Advice Needed for kitchen with the 'wow' factor

QTPie

Doozergirl, as usual, has really excellent points - can't disagree with anything.

As others have said, you need to go with what makes you happy and makes you go "wow!" - since what works for one person, doesn't work for another.

The most important thing with any kitchen is functionality... for instance, I LOVE the look of big range cookers... not practical for me though (I hate bending down loads to use ovens... especially following a C Section and may well have another pregnancy and C Section....): so I went for two single ovens (the top oven of a double oven just seems too compact these days). I went for an American style fridge freezer in my kitchen, but I also have a seperate tall freezer in my utility room. I have some curved units, but agree with Doozergirl - economically they do not make sense... (I probably could have spent the money better elsewhere... so they are an indulgence). I really wanted an island, but certain practicalities (including a 9 month old son) have made me rethink and go for a peninsula: not as "wow" as an island, but just works better for us (dividing the room as opposed to making an obstacle course to race around...)

I don't think that you can ever truly stop a kitchen from looking "dated"... so if you are intending to keep it for some time, then try not to go OTT on "fashion items" - as Doozergirls says, clean lines etc.

I am not sure that my new kitchen will ever win any style prizes - there is nothing ultra-modern (I have gone for a sort of "classic contemporary" style unit with good quality stainless steel appliances, dark granite, glass splashbacks, quality floor and lots of good storage solutions) or flashy about my kitchen, but it is practical, well put together and works for me.

QT

pandora205

I have a Howdens white Calgary kitchen, which is white gloss. I had it with a grey-ish laminate worktop but if I did it again I'd go for granite. I think it all looks quite good, especially with the slate flooring and silver blind. I'll upgrade the worktops and sink in a couple of years.


http://s1116.photobucket.com/albums/k579/pandora205/?action=view&current=DSC00034.jpg#!oZZ1QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs1116.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fk579%2Fpandora205%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3DDSC00034.jpg%26

Doozergirl

QTPie wrote: »

I am not sure that my new kitchen will ever win any style prizes - there is nothing ultra-modern (I have gone for a sort of "classic contemporary" style unit with good quality stainless steel appliances, dark granite, glass splashbacks, quality floor and lots of good storage solutions) or flashy about my kitchen, but it is practical, well put together and works for me.

QT

If what I've seen of your bathroom is anything to go by, I have no doubt that your kitchen has wow! I'd love to see what you've done.

QTPie

Doozergirl wrote: »

If what I've seen of your bathroom is anything to go by, I have no doubt that your kitchen has wow! I'd love to see what you've done.

Thank you very much .

Almost done - missed a few tricks along the way, but... it still has the wow factor for me - hopefully post a few photos next week. Bathroom should be finished then too.

QT

Innys

Doozergirl wrote: »

I don't put wall units into kitchens at the moment if I can help it. I like walls of larder units, two single ovens side by side instead of a double. And integrating the fridge freezer into the larder units. of wall and floor units. And a lovely clean run of base units with worksurfaces without wall units to keep the sense of space in a room.

Surely this is only possible for those with a larger than average kitchen? If you have walls of larder units, there is obviously no space for worksurfaces there. And nor is there space for a sink and hob on a wall with larder units.

A sink and hob would break-up a "clean run of base units" so that means such a run would have to be on a third wall. Therefore, what you are suggesting only works for U shaped kitchens or an L shaped one with a large island to accomodate both the sink and hob.

I don't think many people have that kind of space.

Doozergirl

Innys wrote: »

Surely this is only possible for those with a larger than average kitchen? If you have walls of larder units, there is obviously no space for worksurfaces there. And nor is there space for a sink and hob on a wall with larder units.

A sink and hob would break-up a "clean run of base units" so that means such a run would have to be on a third wall. Therefore, what you are suggesting only works for U shaped kitchens or an L shaped one with a large island to accomodate both the sink and hob.

I don't think many people have that kind of space.

The OP does. It was the OP asking about their kitchen and my reply was regarding the OPs kitchen, not necessarily anybody elses?

You needn't take me so literally. As far as a clean run of base units goes, I'm aware of the need for sinks and hobs! If you look at my post I was mainly making the point for not using wall units where you can gain extra storage from larder units.

Plasterer

Have your ceiling venetian plastered - your mates won't stop talking about it great discussion point for dinner parties.

bigg2001

Doozergirl wrote: »

Wow factor. Well, I wouldn't put your fridge freezer in the utility room! I also think you should have what you want in your wow factor kitchen because it's supposed to wow you the most! High gloss won't date quickly - I've been putting it into kitchens for over 10 years. Clean lines can't really date. I think every thread about Howdens I've read recently has been about the Burford if that says anything about fashion...

I don't put wall units into kitchens at the moment if I can help it. I like walls of larder units, two single ovens side by side instead of a double. And integrating the fridge freezer into the larder units. of wall and floor units. And a lovely clean run of base units with worksurfaces without wall units to keep the sense of space in a room.

Wow factor is all about the way the kitchen looks. And then things like pull out larders Symmetry is really important to me, I like to keep all handles horizontal, rather than pointing all over the place. The curved units are hideously expensive. When I'm looking at the budget, I look at the price of every single unit and when four curved units cost well over £1000 on even a lower range kitchen, I'd balance out where I want the money spent. Cutting stone worktops to fit those curves costs a huge amount as well. They are a new look but I'm not convinced by something which costs a great deal of money and provides me with less storage!

I'd write more but the layout of the page has been put out by the picture and I can't read what I've written properly! Your layout sounds similar to the kitchen we're fitting at the moment. Hoping that has wow factor!

Doozergirl

So how do you get all handles horizontal (on a cupboard for instance??) And how do you end the run of floor to ceiling units in the corner where it meets the run of floor units? Do you have a wall unit or do you have a taller unit which ends in line with the rest and sits on the worktop? We would not be able to fit this flush as our window starts at this point so would look odd and need something as it houses our boiler!

My 2 main options that I have narrowed it down to are -

First option - 1 wall of floor to ceiling units with 2 500mm larder units, american fridge-freezer integrated and 2 ovens (although one on top of another not side by side), second wall base units only with integrated dishwasher & therefore hob on island or peninsular with island extractor

Second option - 1 wall made up of 500mm larder unit, oven tower, extra wide hod & hood, 2 500mm wall and floor units, second wall base units only with integrated dishwasher.

Not sure which one is most stylish?

Do you have any pictures of your latest kitchen yet as have seen 2 others of yours and they are very impressive!!

Would you go for a peninsular or island and is it easy to site a hob on these?

Finally, you made a comment about Burford - does this mean steer clear or go with it? If I go for gloss there seems to be option of flat slab door or a shaker style door.

Thanks for all replies - really appreciated - you are all helping to finetune the whirrings of my brain and believe your combined brains and ideas will probably give me more than a very expensive designer!!

:T:T:T

bigg2001

Plasterer wrote: »

Have your ceiling venetian plastered - your mates won't stop talking about it great discussion point for dinner parties.

????!!! thanks for the suggestion

cheeswright

fascinating discussion..
just been through this recently
my suggestion would be - dump the 'trophy fridge' they ruin the lines of most otherwise decent designs - and arnt realy nice to look at at all.
we had a double fronted stainless steel undercounter one put in
and I think its altogether more attractive - although this is just opinion- and my worksurface is clear and attracive because of it
proof ?
notice how any design brochure dont show these fridges in their designs...they dont match.... (they never show washing machines either)