The Edcawber Principle

edinburgher

£61.14 paid off CC :coffee:

South_coast

Morning Ed, my kitchen is about 7' x 7' in a very ugly 70's building and I am planning a top-spec replacement - it's not the size, it's what you do with it that counts ! And if it will make you smile every time you walk in, then it's definitely worth it. Plus, a smaller kitchen will mean you can splash out more as there's less worktop/cupboards to buy (that's what I'm telling myself anyway)

Suffolk_lass

I agree with South coast - there is an element of the joy it gives you. You cook what sound like wonderful meals and doing so on a good quality counter will add to it for you. greent is right though, 30ml thick is plenty. In our Son's house we had the existing worktops clad with white granite (about 14' long U shaped counter top run) for much less and I am very impressed with the quality.

They do say don't skimp on counter tops or appliances but you can economise and refresh the rest, if needs be. I should just paint the veneer cupboard doors but they have a "frame" that means they trap dust, dribbles and any grease

badmemory

I would also say don't scimp on walls. I haven't had my kitchen done yet, but had my bathroom done & instead of tiling for shower & sink I "splashed" out on splashwall. 4 years on & I still go in the bathroom & think what a great decision I made which is by no means normal for me. I fully intend having 3 walls of the kitchen done with the same. NO GROUT!! It is not cheap & I have much higher quality (price) inside the shower than outside which I won't need in the kitchen.

greent

We live in a modern house (built around 1995/6) - one of those mid 90s 'executive style' ones (as they were described/sold at the time!) at the edge of a modern estate - however, I can spend most of the day in the kitchen so I have it how I love it and that's what matters (all the black is looking lovely and shiny at the mo )

Oh - going back to granite - we also have granite windowsills (sooo easy to keep clean in comparison to tiles! - no grout to get grubby) and the splashback behind the range is a big slab of granite too - again easy to keep clean (even easier than the stainless steel one we used to have)

I could have done our kitchen much cheaper - but I wouldn't have liked it as much. The money was only spent for my benefit, not for anyone else's down the line. Depends how quickly you want to move, I guess - if that's relatively soon then I'd get something cheaper but which looks good but may not be as durable in the end (not your problem by then.... )

edinburgher

Lots of interesting contributions, thanks South coast, Suffolk Lass, Bandmemory and greent.

I'm sensing a lack of love for tiles? We have a bathroom that's tiled floor to ceiling (ceiling painted with moisture resistant white paint as it reflects light better) and I love it!

I don't love our current kitchen tiles, however. Think a grotty coral and white checked splashback going up about 18", with badly painted terracotta paint above that :eek:

We're quite a big fan of the modern thing for grey kitchens (already opted for silver vertical radiators throughout the rest of the house as they look smart and don't need painted). Something like the Lewes range from H0wdens looks nice as a starter for 10.

Suffolk_lass

I love that clean grey look, and love the contrast with pale cream or navy. I always fear it would look a little bit incongruous in our 17th century thatched cottage but then you see George Clarke doing things with a mix sleek modern and old classic houses.

edinburgher

Suffolk_lass wrote: »

I love that clean grey look, and love the contrast with pale cream or navy. I always fear it would look a little bit incongruous in our 17th century thatched cottage but then you see George Clarke doing things with a mix sleek modern and old classic houses.

Combine it with some matched aluminium windows/light tunnels etc. And you could probably achieve the challenging dark but not oppressive vibe (coupled with some elements of colour, probably brightly coloured luminaires or "clouds" of low power LED light sources). It would make me smile.

£60.53 paid off CC, now under £6k.

*Edit: and another £3.70 paid off (T5B interest for last month).

Suffolk_lass

You see, you do all your thinking, set out your thoughts, and then someone on here suggests something better (twinkle, twinkle) - I'm going back to look again now...

beanielou

Hurrah for being under 6k.
Awesome.