Kitchen too dark, looking for ideas.

floopnoodle

Seeing more pictures I think it would really benefit from having the black pelmet in white, whether that means painting or replacing. I think it would really help.

blessings3

Lush kitchen - I think gloss refective whiet/cream tiles would really help - I personally would try to keep a warm tone because of the wood - can you change the tambre doors for a stainless one reasonably cheaply? I thik you could also get away with some very glam crystal/stainless lights instead of the blue/purple ones and change those horrid radiators for some crhrome modern ones!!!!

Artytarty

http://www.flickr.com/photos/83997722@N03/
One cupboard done, one on left not done yet.
I wonder if the large flying top light plinth could be painted white or cream without it looking awful?
Maybe it could be replaced with a white version, its only some kind if chipboard with a deep trim.

blessings3

can you get mirrors/mirror mosaic cut for the underside of the pelmet if painting or changing its too expensive - I would be looking for as much stainless/mirrors as possible

I have just had my kitchen refittehttp://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Large-Round-Antique-Iron-Wall-Clock-with-Mirrored-Clock-Face-H81xW81cm-NEW-/180957622609?pt=UK_Alarmclocks&hash=item2a21ea3151d in cream and have just brought this clock/mirror to keep it light

aliasojo

Artytarty wrote: »

http://www.flickr.com/photos/83997722@N03/
One cupboard done, one on left not done yet.
I wonder if the large flying top light plinth could be painted white or cream without it looking awful?
Maybe it could be replaced with a white version, its only some kind if chipboard with a deep trim.

Please don't be offended as this is only my opinion but you may be at risk of making a good kitchen look cheap if you try to mess about with the units too much.

Walls, floor and light fixtures etc can be changed and would make the world of difference.

Hope you find something you're happy with though.

blessings3

Can you get mirror cut for those cupboards to match the top display bit ??

Artytarty

Certainly no offense taken at any comments and suggestions!
I am wary of making a dogs dinner of it!
The blue lights do look pretty when lit and the lighting system ( suspended parallel wires) would not support the weight of much, but I DO love the sound of crystal!!!Mind you, I broke one f the last shades swinging a knife about and jumping out of my seat!

Jaynne

Definitely retile and also repaint. We had a similar problem with our old kitchen which wasn't put in by us. The walls were dark and just sucked in the light. You need a white/cream colour tiles and walls. The cabinets are lovely and being glossy they will still reflect lots of light but the tiles are just light pits. Look at bright coloured accessories and plants too - perhaps recover the dining chairs or replace them, anything black or dark should go. As mentioned as well mirrors are great for keeping light in.

Here's the before and after images of ours - the difference in brightness is huge now though it doesn't show well in the photos.

Look at getting some LED strip lights for under the counter, plinth and anywhere else. They use almost no power (24W for 5 meters!) and give a lovely continuous light. They're super easy to fit - you basically peal off a sticky backing and stick them to the cabinets like a roll of tape.
Heres the ones we got.

Before

After

Artytarty

Thats lovely Jayne, quite a transformation.
I wish I could afford to just rip out and start again.Also, I need to be careful that the do this and thats dont all add up to the cost of start again!
My black chairs are fairly new sadly, I am going to look into covers but I dont know, we have two cats and a dog who likesto take her place at the end of the table on her own seat!

loracan1

floopnoodle wrote: »

Seeing more pictures I think it would really benefit from having the black pelmet in white, whether that means painting or replacing. I think it would really help.

I agree with this - to be honest I quite like the black tiles:o but feel the overpelmet thingie is overpowering everything.