Shabby Chic; Volume III

chalkysoil

I'm not a shabby chic decorating guru, I come on here looking for ideas! I'm kind of shabby country eclectic style, with a touch of explosion in a paint factory.
I'd kill for that kitchen though

danemi1

thank you - you dont think it would look twee though???? How can I trend it up whilst still retaining the shabby chic style - any ideas...how long have you had the ikea units...yknow if it had black granite tops - it would be a no brainer - dont want a lot do I - I wondered if I could get some granite in black for both the run and the island and sell the oatmeal one ????

chalkysoil

this is one corner of my kitchen, pic taken about 6 years ago, it was old then - it's even more bashed around now!

chalkysoil

these are the Ikea units - wall cupboards - stuffed full of stationery & paints etc, probably about 8+ years old. Can't complain for value though, I think the entire lot (9 doors - some single some double cupboards) were less than £120.

shirlgirl2004

danemi1 I think that kitchen is lovely. I know what you mean about brown type worktops (I hate them) but could you put a different type of worktop in such as oak? We're having oak and then granite on the island. I'm not sure you'd get that much for the "used" worktop but you could check out Ebay and see what they go for. I guess it depends on the size and how useable it is.

Our kitchen is almost built. The kitchen just needs skirting, painting and tiling and then some units and appliances! There are other bits as well such as a stove (in the snug area) and rebuilding the surround for the stove but we're on the home straight! The tiler is coming on the 24th October and the kitchen is being delivered in the week beginning 7th November.

danemi1

thanks shirlgirl..the units are oak so not sure about oak worktops too!
Yours sounds slovely - must take piccies and show us

hmo

hi all ive just blogged an update of our kitchen, i blogged a couple of weeks ago that we were doing more work as we had managed to get some more units and doors

All the details and more photos are on my blog link to home page over on the left of this posting.

heres one shot, this is not the kitchen i had planned when we were building last year but i am happy with it so far i dont have proper worktops yet just plain wood but like you Danemi1 i need to accessorise it and not sure how so will watch this thread with interest.



I forgot to say there is alot more room from the table towards the window than appears in this shot, we had an island in that space for about 2 weeks and i hated it i spent all my time swerving around it, think hard before you buy or use it it could save you the money on having to buy the top for it if you dont need it. hope that makes sense

infact all our base units (except the corners which are cupboards) are island draw units we just cut the back sections off and made then into base units, they are two big deep draws and a top shallower draw which are perfect for cutlery and utensils.

i love big pan draws i had them in my other house, i dont only use them for pans i keep my plates and mugs in them too and in this kitchen i keep all our food in them as well, as i didnt manage to pick up a larder unit.

they are actually M&S units we picked up cheap but are still available online, I also bought the big dresser to match.

the table and small sideboard are another range but not the same range as the M&S ones but you wouldnt know.

Hobsons_Choice

Going to bed for a lie down because I now have a serious case of kitchen envy!!!!

shirlgirl2004

danemi1 wrote: »

thanks shirlgirl..the units are oak so not sure about oak worktops too!
Yours sounds slovely - must take piccies and show us

Sorry I was being dense there suggesting oak on oak units! I found a local granite firm which are reasonably priced because they're only about 7 miles away and a lot of the cost is the templating, transporting and fitting for the granite. Have you had a look for one near you?

I will take pics but you might have to wait a while. I'm not even sure we'll be done in time for Christmas at this rate.

danemi1

hmo - wow it looks gorgeous - truly it does - its wood but its modern wood if that makes sense. Thanks for posting that piccie. Have been to Nottingham Ikea today and there was only one that caught my eye and it was the white abstrakt but as we were walking around all the displays I began to think more about how I would use the space and where things would go - we moved stools around one large island and measured a metre either side and then hubby went and stood where the room would end and just generally started to visualise the room a bit more and I realised too that I do like the units but its the hood and the pillasters that I am not so keen on - wait I will scan the picture in and show you