DIY Kitchen alternatives? Below minimum order requirements :-(

ChasingtheWelshdream

Thanks, we do have a router but I don’t think I’ve ever used it. I am fairly handy so could practice on spare bits of MDF. Is it fairly easy to master? 

daivid

I used discount kitchen factory for my kitchen, they were amenable to adapting from the standard designs. I can't see anything on the website about minimum orders (and they talk about delivery for small orders). I saw this in the unit options: https://discountkitchenfactory.co.uk/boiler-housing-units.htm as it can be any size I assume you could give your dimensions and ask for it to be on legs, and make sure it comes with a door!

ChasingtheWelshdream

Thank you, I will have a look!

This is the floor plan I have come up with. Currently the sink is below the window which is too cramped so I've moved everything along one wall, moved the radiator under the window (a ceiling airer will sit above it) and changed the door to open outwards.
 
I posted a thread ages ago about potential layouts and have taken those suggestions on board to make it less of a cramped corridor.

I want to open up the floor area and have room to do ironing (occasionally!) I've included a pull-out ironing board but may decide it is an extravagance and just have a cupboard/shelves in its place. 

Any thoughts are welcome.

ChasingtheWelshdream

Sorry, me again going off on a bit of a tangent but wondering people's opinions. I am loving the dark blue kitchens I see and going to paint our main kitchen units. Would dark colours look too gloomy in a utility this size so it ties in? It's quite a sunny room.

Doozergirl

ChasingtheWelshdream said:

Sorry, me again going off on a bit of a tangent but wondering people's opinions. I am loving the dark blue kitchens I see and going to paint our main kitchen units. Would dark colours look too gloomy in a utility this size so it ties in? It's quite a sunny room.

It really doesn't matter.  It's not like you're eating your dinner in there that you need to soend that long deliberating.  If you love something, have it.  

It's such misnomer that everything needs to be pale.  What it should be is interesting and to spark an emotion in you.  

Not to say that pale can't be interesting, but most people in most houses don't make it that way.  😬

I designed my sister in law's in the same sort of colour, her choice. and that doesn't even have a window.  Looks lovely.  

daivid

My kitchen is dark grey (anthracite) though walls, floor and worktops are not, I plan to eventually redo the utility to match, I have no concerns it will be gloomy. And as Doozergirl says it's not a room people spend too long in, personally I try to spend the minimum time possible in the utility room (which is why it is last on the list of rooms to redecorate).

jennifernil

Have you looked at what Ikea can offer?  They have shallow base and tall units.

ChasingtheWelshdream

Ooh, no I haven't actually. Will do so no now. And thanks Doozer and David, I shall debate the pros of lovely darker units with hubby. Who thinks everything needs to be grey.

jennifernil

Read your post about the depth of unit you can take being 300 due to architrave.  The Ikea shallow units are about 390 deep with the doors on, but can easily be reduced in depth to suit your space if absolutely necessary.

My OH fitted a long but narrow utility room for our daughter using 7 regular base and tall units from Ikea as she already had 3 tall units almost brand new that she wanted to use.

As she wanted  sink, drawers and machines one side and 3 tall units with deep drawers at the bottom, including an oven housing, on the opposite side (she does a lot of baking, so second oven), we  looked at the minimum depth needed for the oven, and at the actual depth needed for the sink and drawers, and found the Ikea units were quite a lot deeper than they needed to be.  This allowed OH to reduce the depth by about 50mm on all the units to leave her a more sensible amount of floor space up the middle.

Quite a lot of work, but not difficult, well not for him!   He had previously done something similar when we added some units at the far end of our kitchen as the solid beech worktop we had, that matched the existing ones, was not deep enough for the full depth of the Ikea base units, which all house drawers, so we knew it was possible.

We had previously looked at the displays in Ikea that show the units without worktops and noticed that there was a lot of unused space behind the runners and the drawers themselves.  So a second trip to measure accurately was made, before the plan was finalised.

I would look first at whether the 390 depth could be used if it would not interfere with the opening of the room door, by moving the unit away from the doorway wall a little and putting in a spacer of wood or similar.

ChasingtheWelshdream

Thank you all. 

I have re-done my plan using Wickes off-the-shelf units as there is a store within an hour if I run into problems. Doozer, I have used their wall units as base cupboards, thanks for the tip!

I have made everything fit except a tall cupboard as there doesn’t seem to be one available in the Ohio range online , even though there is a picture in the brochure. I’ve emailed them to be sure. 

If there is one available then I will give reducing it a go.

Otherwise, in MSE style, I’ve decided I can forego a broom cupboard and put a shelf with hanging rail if I need to.

First things first, gut it and sort the plumbing. It will take a while but I’ll post a picture when it’s done.

Thanks all!