Living it up by the sea

bluenose1

Your house sounds lovely @uralmaid, ours is a 70s  Wimpy house so not a lot we can do with it, suppose I am trying for chic minimalist, `I wish…….
I need a new kitchen over next year or so, my current favourite is the Bramley range from DIY-kitchens, it’s a slim shaker. Just waiting to see home the money pans out first. Had a shaker kitchen from them in my last house and loved it.

I  like the sound of the gold diamond ring, a nice treat for yourself. An investment even  

uralmaid

Thanks @bluenose1 . I would love a new kitchen but each time I look at ours and think of all the work involved to take up the horrid tiled floor and all the wall tiles, I don't think I can face it.  The best kitchen we have ever had was actually an Ikea Varde freestanding one before we moved from Yorkshire. It was really sturdy and I loved it.  Unfortunately they no longer sell it, can't understand why as apparently it was the best selling kitchen they have ever done.  I love freestanding units but you do lose space with them and the kitchen here isnt big enough to justify it. I will keep everything crossed that your kitchen plans come to fruition.

Organgrinder

Ah kitchens.....we changed ours 3 years ago....omg the quotes were horrendous.

So we went to B&Q and yes the quote was horrendous. 

We then realised we could buy the same kitchen flat pack. So we paid a contractor to fit. Bought the appliances online (dishwasher, oven, microwave, hob, extractor and fridge freezer) and got it all for approx £6k inc fitting new down lighters, new floor, splashbacks etc versus approx £12k from Wren, B&Q etc which would have turned into a lot more with the lighting and flooring.

uralmaid

Thanks @Organgrinder. To be honest it's not the cost. It's just the size of the task and the upheaval. We would need to remove all the floor tiles from the kitchen and utility room. Also copious amounts of wall tiles.  Even if we get someone in to do it rather than doing it ourselves. I shall keep mulling it over.

Savvy_Sue

I'd like to do something to the kitchen too, have never liked our cupboard doors, but I'm not sure how sound the frames are so it may be a bigger job than just changing doors. We've even got a separate utility room (which also needs attention, but hey ho!) so it would be less disruptive than it could be. 

But I just remember doing some fairly minimal stuff in our previous kitchen. We had a wall knocked down which had only formed an alcove, but it made it possible to reposition things. New sink, which needed tiling in, and new flooring, new doors on the remaining units. 

It was only when all this was nearly complete that I realised we'd have a painting job on our hands ...  Numpty or what ... 

uralmaid

I have just been counting up how many cupboards in the kitchen and utility (all matching) - 14 base cupboards, 2 full into corner base cupboards, 1 pull out larder unit, 2 larder units full height, 1 cooker housing unit and 12 wall cupboards.  The doors are all ok but some of the backs of the cupboards have come away.  Don't think changing doors is the answer for us either. It's great having so many cupboards but I just hate the tiles - wall and floor and the tiled worktops everywhere.  

bluenose1

Not fussed on the kitchen I inherited when we moved here either, reasonably ok but shiny handleless is not my style, but as you say @uralmaid the thought of all the hassle of getting tiles lifted and floor relaid etc etc is not making me want to rush to do anything.
That’s why I spend hours planning it but never doing anything further
In my dream kitchen it will be off white wooden shaker doors, possibly white quartz top, eye level slide and glide Neff oven and integrated separate tall fridge and freezer. Future proofing it for my old age.
i will still be saying all this in 5 years ……..

uralmaid

Haha @bluenose1 me too. Ours is gloss white - definitely not my style.  We did buy a new massive Neff hob and a new Bosch built in oven when we moved here as the ones in here were minging. The trouble was we didnt have much choice as we were governed by the sizes of the hole in the worktop and the oven housing.  I have been baking this morning and have currently got a ginger cake and some flapjack in the oven! Have to keep the old man happy!

Savvy_Sue

uralmaid said:

I have just been counting up how many cupboards in the kitchen and utility (all matching) - 14 base cupboards, 2 full into corner base cupboards, 1 pull out larder unit, 2 larder units full height, 1 cooker housing unit and 12 wall cupboards.  The doors are all ok but some of the backs of the cupboards have come away.  Don't think changing doors is the answer for us either. It's great having so many cupboards but I just hate the tiles - wall and floor and the tiled worktops everywhere.  

That's a BIG kitchen, and I've now got kitchen envy, simply because I have NO full height units at all!

My units are spread over 3 separate areas, and each area is different, and none was ever properly finished by the previous owners, and now unfinished by us too. 

louby40

I'm in the process of having a new kitchen. It's been an interesting journey researching everything. We need to buy it & sort it before  I retire next year. We have gone with a shaker style from Howdens. My partner knows one of the managers so we have had a bit knocked off but it's still coming out at £5300 and that doesn't include appliances, they will be a further £2k but we are getting those ourselves. Our kitchen is tiny too.

We know an excellent joiner who is expensive but so worth it, he's always booked up months in advance.

I reckon once we have sorted the electrics, flooring and tiles we will have spent about £12k. 

I can't wait for it to be done though as we have very limited cupboard space and the worktop needs extending. Hoping to be started in February.