Tips for using DIY kitchens, and also some (basic) designs

penguingirl

MissGivings wrote: »

I'm wondering about the run of wall cupboards on the cooker hood wall.The one's to the left and right of the cooker hood look diff sizes-is that right or just the pic?
Are they all 45cm with a 50cm at the end?

Someone mentioned earlier that it looks better if cupboard widths look better if they match above and below. If it can be done, it would be good.

Lovely individual touches and flashes of colour genius can all be added later to a good, simple design.

It's getting there, do you feel?:)

Unfortunately that's right- the 2 on the left of the cooker hood are smaller (I had mistakenly said they were 45cm before, they're not- they're 35cm), the ones on the other side are 40cm. Not sure how to avoid this (but open to solutions as I would prefer them the same!). I feel restricted because I only have space for 150cm of cupboards along that wall, plus a 60cm extractor hood- so end up with having to have a 70cm/80cm split on that wall. If you want a laugh, this is what we have at the moment, the builders of the house just decided to go with gaps in the units (amongst other awful feature such as micro sized cupboards)- I'm also glad that we don't have that FF or oven anymore!

penguingirl

tpt wrote: »

just noticed your comment about hingejig - DONT!

they do a delivery plus option where they drill and fit all the doors and drawers for you. then the units come made up, rigid with doors fitted. its about 15% extra i think but worth every penny.

P.s. i also noticed the comment about tiles -i can help with that :-)

Haha I will bear that in mind then (although stubborn OH may not be so easily won over!)

What tile suggestions do you have? I'm thinking something grey and white at the moment, sort of like but probably with less black and more of a 'random' tile pattern. I think we probably won't pick tiles until the kitchen units are done though.

sugarwalsh

If you are finding it difficult go into a kitchen store and ask them to have a go for you. It is a simple enough design you want and then you can just use their design for reference.
I'm a plain tile girl myself - Statement paint or wallpaper, plain for things which can't be changed easily, ie tiles, kitchen units, bathroom suite etc. If you are thinking of selling in the near future try keeping the fixtures and fittings neutral - most people aren't stupid enough to let some re-decorating put them off, but they may let something which is more complicated to change put them off.
Just my opinion though.
Megan

penguingirl

andrew-b wrote: »

Did you consider my suggestion (in the edit) for drawerline....would give you 5 more drawers but at the sacrifice of a bit of cupboard space which TBH probably isn't usable anyway.

Sorry I hadn't seen that- but I will probably will not go for drawline, as you can see we have it at the moment and I don't think I use the drawer space very well, plus I think highline will look more simple which I think is right for my kitchen. Also has the plus side of being cheaper than drawers that I don't really need!

I don't think it matter much even if you were to use the big drawers for pans being away from the oven as it's close enough. We use one of our pan drawer to store potatoes/onions too.

Yes the plus of having a small kitchen is that nothing is far away!

I think i'd ditch the cupboard around the boiler as it just destroys the symmetry. Our boiler is on display alongside wall units (about a couple of inches between if that) and it really doesn't bother us.

Ok- I think this may be something we buy and then decide after the kitchen is fitted whether to include it or not- it's not expensive to buy a 'false cupboard' from DIY kitchens and that way we can be open minded about it.

Another idea that i'm not sure you'll go for as it means moving the oven/hob by 20cm to the right: replace the 3 x 40cm base units on the oven wall have a 60cm base unit either side of the oven - then rejig the wall units left to right 40cm, 60cm, extractor, 50cm, boiler. This give you wider cupboards which may be more usable. 40cm is quite small IMHO.

Sorry I'm not sure I explained myself very well- the bottom cupboards are both 80cm, but as the one on the left is a corner cupboard it only has one door. I would be reluctant to move the oven to the right as that's where the switch for it is so would then need a sparky. The gas is less of an issue because we're going to need a gas man to do the hob anyway.

On the sink side i still don't like it...you also need to check the minimum size of base unit the sink can go in..45cm i think will be too small. Bear in mind that with a single door corner base unit a bit of the corner will get wasted which might be the bit where your pipework goes and you'll also have a service area behind the base units anyway.

The sink unit is 50cm (which is what I can get from DIY kitchens), it just comes with a 45cm door (according to the website).

penguingirl

andrew-b wrote: »

On the sink side how much space have you got from the face of the oven wall units until you hit the door.

Sorry I'm not quite sure which bit you mean. Which door? There is a 80cm space between the oven and the sink units, don't think that's what you meant though.

penguingirl

sugarwalsh wrote: »

If you are finding it difficult go into a kitchen store and ask them to have a go for you. It is a simple enough design you want and then you can just use their design for reference.
I'm a plain tile girl myself - Statement paint or wallpaper, plain for things which can't be changed easily, ie tiles, kitchen units, bathroom suite etc. If you are thinking of selling in the near future try keeping the fixtures and fittings neutral - most people aren't stupid enough to let some re-decorating put them off, but they may let something which is more complicated to change put them off.
Just my opinion though.
Megan

Yeah I think I will probably do that, there are some local suppliers of second nature kitchens around here so hopefully they should have access to the same range as those we're looking at with DIY kitchens.

I do know what you mean about tiles, my house is simple decor at the moment. I just like my outlaws tiles which are that sort of style but in browns and creams, but thinkng about it their house is a lot bigger and brighter than mine!

sugarwalsh

It can help - we took a LONG time getting it right and I live with a joiner. Plus if you struggle to 'see' things then it really will help. I know the kind of tiles you mean, I like them, but I suspect they may look a little busy in your kitchen. You could get away with it as just a splash back for cooker and perhaps ny the sink if you really wanted them?

I think the door referred to above is the back door - although I'm not sure!

Megan

MissGivings_2

penguingirl wrote: »

Unfortunately that's right- the 2 on the left of the cooker hood are smaller (I had mistakenly said they were 45cm before, they're not- they're 35cm), the ones on the other side are 40cm. Not sure how to avoid this (but open to solutions as I would prefer them the same!). I feel restricted because I only have space for 150cm of cupboards along that wall, plus a 60cm extractor hood- so end up with having to have a 70cm/80cm split on that wall. If you want a laugh, this is what we have at the moment, the builders of the house just decided to go with gaps in the units (amongst other awful feature such as micro sized cupboards)- I'm also glad that we don't have that FF or oven anymore!

How about wall cupboards either side of hood both being 35cm with a 5cm spacer on the left? That would look really nice.

Thanks for the pic of how it is now. Very helpful to get an impression of the light to think about tiles and colours etc

Do you want the overall feel to be quite smart?

Although as the kitchen is North facing can't say I'm a big fan of grey mix tiles.

I've used soft french terracotta and off-white for a client-it was gorgeous with wood and added a certain texture and vivacity.
(I'll try to put a picture of what I mean in if you're interested)

Think carefully about having a random mix in a family kitchen- it could add to feeling crowded and messy unless the colours were really well matched!:o

adamg

tpt wrote: »

Extractors need to be at least 750mm above gas hobs, make sure you have the height.
QUOTE]


No they don't

Eenymeeny

Loads of helpful advice on here. Thanks everyone.
Can I just add that I had trouble adding worktop to my Ikea plan also. (About 30cm to cover dishwasher which was under the sink drainer and in the middle of a run) The assistant queried it and added another length of worktop which I will now have to return. Just a little warning...