Omega Kitchens

majjie

namecheck wrote: »

I have just had the "which colour to choose" dilemma.

A lot of people seemed to be pushing me towards gloss but I have gone for matt white and a pale granite worktop (as the room needs to be kept as light as possible).

While all you kitchen professionals are still about (hopefully), can anyone give me some advice re undermount sinks please?

I'm trying to choose between Kohler Ice Rock stainless steel and Schock - anything for or against either of these? We are in a hard water if that makes any difference.

That sounds like a great combination Namecheck. Matt finishes are catching up strongly now - in their race with gloss finishes - and some of those pale granites can look stunning (although make sure you re-seal it now and again!).

I wouldn't say there was much to choose - quality-wise - between Ice Rock and Schock - they're both good. It's more a question of which look you prefer. I think I'd probably go for stainless steel if it's undermounted (you won't notice any scratches) and it'll give a sharper look.

If you're into a minimal sort of feel though, a white Schock one might be better.

Uhmm ... that probably isn't much help ...

akitchendesigner

Akitchendesigner is still trying to prove that German kitchens are better than English ones ... but he (I'm assuming he's a he - especially with that last reference to cars!) hasn't really addressed Matt's question about whether he could buy a better kitchen than Omega at a similar cost.

I think the answer to that based on postings by CKDesigner and me are an emphatic YES. I thought that would be clear to readers by now.

majjie

akitchendesigner wrote: »

I think the answer to that based on postings by CKDesigner and me are an emphatic YES. I thought that would be clear to readers by now.

An emphatic yes isn't very helpful though is it.

Matt seems happy with his design and a white or cream finish, so doesn't need your variety of sizes and colours. If I was him I'd want a better reason to go and get another quote ... and a named brand to look at.

akitchendesigner

Can I point you towards my earlier posting about some of the benefits that German kitchens bring at similar or slightly higher cost. If 10% larger cabinets, additional shelf space, complete flexibility in appliance positioning etc isnt material, then I dont know what is.

Providing as much storage as possible in a kitchen is a requirement that every client requests and if we can offer 11 cabinets in the space of 10 and for the cost of 10 cabinets I cant think of a more significant benefit.

After all, whether or not these features and their benefits are material, are only for Matt to decide. If he has a design he is happy with and finishes/colours he likes, it may be well worth this while to explore what a German kitchen offering the above benefits costs. I know I would.

namecheck

Thanks majjie.

I currently have a ceramic sink (which I "could" keep, if I was keeping to the moneysaving ethic, but it is looking its age).

Think I may go for the stainless steel but still undecided, fortunately don't need to decide this week.

(Just had a look at your website and blog, majjie - shame I haven't picked up on it before)

majjie

No probs Namecheck. As for those German kitchens - Matt will have to make up his own mind!

MattJH

majjie wrote: »

Thanks Hejo Glad you liked it.

I think this really has degenerated into a bun fight between kitchen suppliers now - my kitchen is better than yours.

Akitchendesigner is still trying to prove that German kitchens are better than English ones ... but he (I'm assuming he's a he - especially with that last reference to cars!) hasn't really addressed Matt's question about whether he could buy a better kitchen than Omega at a similar cost.

It's all a bit pointless - the Germans have perfected an extraordinarily complex modular system with an almost endless variety of unit sizes ... but I find it a lot easier to get a bespoke one, from a small business in the UK, at that sort of price (you certainly don't have to go to the big names). There's no intrinsic value in mass production and German kitchens are the same as everything else - some are better than others.

Going back to the original question!

I had a quick exchange of Tweets with Russ at Stuart Henry Kitchens on the Wirral. He's been supplying Sheraton, Chippendale and Omega kitchens for the past five years and he reckons that their high gloss doors are excellent quality. They do have slightly less size options than Sheraton - but if you're happy with your design Matt, then it's a bit irrelevant. Russ is an independent retailer and he's as happy with his choice of Omega kitchens as CK and the others are with their German ones.

What I did notice was that Hejo, above, chose white doors but teamed them with black ovens and WOOD (or wood effect?) worktops. Adding wood to the white will warm it up and make it look less clinical and cold.

Matt originally said that he was thinking of black worktops. I think that without the wood a white kitchen might look quite cool ... depending on what colour that glass splashback is.

For the cream choice, I think it depends on what colour the cream is. Some creams are more ivory than buttercream and I think that could look good in a kitchen with black worktops.

Hejo's suggestion of trawling the internet for pictures is an excellent one. Print a few of your favourites out and see if any of them grow on you.

Don't know if that helps ...

Thanks again, I am finding your posts a little more relevant and objective compared to some of the others that are simply pushing the German thing without looking at the broader picture.

The work surface decision has been difficult too. We saw a really nice red quartz worktop and thought it looked really good with a Sheraton gloss kitchen in the show room. However, we were concerned about becoming tired with that in a few years. The only other options we could think about with white (or cream) were black or brown. We like the look of wood but are concerned with the upkeep and the designer did agree with that point, particularly around the sink.

As for black, you're right, we are concerned that would look a little cold. I was considering adding a bright colour as the splash back, something lary like a lime green to bring an extra dimension to it. Plus we were going for Siemens appliances in stainless stell, rather than black.

Another option to break things up a little would be to go for black quartz on the surface along the sides where the main bulk of the units are. However, we were then considering wood on an island area that we are going to incorporate into the design. Essentially the layout is a fairly long L shape 7M one length and a few metres the other with about a 2M island unit. The rest of the room (in total it is around 7M by 7M) will also contain a dining table along with a small seating area.

Again, I appreciate the time you have taken in replying to my posts, it really has been helpful, along with entertaining to read the discussion around German vs. UK.

majjie

You're welcome Matt. I do come largely for the entertainment it's true - but I like to think that the original question is addressed!

I'd agree that real wood isn't a good choice, unless you're prepared to give it a bit of tlc now and again ... and I'm not sure I'd use it for the island, if you might not get the time for the oiling. It's true that around the sink and hob are the dodgiest areas but, once you have an island, you tend to use it for a lot of food prep and dishing up.

What's the floor going to be? Could you use something warmer there? Not necessarily wood - but a sandy brown floor tile perhaps?

I'm not sure about the lime green - still a little cool - what about cerise, or red ... or a zingy orange!!

MattJH

Yeah, not sure why I am infatuated with Green, I just like the colour. The pink one shown in my PInterest board isn't bad either, although a bit feminine perhaps :-)

https://pinterest.com/m4tthall/kitchen/

The floor, yep, a struggle too! I think we will end up with wood. Weather it is laminate, real wood or something like Kandean. However, I didn't really want to spend too much money here, as it can get very expensive very quickly.

namecheck

I've thought about glass splashbacks too.

But I came to the conclusion that glass could date quite quickly (a bit like glass basins that were on trend, rather briefly). I also feel the bright colours could date - and you might get sick of looking at bright green, or whatever, every day. Though it does depend on how long you would want to keep the kitchen, or whether you may move on in a few years.

I have lived with my current unsatisfactory kitchen ever since we moved in. Although the new units are not costing much, I am spending on worktops/sink etc to get the look I want. Will probably not get another new kitchen unless we move!