quick.