Advice Needed for kitchen with the 'wow' factor

Meepster

Let me get back to you

sillywilly

Innys wrote: »

I've found the IKEA design software to be pretty useless as their units are not the standard 500/1000mm wide. Only any good if you're definitely going to buy their units.

Standard British sizes means nothing if you buy an Ikea kitchen as I suggested.

I found their CAD software really quite easy to use and price up a kitchen. Do any British companies offer a decent alternative? Howdens, Homebase, B&Q or do you have to go in store and let them do it and listen to their sales spiel?

I think that the sizes the OP has mentioned don't lend themselves to an island unit although it would fit. Each to their own

bigg2001

Innys wrote: »

Ermm.........two questions:

Where's the window likely to be?; and
How easy will it be to get from the sink to the fridge to the cooker to the sink? I ask this because the island may get in the way which will be an issue.

The window is above the sink on the second wall and is 3 panes wide and the island is in the centre of the triangle between sink, fridge and cooker - almost possible to draw a straight line! - I am not too worried about this though as don't use milk and tend to prep everything on side before starting to cook.

There is another alternative design but feels really closed in and then hob is on island but no room either side of hob to prep so disregarded that one!

Innys

I asked the question because I am in the process of designing my own L-shaped kitchen much like yours but larger - 4.5 x 4.5m.

I, too will have an island, but am taking care to make sure it doesn't affect access to the sink, hob or fridge.

My window is likely to be above the sink on the same side as the fridge and hob.

phill99

I buy a lot of Howdens kitchens and agree that their designers are not designers in the purest sense. Their job is to design the layout of the kitchen units and the placing of hob, oven etc. You have to remember that the units are only one part of the overall design. The 'wow' factor comes from the treatment of the walls, floors, colour schemes, lighting, accessories etc.

sillywilly

phill99 wrote: »

I buy a lot of Howdens kitchens and agree that their designers are not designers in the purest sense. Their job is to design the layout of the kitchen units and the placing of hob, oven etc. You have to remember that the units are only one part of the overall design. The 'wow' factor comes from the treatment of the walls, floors, colour schemes, lighting, accessories etc.

You are right. From what I have seen Howdens kitchen doors and units are not a thing of great beauty standing alone. With quality appliances, lighting, tiles, flooring, granite worktops etc you are gonna have the wow factor anyway aren't you?

bigg2001

Innys wrote: »

I asked the question because I am in the process of designing my own L-shaped kitchen much like yours but larger - 4.5 x 4.5m.

I, too will have an island, but am taking care to make sure it doesn't affect access to the sink, hob or fridge.

My window is likely to be above the sink on the same side as the fridge and hob.

Innys

I have looked at the plans and may shorten the island to have a direct line with no impact as you have got me thinking, which would mean that I could still fit a 2 drawer 800 mm unit across the end for cutlery and pans, a wine cooler and 1 wall unit on legs (so shallow) back to back and another 800mm unit (open base) across other end with overhang - think it might look better and have a function.

My window side will have nothing on walls and once units end, I have french doors into garden which is where sofa and dining table and chairs will be - this wall measures 7000mm in total. When we have put fridge and ovens on same side, it looks congested as wall only 3300mm.

So tricky to make the right decision isn't it as know will have to live with this for some time!

bigg2001

sillywilly wrote: »

You are right. From what I have seen Howdens kitchen doors and units are not a thing of great beauty standing alone. With quality appliances, lighting, tiles, flooring, granite worktops etc you are gonna have the wow factor anyway aren't you?

Ah yes - but that is perhaps the ultimate question (as these will probably add up to two / three times as much as kitchen units!!) don't want to get them wrong and fingers crossed, they will add the 'wow' factor.

But have slate tiles on floor at mo and hate them because they show every crumb and always look dirty even when clean and they cost me £1500 (ripped off i think pre-mse days) but until we do this kitchen, haven't wanted to waste the money spent so that's probably why I'm being so cautious this time.

bigg2001

Thanks for the picture - I do love the Glendevon!

My husband has come home and disregarded both designs as he says there are issues with both! Not sure now whether to change from an island to a peninsula? Would it have the same impact - could leave a small island in the design but would only be 1200mm by 1000mm altho did think that could use solid oak instead of granite to tie in with the dining room table if had a peninsular in granite?? The American fridge/freezer is causing us the issue at the moment! and he is insisting we keep it!

pimento

I can't see the design as the picture is too big, but how about inverting the colours and having black units and white tops? We did this (Howdens) and it looks fab (in my opinion..)