Free standing Kitchen - Can I bring Old and New together? How?!

CatFlap1_2

Hello to all DIY kitchen experts out there...

So what are your inspired thoughts on freestanding kitchens...?

I have recently been back to the house I am buying in January to measure up the kitchen!:j

At the moment the kitchen is very qwerky and mismatched and therefore I was going to go for a completely new fitted kitchen. All units are freestanding and hand made. The family are moving out are going to leave a few units and this has got me thinking ...

Should I add to the kitchen with pieces of free standing furniture? I think if I do it right I could achieve a lovely mix of old and new something that is never really possible with fully fitted kitchens.

Can any one advise me on my ideas so far? ...

The floor is tiled in off yellow and some tiles are slightly the wrong yellow (replacements badly chosen!). Can I paint tiles? What would be durable?
I would like to paint them white.

The old hand made shelves and units are light brown wood - Can I paint these white without ruining them?

I absolutely love the Artisan range from John Lewis of Hungerford kitchens
http://www.john-lewis.co.uk/flash/default.htm
Colour - Rubbed Ivory.
Its not cheap but I was wondering about selecting pieces of their range to build up the kitchen. Has anyone bought from this range .. or do you have suggestions about putting together a free standing kitchen.

Shaker to country kitchens is the style I want in white!

I really don't like the free standing options in Ikea.

My budgit is about £6000 and I will need to buy appliances!

never_enough

I think you can get the best of both worlds by having some fitted & some freestanding bits. Maybe fit along one wall where the sink is & get as much 'things' storage as possible in there. I've seem some lovely freestanding larders & dresser type units.

Have you seen the range in Habitat? It's a bit more modern than the JL of H one, but still very nice.

I wouldn't recommend painting floor tiles. You can buy special paint for doing wall tiles which is only any good as a short term option. I have seen floor paint, but think it's for concrete floors etc I think I'd just bite the bullet & get them replaced. Topps tiles have a decent range & some very inexpensive.

CatFlap1_2

Thanks for the advice! I will check out the TOPPS tile range...!

Do you/does anyone have experience buying kitchen equipment from Ebay - there is a vast array of worktop offers and furniture - where do I begin!?

Interesting comments about the Habitat range I have just had a look at their website, I don't know if they are any cheaper or better quality than Joh Lewis of Hungerford? I will take a trip to the local store.


Thanks again.

never_enough

CatFlap1 wrote: »

Do you/does anyone have experience buying kitchen equipment from Ebay - there is a vast array of worktop offers and furniture - where do I begin!?

A few friends have bought both new & second hand stuff with varying degrees of success. I bought a Franke stainless steel sink which is great. The taps I bought were rubbish & only lasted a year.

Interesting comments about the Habitat range I have just had a look at their website, I don't know if they are any cheaper or better quality than Joh Lewis of Hungerford? I will take a trip to the local store.

Can't remember prices, as it was a long time ago that I saw them. They were expensive, but may be less than the JL ones? I don't know how much those are either, they just look as if they're going to be very expensive!!!

majjie

I'd absolutely agree with never enough; keep the sink area fitted and also have worktop fitted close to the sides of any free standing cooker (there's nothing worse than bits sliding down the side of the cooker in a narrow gap).

If you have the areas immediately around the sink and cooker fitted, then you could have a look at free standing stuff for the rest of the kitchen ... possibly antique pieces.

There are still some places around selling antique stripped pine furniture. If you can get to it before they wax it, it can paint up beautifully (but use knotting compound for those big resiny knots).

If your existing hand made furniture is stained, or natural, wood it will be fine to paint that too ... if you sand it down first. If it has been waxed, then it might need stripping beforehand.

Have a look at Second Nature's "Broadoak" kitchen - you can buy it in ivory, or you can buy it sanded to paint yourself. Their web site gives you a list of retailers:
http://www.secondnaturecollection.co.uk/snw/ranges/range.asp?id=classic
Or you can buy on-line. For instance:
http://www.diy-kitchens.com/acatalog/Index_Home.html

Second Nature is the maker of the doors - the carcasses may well vary - so check the quality before you buy. They also do what they call their "Cargo System" for making the units look free standing.

Alternatively, for the fitted areas, have a look at somewhere like Wickes and see if you like anything there. That would give you more money for the free standing bits.:D

never_enough

The Eden classic from second nature is a good look for a bit of a mix & match. Oh dear....I'm really starting to want a new kitchen...