New Kitchen Advice

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

I’m planning on putting in a new kitchen (it's open plan kitchen/living/dining room) and there are a few things I can’t decide on and would love some more opinions. My plan is white shaker cabinets, white quartz counter tops and gold/brass handles & taps, some initial plans are attached - I'm thinking white tiles either hexagon or metro, not the up-stand in the picture

Appliances - most are going to be integrated but for the oven and microwave I can’t decide between white or stainless steel? I’m worried about them looking dated if I have them in white and fashions move on, although I think that will happen to the gold/brass first.

I’ve got a number of quotes and am having trouble deciding, I was going to go with a magnet kitchen and then went to the showroom and for some reason wasn’t convinced with the quality, are there any slightly better quality companies I could go to.

If I do go with Magnet I’ve read a lot about buying good quality handles and taps, where would I get them from (I’m in London)? when I’m just looking online it’s really difficult to figure out the quality.

Any further thoughts/advice is very welcome.

Thanks,
Caroline

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Comments (6)

Ellie
3 years ago
I'm going to be really honest here....
that is awful! I am gobsmacked they let you even look at that! I am not talking about the colour/style, I am talking about the design. The top units are all higgledy piggledy which is the worst bit to me.

Have you worked out how much storage you need? What do you have in your current kitchen and how does this compare? Do you really need all the top units?

Can you post a floorplan if the room with measurements and we can advise better.
Caroline Thompson
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks you, I love the honesty! I think this may be my fault for taking various bits of advice and trying to combine them.

This is very similar to the layout of the current kitchen. I probably don't need quite as much storage, as I'm also planning on putting a floor to ceiling cupboard behind the door.

Below is a plan and a photo of the current kitchen (excuse the mess).
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thanks for posting the photos. First, I feel like there is a mix of styles in the design that aren't really complementing each other. The waterfall walnut frame around the frig and wall oven areas is VERY modern. But the rounded front cooktop/bar, the divided light glass front cabinet doors, and molding on the upper cabinets are very traditional -- maybe even a bit 'cottage'. The looks are fighting each other IMHO. Also, I would reconsider the placement of the wall ovens -- they seem very crowded back in that corner. And the range hood going to the ceiling but the cabinets stopping short looks odd to me. Maybe a different hood with a narrower chimney would look better. And, is that the dishwasher on the island? --- Yikes -- I would want that right next to the sink (otherwise you'll be dripping water all over the floor everytime you load it)
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We regularly fit these systems on the houses we do as well as solar panels especially on new builds. we are not a solar company but always advise our customers on these option as they can save you a great deal of money as well as a tax free income. Air source heat pumps Like ground source heat pumps, air-to-water ASHPs work better with underfloor heating systems. If underfloor heating is not possible, large radiators should be used. This is because the heat generated by the heat pump is not as high as that produced by a conventional boiler, so a larger surface area is needed to achieve similar temperatures in your home. Air-to-water heat pumps could be better suited to new-build properties than retrofit - this is because costs could be reduced if the heat pump is included as part of the building specification, rather than having to retrofit underfloor heating later on. Heat pumps can save you more on your heating bills if you're replacing an electric, oil, LPG or coal system, rather than gas. A well-insulated house is essential to best optimise the heat generated by your ASHP - otherwise the heat the pump is generating escapes more easily. Once in place, the heat pump should require little maintenance. Air-to-water heat pumps qualify for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). Air source heat pump costs and savings ASHPs are cheaper than ground source heat pumps. The Energy Saving Trust (EST) estimates that the cost of installing a typical ASHP system ranges between £7,000 and £11,000. The payback period (the time taken to recoup the cost of the system in energy savings) depends on how efficiently your system works, the type of system you're replacing, whether you can get money with the RHI and how you'll be using the heat generated from the pump. The EST says that an average performing air source heat pump in an average four-bedroom detached home could save: between £360 to £555 a year if replacing oil (non-condensing) between £1,200 and £1,805 a year if replacing LPG (non-condensing) between £715 and £1,295 a year if replacing electric heating (old storage heaters). It also estimated that the RHI would pay an extra £905 to £1,365 a year. Hope this helps. Regards Anthony Vyou Home improvements
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Hi - its such a big and important project, i really think you need to sit down with a good kitchen designer and fully tease out your requirements and then look at every possible layout option. by sitting down with someone, they will draw each possible layout to scale in front of you and that way you will be able to see the pros and cons of each design. it makes decision making much easier best of luck with the project Barry
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A few things I would change from experience...instead of a single and double door I would spend the extra money and put in a bifold corner section...would open up the space so much more. as for the kitchen...completely flip your design...put your breakfast bar closer to the window...make it large and multipurpose with the hob in it and then put your main band of cabinets either left, right or behind? We have recently restructured our existing cabinets to this layout and put in new countertops and it works far better than before!
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Ellie
3 years ago
First of all, the kitchen you are replacing almost looks identical to what you are putting in new..... what's the point of that? When planning a new kitchen you don't just have to stick with Everything where it is currently. I'd have the microwave hidden in the tall floor to ceiling cupboard. I hate the look of a microwave, particularly a built in one in display like your image.
Ellie
3 years ago
First of all, the kitchen you are replacing almost looks identical to what you are putting in new..... what's the point of that? When planning a new kitchen you don't just have to stick with Everything where it is currently. I'd have the microwave hidden in the tall floor to ceiling cupboard. I hate the look of a microwave, particularly a built in one in display like your image.
Ellie
3 years ago
First of all, the kitchen you are replacing almost looks identical to what you are putting in new..... what's the point of that? When planning a new kitchen you don't just have to stick with Everything where it is currently. I'd have the microwave hidden in the tall floor to ceiling cupboard. I hate the look of a microwave, particularly a built in one in display like your image.
Caroline Thompson
Original Author
3 years ago
The project has kind of escalated.

I was going to replace the appliances, handles & worktops, then thought the off white units would look dirty next to a white worktop, so I'd get new doors. Then a builder told me he would have to replace two off the bottom units anyways as they're waterlogged and the top units annoy me as are narrow and won't hold a dinner plate. So now I'm getting a whole new kitchen.

I was thinking of getting rid of the tall unit to give me more surface area, but putting the microwave in a cupboard could be a good idea and save me the dilemma of a stainless steel or white one.

New Kitchen Advice

Comments (6)

Ellie

Caroline Thompson
Original Author

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New Kitchen Advice

Comments (6)

Ellie

Caroline ThompsonOriginal Author

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Ellie

Ellie

Ellie

Caroline ThompsonOriginal Author

COMPANY

EXPLORE HOUZZ

CONNECT WITH US

Caroline Thompson
Original Author

Caroline Thompson
Original Author