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ashlingsteel

Awkward kitchen (1)

ashlingsteel
10 years ago
I have no idea what to do with this kitchen, it's 15' x 8' up to the wall with the radiator. I can not move the sink or dishwasher/washing machine and also have to consider quick access to the boiler. Any ideas?! More pictures on 'awkward kitchen (2)'
Featured Answer
  • janishill
    10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago
    There is a lot of potential here!

    Paint the walls in a semi-gloss bright white. Paint the cabinets high gloss bright white as well. All trim and the back door get painted high-gloss bright white just like the cabinets.

    Replace all the binds with...you guessed it...white blinds!

    Keep your chairs, but change your table. A small drop leaf one would make a huge difference. Paint it a delightful shade of yellow like this: http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/paint-color/bananayellow
    Use yellow and white or blue and white print chair cushions.

    You can either find a large print of dasies or paint your own canvas to hang over your table. Add a few accessories; a yellow pitcher to hold cooking utensils, yellow towels, etc. Use white place mats on the table to help buffer the bright yellow.

    Hope you will post updated pictures!

    Comments (16)

    • pruner
      10 years ago
      To help with responses, please advise what would you like to do with the kitchen? What would you change in an ideal world - the size, colour, look, storage or function? How many people use the space? How much space is there next to the washing machine, and does that lead outdoors? Is there a window anywhere (can't see one from these pics.) Can the table be replaced with a bench and stools across the wall? Am I correct in thinking this is a UK kitchen....?
    • mrbeiguo
      10 years ago
      so many trouble ,maybe I can fix it if you send autocad version . My email----lovetthome@gmail.com

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    • PRO
      FIOBALA
      10 years ago
      Even though a lot of action surrounds the surface areas near the stove, dish washer and oven-- this is NOT the focal point of the room. You've got a fab wall that demands attention-- use the wall to divert attention away from the busy areas of your kitchen. If painting is an option- re-do the cabinets in an arctic white. This will blend well with the ceramic tile AND create a seamless union with the white wall.

      Next add an ensemble of art prints in various sized picture frames to your wall- this adds dimension to the wall.

      If you can't change your appliance arrangement, change your TABLE!

      That's a cheap and easy fix

      A flat drop-leaf table will hug the wall when not in use for the family, two chairs can be parked on either side and the others stylishly stacked nearby

      Good luck
    • ashlingsteel
      Original Author
      10 years ago
      I would love for the room to be either white, off white or grey. It is a Irish home. I would like a minimal look, this was my grand parents home so the layout was planed out in the 60's.
    • ashlingsteel
      Original Author
      10 years ago
      Last pic!
    • Good Taste
      10 years ago
      First thought: cream and white don't go. So turn the white into cream.

      Second thought, get some under-cabinet lighting (cheap) and make the room more interesting with interesting lighting.

      The big F's post was Fabiola. Put something BIG and decorative on the plain wall.

      I would be tempted to uplight some decorations above the cabinets. (Never seen it done, so that probs means its a dumb idea, but).
    • nasmijati
      10 years ago
      You mentioned your color choices as white, cream, or gray. I would choose white. Your cabinets will then be the same color as your appliances. From reading many Houzz discussions, it is best to take the cabinet doors off and have them sprayed for best results. You can paint the cabinet frames yourself.

      I think white cabinets will look very good with the blue color in your kitchen. I might add a blue cloth for the table.
    • pruner
      10 years ago
      last modified: 10 years ago
      Perhaps the boiler could be moved or a smaller unit installed to free up some access and hide some bulky items currently on display. Still inclined to go with a bench above the radiator and trendy high backed cafe stools to improve people flow across the room. Replace the drawer front and add a door to the open area under the sink. Under bench lighting would help to visually raise the upper units. You could also paint the splash back grey... see how it looks on painted cardboard first before committing to it.

      For a sleeker look, try replacing some of the upper doors with frosted glass and metal frames, paint the others white plus the walls above and around the units white and modern metal handles to tie in your flash stainless appliances. If the budget allows, aluminum blinds as well. Choose a white with a bit of a tint to it which matches the white goods.
    • nasmijati
      10 years ago
      I would not paint any of the tile. Perhaps the person who suggested this did not notice that the entire wall is blue tile, not just the backsplash. It seems as if the tile is in good condition, and I like the blue color.

      I agree that a cabinet door to cover the open area under the sink would look good. I would remove the decorative wood above the sink. You are seeking a minimalist look, and the ornamental wood trim is not minimalist. Perhaps you could use it some way in another room of the home.

      My thought about the boiler was that maybe the access door could be from the room opposite, but then I noticed you would not be able to see the red-orange control box. I do not have a solution for you for that.

      If you choose to paint the cabinet doors white, they will look much better if you take them off and have the current finish professionally stripped, and then have the doors sprayed in a semigloss, washable paint. You can paint the cabinets yourself. Be sure to remove all the hinges and other hardware before you paint to get a professional-looking result. I think I would paint the insides of the cabinets with a semigloss white paint, also. (If you use high gloss paint, every little imperfection will be highlighted.)
    • PRO
      Merry Powell Interiors
      10 years ago
      One of my favorite rooms to re-do is the kitchen. In this space, you already have a wonderful element in the beautiful blue tile. I understand from your comments that you would like to achieve a minimal look. I would start by replacing the raised panel doors and drawers on your cabinets with flat ones. Paint the un-tiled walls and cabinets a light, cool, stainless steel gray. This color would play off of your blue tile nicely and would add more sophistication and interest than the more expected blue/white scheme. Go with a high gloss paint if you want contemporary minimalism, semi-gloss if you want something more classic. Your cabinet hardware is also important in determining the feel of the room. Go with long, skinny stainless handles for contemporary or simple hand-made looking pewter for classic. I would suggest mounting a small square or rectangular tabletop above the radiator. Use brackets to coordinate with your cabinet hardware. For the tabletop, I would choose plywood covered in stainless steel (contemporary) or reclaimed wood (classic). Simple, backless industrial style stools that fit under the table will save floor space. I cannot tell much about your countertops from the photos, but you may want to address these, as well. I would suggest a light gray quartz.
    • PRO
      Paradise Restored Landscaping & Exterior Design
      10 years ago
      last modified: 10 years ago
      Stay away from grays as it is too dark in these photos. We spend a lot of time in kitchens and the dark blue tiles feel heavy! Lighten it up by extending the white of trim to walls. Because you have enough blue, remove the chair pads and blue place mat under centerpiece on table. You have so many appliances out on counter and the magnets/items on the dishwasher(?) it is distracting. If you use an appliance less than once a week why does it sit on counter collecting dust? See the kitchen below to see that less IS MORE! Even on washing machine counter - the cords are an eyesore. You could use the open selves for stacking bowls/plates and kitchen goods for effect.

      The window treatments are too dark - match your white walls and give life to this area!
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    • lisianthus
      10 years ago
      i would go white on the cabinets and window coverings. The door needs to be a lighter shade, also. You seem to have room over the table for some type of decorative open shelf unit, you could display favorite pieces there.
    • chaski
      10 years ago
      My 2¢ worth: first of all replace the dark blinds with translucent cordless single cell blinds in ivory or off-white--they let light through and provide privacy + some insulation from cold or heat. Clean, crisp look.That alone will brighten up this space.
      #2: clear the counterspace!--so much clutter! Where to put all these appliances that get little daily use? Get yourself a ss 24x20 or larger cart on wheels (see Amazon.com--Seville classic ss cart) and store little used, bulky appliances on its shelves--and roll the cart into a nearby coat closet--out of sight and way-- to be wheeled back when needed or individually carried back as needed.
      3#gorgeous blue tiled walls.Don't touch them.
      #4:Walls: keep as is if off-white--not same as trim white white.Just a fresh coat needed.To make it "disappear," paint the radiator the same color as the wall behind it.
      #5Keep the white trim white--looks bright and clean.Keep kitchen door white. You might want to stop here and make no further changes
      #6Cabinets: I like Gast pic above on right, but too much blue for your blue-tiled kitchen...IMO. I'd go cooler and lighter...consider the light gray of the beadboard in the Gast pic above right. Beautiful hue. Don't go for the white white everyone clamors for these days.Too stark for your kitchen and too contrasty with the blue tile, too country kitchenish.
      #7. cabinet hardware: Look like glass knobs in pics. Go for knobs/pulls like in the Gast pic above--or similar in pewter or ss, my preference. Those "modern" ss bar handles don't work with your cabinets.
      #8 the round table is not a good fit against the wall. Get a small sq or rectangular ss or butcherblock-top table for that spot. Chop off the top tier of your chairs to shorten....and match their tops as they are now so's won't appear to take up so much visual space and still remain comfy--don't replace w/ uncomfortable stools.Keep white.
      #9. Do away with wood valance over sink window.Too country.
      #10 Countertops--solid color Corian type or laminate--depends on budget--don't want busy stone textures of quartz, etc. Consider a medium value cool gray. (Or maple butcherblock?). Can't see color/texture of floor....
      hope some of this helps. Good luck!
      lisianthus' pic tho nice is too busy-cutesy for your minimalist aims IMO
    • nasmijati
      10 years ago
      The suggestions to move the items off the counter will only work if you have another place to put them! Your kitchen has a very small "footprint. A cart in another room will only crowd the other room! I think you have done an admirable job of keeping your small appliances on the countertop sparkling clean! I believe that if you did not use them often that you would already have put them on top of the kitchen cabinets near the ceiling.

      I did not mention changing the cabinet doors from raised panel to flat in my earlier post because I was not sure if there was enough money to replace perfectly good doors just for the sake of fashion.

      I think dark blue and white can be used to create a minimalist effect and not have it look too "country" style. Perhaps not a stark white. That might feel too cold during the winter months.

      What are your thoughts?
    • dlangan
      10 years ago
      last modified: 10 years ago
      I posted some comments on your Kitchen (2) after looking at your ideabook. Hope I can inspire with more ideas.
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