New Kitchen Dilemma - German Contempory or Painted Shaker Style

[MAM48]

I am so indecisive so please help me with this. Extending my Edwardian Semi to make large kitchen/dining/living area. Going with Bi-fold's to garden with Lantern roof.

What style kitchen? I like both the Cubed German look making it Contempory AND I like the the Plain hand painted shaker style (think Neptune style but solid wood built)

If you have done something similar please share your experience/advice

Been waiting to see 'the one' but it is really hard to imagine the finished look.

Please help!!

[MAM48]

Ohhelp - that is exactly what I am thinking. I have lived with the shaker(ish) look for the last 12 yrs and to be honest it still looks ok. Not bored of it but want a real transformation IFSWIM. Think I am looking for a real difference but it must stand the test of time as this is our forever house and I do not want to replace for years and years.

DH no help at all "pick what you want I will like either"

The more pics I see the less I am sure!!

[Dontlaugh]

Oh my, what a choice! German contemporary for me, every time. Hacker, Eggersman, Siematic, Poggenpohl.....
How could you not?!
They are classic, and do stand the test of time.
I love them can you tell

[AnnOnymity]

Shaker.

The contemporary one will date very quickly

[MAM48]

Just found this on the Hacker site (thanks Dontlaugh)

Could be a good compromise German designed but looks classic?

[Apatite1]

Shaker is very popular now and will date. I think we will go with german, but mostly because I think they're built better rather than for style.

[Tyranasaurus]

What's the rest of the house like?

[mandy214]

I think everyone has painted shaker style. It is lovely, classic, but I think that although it won't necessarily date, it will be less popular because it will just be the norm. Nothing exciting or wow about it.

I'd go German modern every time.

[cece]

contemporary every time. it will stand the test of time plus I love that look in older property.

shaker in my opinion looks old fashioned and dull..

[wonkylegs]

Is it proper German contemporary or just GC style? My dad has the former and it's now 14yrs old and still looks fab & brand new. Friends have a cheaper knock off one that is looking tired after 2yrs.
I have a clean lined solid oak shaker kitchen mainly because it suits my house & the outlook better. I also love solid oak, paired with stainless steel & white so it's still has contemporary clean lines just ones that go with the crooked walls & idiosyncrasies of an old house.

[LondonGirl83]

Don't go traditional shaker. Think something more Plain English which is a great modern interpretation of a timeless kitchen.

[Truelymadlysleepy]

I agree with London, a simple painted kitchen without any twiddly bits. It can be repainted if you get fed up with the colour.

www.smallbone.co.uk/collections/kitchens/hand-painted# the 3rd one along?

[Kitsmummy]

What about neither but this beautiful retro/modern look? I have been coveting this for about two years now air kitchen

[Kitsmummy]

Or this is contemporary and absolutely stunning, but I imagine you would need mahoosive amounts of cash for it Dominic ash

[Riverland]

Go for a painted shaker style kitchen. They have been around for many years and still going strong, and the great thing is you can change the colour just by repainting. So much friendlier and warmer than modern style kitchens, if you have a kitchen diner area, too.

[MAM48]

Great ideas everyone thanks. Tyrana rest of the house is typical muted colours F&B with a mixture of new (en-suite) modern and a nod to the age of property. We are keeping the front room separate with fireplace and big bay sash. Want the rear to be open and luxuriously comfy??

Also extending upstairs to create a bigger main bathroom and larger 3rd bed.

The whole new space needs to be good for entertaining and relaxing with a smart clean look kitchen. The one thing I know I do not want is gloss cupboards. Oh, and a huge Wine Chiller!!

[Riverland]

What colour would you go for if you choose a painted kitchen?

(I agree about the gloss!)

[MAM48]

Not sure about colour but needs to be bright/warm as NW facing. Currently have painted in FB Clunch so quite boringneutral.

[Riverland]

Maybe if you fall in love with a colour, that will help you decide.

You can have absolutely any colour you want. If I were in your shoes I'd be looking at colours and picking something that lifts my heart every time I see it.

One of the joys of a painted kitchen, is the pleasure of colour.

[Deux]

My friend has just had her kitchen redone and she has a mix of the two and it looks amazing.

She has shaker style on a large island, painted in a very dark colour. The rest of the kitchen is painted, hand-less in a very pale colour. The latter looks just like a Hacker kitchen.

I have a Hacker kitchen and it looks fab. I don't expect it to date. It's very pale, matt, so recessive and just blends in.

[staverton]

Have a look at Harvey jones linear kitchen- it's sort of a mixture of the two. I love ours! Very solidly built, hand painted wood like a shaker, but modern and streamlined. Could email you a pic if you pm me your email address

[MAM48]

Thanks Staverton I live about an 10mins walk from a HJ showroom. Popped in last week to have a look and TBH did not stay too long as the salesman was ultra pushy. Will check out their range online. It was mentioned on a previous post somewhere that their carcasses are not solid wood (is this really important?) anyway I am sure it is the design I want to be steered on and the colour is secondary, if it is painted. Have to say German built/no handles is my preference though and am looking for this effect down one wall (drawers only) then full height down the other with an island in the middle.

We have worked hard and waited 10 years for this so want to make sure it looks and works fabulously!

[LondonGirl83]

I have solid wood but it because it was made by a joiner. It doesn't really matter. MDF is very strong and will last much longer than you probably will want to keep the kitchen.

[annalouiseh]

If going complete handleless you can spice up with something like this to go with the painted

[MAM48]

Really like the brown island pic! Imagine it in wide rectangle and not gloss. This is deffo the look I want to achieve. Decided on having the hob in Island not sink as I am the clumsiest washer upper. Plus I have a big window that the sink is going under amongst the wall of base units.

I guess shaker look is not the way forward for me as I have lived with that style for a while and want a different effect. Not liking the wall hung black radiator in the pic, underfloor heating and if needed a small unobtrusive radiator is my preference.

Meeting a kitchen designer next week to discuss full layout, this will help me by having a template to match colours/design to.

Funny how I need to plan new bathroom also but not even started thinking about that as this seems far more important. Plus if budget runs low then will skimp on that rather than kitchen.