Howdens kitchen advice

sheenas

The meter and main fuse look most odd. It looks like there was a meter Cabernet which has been removed? 

I would get an electrician to sort this mess out the you don’t need to box off the meter etc. 
how is some going to read your meter as it is a requirement every few years. This arrangement is not safe in my view. 

Kaipa88

Doozergirl said:

Use mdf, attached to a stud work frame from the ceiling.   Paint it in the same colour as the units.  

But double check that it is actually okay to cover those things under the building regulations.  

Is your hob above the oven?   Because the height of the wall unit is awfully close to the heat/steam.  

45cm between hob and extractor fan

Kaipa88

sheenas said:

The meter and main fuse look most odd. It looks like there was a meter Cabernet which has been removed? 

I would get an electrician to sort this mess out the you don’t need to box off the meter etc. 
how is some going to read your meter as it is a requirement every few years. This arrangement is not safe in my view. 

The previous wall units went right up to the ceiling which covered the electrics but made it difficult to reach anything up top. At this stage requesting for an electrician to move it all is out of the equation. As you can see from the photo I posted earlier the meter is still visible above the kitchen cupboards, I just need to decide on how to box it in so that it’s also accessible if needs be.

Kaipa88

WIAWSNB said:

Kaipa88 said:

I’m having a kitchen designed by Howdens fitted at the moment. The fitter has put the units at the correct height however I was hoping that the wall cupboards would have totally covered the electrics and I could just box in the cables. At the moment the top of the electrics stick out which is an eye sore. I’m thinking to get some plasterboard and box it in but if there’s any other solutions I’m open ears! 

I don't understand that first pic - the cornice looks funny on my phone?!
Anyhoo, if given that the second pic is a true rep of how much is actually visible from most of the kitchen by a standing person,  then you have little that still needs hiding - essentially just the cables.
A few things you can do. See the pelmet panel? I guess it's only 18mm thick, but adding a matching strip like this to the top, with the cornice then added on top, would hide more - possibly everything other than the cables?
If an extra 18mm doesn't do it, is there a thicker decor panel available that might?
This will just look like a more substantial corn.
Then a lightweight MDF freestanding cover, painted the wall colour, sitting on top of the unit, as hard against the electrics as possible, will make it nigh on invisible. If only the cables show, then perhaps even a semi-circular shroud - half of a soil pipe or similar?
I think it'll be one of these things that, once 80% is hidden, you'll soon ignore the remaining 'boxing' required. But if you don't think you can ignore a small boxed area, then, yes, a full-width, freestanding panel may be needed. This can theoretically pull/fall forwards when access is needed.
Another solution, but presumably more work than you'd want to do, and could also compromise the working height of that microwave, is to raise the height of all the wall units. If it were not for that 'wave, you could have the cornice almost touching the ceiling, the electrics accessible from within a unit, and a shallow, worktop-matching shelf running along that wall, around 200mm below bottom height, for your nicely-contained spices and condies.
Yes, the top shelf may need a roller-stool for shorter folk, but you put your rarely-used stuff up there, and it will also give your kitchen a surprising feeling of being larger. 
Just seen this done recently, and it transformed and opened the feel of a narrowish kitchen. If not for MW, this would be my solution, having seen it done.

Some interesting ideas here thankyou. I’m afraid raising everything up is too much work at this stage in the game. I’m happy with the height as the previous cupboards were TOO high. 

Kaipa88

This is what it looked like previously (taken whilst stripping kitchen). There was a cupboard door over the electric box and extractor fan 

WIAWSNB

Kaipa88 said:

WIAWSNB said:

Kaipa88 said:

I’m having a kitchen designed by Howdens fitted at the moment. The fitter has put the units at the correct height however I was hoping that the wall cupboards would have totally covered the electrics and I could just box in the cables. At the moment the top of the electrics stick out which is an eye sore. I’m thinking to get some plasterboard and box it in but if there’s any other solutions I’m open ears! 

I don't understand that first pic - the cornice looks funny on my phone?!
Anyhoo, if given that the second pic is a true rep of how much is actually visible from most of the kitchen by a standing person,  then you have little that still needs hiding - essentially just the cables.
A few things you can do. See the pelmet panel? I guess it's only 18mm thick, but adding a matching strip like this to the top, with the cornice then added on top, would hide more - possibly everything other than the cables?
If an extra 18mm doesn't do it, is there a thicker decor panel available that might?
This will just look like a more substantial corn.
Then a lightweight MDF freestanding cover, painted the wall colour, sitting on top of the unit, as hard against the electrics as possible, will make it nigh on invisible. If only the cables show, then perhaps even a semi-circular shroud - half of a soil pipe or similar?
I think it'll be one of these things that, once 80% is hidden, you'll soon ignore the remaining 'boxing' required. But if you don't think you can ignore a small boxed area, then, yes, a full-width, freestanding panel may be needed. This can theoretically pull/fall forwards when access is needed.
Another solution, but presumably more work than you'd want to do, and could also compromise the working height of that microwave, is to raise the height of all the wall units. If it were not for that 'wave, you could have the cornice almost touching the ceiling, the electrics accessible from within a unit, and a shallow, worktop-matching shelf running along that wall, around 200mm below bottom height, for your nicely-contained spices and condies.
Yes, the top shelf may need a roller-stool for shorter folk, but you put your rarely-used stuff up there, and it will also give your kitchen a surprising feeling of being larger. 
Just seen this done recently, and it transformed and opened the feel of a narrowish kitchen. If not for MW, this would be my solution, having seen it done.

Some interesting ideas here thankyou. I’m afraid raising everything up is too much work at this stage in the game. I’m happy with the height as the previous cupboards were TOO high. 

Totally understand your reluctance to move the wall units. It would be the 'best' solution, tho', and not just to hide the stuff.
With that kitchen, you'll have the plinth edge of these wall units looming in your eyeline as you prepare and cook food. Certainly if you're 6'2".
Yes, the top shelf will be relatively inaccessible - unless you are 6'2" - but that will only apply to the top shelf, and rarely&used items can go there.
It then opens the idea of floating wall shelves, which can look great, as well as provide quick access to lots of stuff - your beverages, rice, pasta, 'erbs, condiments... And the whole kitchen will look more 'airy'.
But... the MW likely scuppers it.

Kaipa88

I understand what you’re saying but 45cm between countertop and bottom of wall unit seems to be pretty standard for most modern kitchens thesedays. The bottom plinth probably makes it look abit lower 

Kaipa88

Removable plasterboard (to be painted same colour as walls)