Prosperous soul in the making

Chrystal

Thanks for the info SH.  I'll have a look as it's getting more and more difficult to bend down (and get up!) when trying to find something in the cupboards.  I've been thinking about getting pan drawer cupboards but these one's will do in between times. X

badmemory

Chrystal said:

 I'll have a look as it's getting more and more difficult to bend down (and get up!) when trying to find something in the cupboards.

Me too!  I find I am using two thirds of the top shelf (on a good day) & only one third of the bottom shelf.  Put another way, I am effectively using less than half any of my bottom cupboards.  Which makes no sense at all & explains why my kitchen looks more & more like a dumping ground every year.   None of which is helped by me being not exactly tall so only one & a bit shelves of my top cupboards are really usable.  What a waste of space in a quite small kitchen.

MovingForwards

I think we are all going to be swapping kitchens around this year, making them user friendly and finding ways to use all the available space.

savingholmes

Just make sure you measure your space - and that in a double wide cupboard ie left hand  & right hand doors - there's a middle piece of wood. There is in some of my cupboards but not others. I've wanted some for years - but was making myself wait for our new kitchen - when I realised I could fit them now and transfer them later if I did a refit. Good luck all that follow suit!
  
I still need to get DH to fit the drawer DD assembled at the weekend. DD has primed the back side of most of the cupboard doors today. She is going to repaint the fronts later after she's been to the gym (gym - scary to me but apparently it is timed slots and hardly anyone is going).  

DH has wandered off with my car with all the supplies I bought yesterday! Oh well. He's not well this week. I think he needs his sugars checking. DH renewed his motorbike insurance yesterday - it was going to be £174!!! but he got it for £80.  Good job as his bike is costing a fortune already this month.

MovingForwards

Measure twice, cut once has been drummed into me 😁

DD is on a roll and is obviously very comfortable with what the gym are doing if she wants to go!

Well done on the insurance saving, it shouldn't be what the renewal was based on age / experience. Nag him until he gets checked out.

jwil

Those drawers and bin solution look great.

Well done on the insurance and hope DH gets checked out.

savingholmes

savingholmes said:

I need to decide whether we put door handles back on I will decide once they are back up..
The walls also need repainting I have some unopened chic shadow to use.
The ceiling needs replastering however DD still regularly floods the bathroom.... DH suggested I just paint the ceiling white for now. Want to do that before we get new counters in - he reckons that will disguise the slight crack
Planned revamp.

• Soft close doors - looks like I can get for £1.50 per door! - so £15-30. spent £12.99 for 10 on Am**** so far but have yet to test them - I meant more push open doors - also bought 100 round bumper things
• Add an end unit where our bins are with a waist high oven - decided to reuse existing oven - as if we build in microwave it would end up too high otherwise. I may need a professional electrician to install it and run a cable which could add major cost but existing oven 13amp so not as bad as some. 
• New microwave circa £120 - not ordered yet. 
• New tall appliance unit, 9m of counter (for kitchen and utility) and 3 new doors, shelves, plinth, top bit, spice rack, fixings £488 - I went for a black sparkly counter that was still laminate in the end. Not due to arrive until 1/9.
• Replace our defunct gas hob with an induction hob £120 plus labour. Not ordered yet.
• Take out our existing oven hood unit - £60 possibly plus labour - will know more when it arrives.
• See if I could create a pull out larder system so less bending needed - £120 for 6 pull outs - ordered. May add others later.
  
• Put narrow shelves in the gap where we currently precariously balance lidded food boxes on top of one another - if one falls they all do! Could probably do for free reusing stuff we already have. Not found anything to fit. May see if joiner suggests anything once I get one.

New drawers £48 - ordered
New bin unit £95 - not yet ordered
Tile paint £18 - I have now. Will need to chip off tiles for area behind new unit - may damage plaster though - so may need a plasterer too. Hope not.
Primer £18
Cupboard paint £60
Approx £1160 plus labour. 

Thanks MF and JWIL
DH must be feeling rough as he has actually booked a blood test and then a trip to the nurse the following week.
Well I've been really distracted by the kitchen this week but I am really pleased that I have finally made some decisions. Just have to hope it looks okay when it is all finished. Either way will have a much better functioning kitchen.

peb

Morning. Just a word of caution (if not too late ), some of the bin solutions look great but are too small. A friend was delighted with her's at first but now wishes she'd gone for two full size bins. The recycling one seems to need constant emptying.  Maybe compare existing bin space with proposed bin space.

savingholmes

Thanks Peb - I haven't bought the bin one yet. Our current 2 bins are 50 litres and the one I am looking at is 2 x 45 litres so I think it should work out. It is the largest I've seen that's integrated.

I'm sleeping incredibly badly at the moment so am waking every day whacked. I am going to try and cut caffeine after 11am and cut out eating after 9pm. I took pooch for a walk at lunchtime yesterday - I may try similar again in the hope that also helps. I did 4200 steps yesterday which was possibly my best for the year! I was hoping once I'd made decision on the kitchen I would sleep better but it didn't work yesterday.

MovingForwards

Give it time, you still have a lot of worry in your head, together with big plans.