Sorry - another kitchen thread. Please help!

[Doodlediz91]

Hello everyone, Sorry I know there are lots of kitchen threads already - which i have been dutifully trawling though! I have to decide on what we doing for our new kitchen - and my lovely boyfriend really couldn't care less - which makes it extra scary spending so much money and having to make the decision alone! I did find one thread - which i now can't find - were someone was listing the expensive but not so great quality companies - which i would love to know if anyone can link me too.

I really wanted a Bulthaup B1 kitchen in all white - but cost and worries about it dating and not fitting in our very typical edwardian house have put me off.

I'm now thinking something something like a handless shaker. I love Higham Kitchens - and Underwood - also plan to check out Simon Benjamin and Dorset Kitchens (as we are local) - we have the budget to put in a nice kitchen - but anything we spend here is something we have to save on the rest of the renovation - ie. my solid hardwood floors etc. It is also I very large kitchen. ill see if i can add my rough floor plan.

Will I be 15K happier with an expensive kitchen than an ikea one? and what is the actually difference? I don't care what 'brand' it is - I just want something which is sturdy - good quality and will last us. Likewise - I'm not hung up on solid wood - if another material will be just as good. I just need some spin free - advice, to stop me shopping with my eyes and not my head!! I would be interested to know if anyone is particularly happy with their kitchen- why you chose that company and a rough price(if you don't mind) Pictures are always great!! =) thank you

[Flipflop99]

We are in the process of ordering our kitchen, and looked at the handless doors similar to the Bulthaup. Have you looked at Naked Kitchens? We didn't go for the handless option in the end, and are leaning towards in frame, but I know they do the look you are after www.nakedkitchens.com/kitchens/frameless/chelsea-harbour/
Hope this helps, I didn't know how many decisions needed to be made until we started looking and it can be a bit over whelming! :)

[ptumbi]

Do you want to fit the kitchen yourself, or get a fitter? If the latter, look at Howdens; they are good qualilty but have to be bought through a fitter. They will come and design it for you too. And it'll save you money. Or B&Q, or Homebase, or Wickes; all good enough quality. Not handmade, or solid wood, but you don't see the units once they're in!

I've fitted loads of kitchens - one wood one from a local shop (which was expensive - you pay for the shop as well as the fitter and the kitchen) one from an expensive place (can't remember now but was a beautiful curved kitchen; Schmitt, I think), my MILs which was also Howdens (wood), my own latest one is Howdens (black and cream mix) laid in a hexagon shape, and my dp's kitchen is just now being fitted - from B&Q! His is cream and anthracite.

Most DIY places will do a handle-less door.

Personally I wouldn't go for a ultra-expensive kitchen; I'd use the money on stuff you can see, like your floor, which needs to be good quality and hard-wearing. Get the worktops rright - quartz, or corian, for hardwearing, non-staining good looks. And spend money on hob, oven, extractor...

[Doodlediz91]

Thanks for getting back to me - In the kitchen I am planning to put down wood effect tiles ( like the ones from fired earth) as we have 3 big dogs. The rest of the house has its old original floors which are beautiful parquet which hopefully will come up nicely.

I've seen a really nice highams kitchen - a handless shaker which might be a nice cross over between my desire for clean lines and easy cleaning and a nod to the period of the house? I was planning on using a honed granite like white river, the bathrooms have gone a bit carrara crazy - so i should lay off it in the kitchen! - and we are a little partial to a glass of red wine - disaster waiting to happen!!!

I disagree about the carcass as i think if you get cheap carcasses they can warp and wobble - and I don't want wobbly draws after a year! i will look at howdens though. I'm a bit of a believer that magnet are just an overpriced version of the same basic kitchen that you can get in b and q ? essentially are all kitchens the same unless you go handmade ? or are there different levels of quality in the standard carcasses ?

appliance wise - we already have a HUGE siemens freezer which is going in the utility room, and a liebherr integrated fridge which were given from my parents. I'm planning on 2 ovens - one with microwave and grill option. Hob - I think I fancy a induction one for safety and cleaning - and if don't need gas in the new kitchen it makes it cheaper!

Is that all my appliances? Oh and the dishwasher. I really want a hot water tap

[Flipflop99]

Wobbly draws - lol!!!

I know what you mean with all the extras you don't think about - they really stretch your budget.

I'm with you on the carcasses - we have had the standard mdf ones before, and whilst they are ok to begin with, they don't do great with wear and tear. We are going for birch ply carcasses with solid oak drawers and doors. Apparently solid timber carcasses suffer from movement so the ply is better. Hoping our kitchen will be in towards end of Sept - can't wait to get back to normal and not live in a bomb site!

[Lelivre]

I have a friend who has spent a ton on a kitchen. I asked her what she liked the best - it was the layout, It worked perfect for her, oh and the internal (organiser) drawer fittings (drawers within cupboards, that kind of thing). But the main thing...She could cook and see the whole kitchen diner (huge) and keep an eye on the little ones. What she didn't like is what it cost her and she said to me 'it just doesn't make a difference to your life!' I was reminded of her comment when reading your opening post.

I would encourage you to focus on the layout working well, ensure it is practical for you to work in there, don't get too hung up on the look. For example...Having the dishwasher in the right place, near a sink, near a bin and so it opens without fouling any doors and the dishes can go straight into their cupboards without more than one stride. Worktop and flooring, get that right too. Make sure that you really like what you put in and it is serviceable - you will be thanking yourself for making a good choice there, as you will be staring at it and cleaning it more than any other part of the kitchen.

Yes to the induction hob and boiling water tap. If I had the space I would put that tap over another sink in another part of the kitchen rather than by my 'working' sink. I also love my Corian worktop with integrated double sink - so so easy to clean. I went for the extra deep worktop and it gives the kitchen a substantial look. I am tall and in addition had the kitchen built up a few inches, I like that too. Another small thing, but a pull out sprayer in the tap is useful. A pull out bin where the front of the door pulls out and the bin is there that's great, just speeds up the cleanup. Put lots of thought into the lighting also. It's the smaller things seem to make the biggest difference. It doesn't have to be bulthaup and tens of thousands to get a kitchen with features you will be delighted with.

Incidentally however I have a bulthaup kitchen. But...It was second hand I had it cut down for my kitchen and put new appliances worktop tap etc in (btw as it happens, it has large handle with a notable profile and I am glad for it as I have no sticky finger marks at all, but handleless looks great, I agree) anyway I had a very accomplished fitter who supplies kitchens he said 'his' are made to the german standard and then some. He felt it was superior to mine anyway (grrr) and made in the SW of England. I can look out his details of you like.

So the short of it; whatever you like in the bulthaup, see if it can be recreated in another kitchen and save the cash!

[ptumbi]

MDF carcasses? The ones I've just bought for dp (B&Q) are flat-pack chipboard, and we have bracketed in all corners too, so they shuoldn't warp or wobble! (Although dp is known for using 14 screws were 2 will do...) They should'nt wobble if they are connected togther and screwed to the wall as well.

Anyway, howdens carcasses are already built although I'd still use a set-square!

I'd love a Quooker tap! I have an induction hob which I love (v economical) and all my other appliances - fridge/freezer, microwave,toaster, washer, dishwasher) are in the utility room. Nothing on my worksurfaces at all!

[Gusthetheatrecat]

My main learning point (currently midway through new kitchen - argh) is that kitchen units are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to costs. By the time I totalled up everything I could think of: work tops, installation, tiles, flooring, tiler, electrical work, lights, table, chairs, decorators and more, I found that according to our original budget I had no money left at all for cabinets. Admittedly we also had to move a boiler. And of course we could have decorated it ourselves. But equally we kept our old appliances. So what I am saying is when you look at prices for cabinets that is only the beginning! (Broke emoticon)

[PigletJohn]

Even cheap flatpack carcases won't wobble if you screw them to the wall, near the top of the back.

Get drawers with metal runners and sides by Blum or Hafele.

Use cabinet hanging rail (strip) for your wall cabs

[Doodlediz91]

gusthetheatrecat definitely agree about the tip of the iceberg ???? we got told yesterday all our ceiling wiring is original - over 100 years old and completely shot and dangerous - not wired through the fuse board etc ????(lots of the rooms were having lighting grids anyway in the building work) but the electrician has kindly disconnected them, and it's more money to spend. Obviously a safe, warm, secure house comes above anything else!
I weakened and have emailed our floor plans and measurements to Higham kitchens - they offer free design - I think I'll do the same with several companies who offer free design to collect ideas - even if I then go down a different route. I have looked at every option I can think of re layouts and I want to bash my head against the wall.

lelivre I am always on the look out for a second hand bulthaup! I love the b1 kitchens- but my OH is less keen and I do worry about brown streaks on the cupboards where the dogs walk past all soggy after a walk. And cats - how do such tiny animals make such a mess?? Paw prints everywhere !!! I need to invent a cat flap with a car wash style - cat wash!! I think what appeals to me most is the quality. It all just looked and felt so solid and exacting.

I think a ' farmhouse' rough and ready kitchen would be much more suitable for my menagerie than a white one! My hours on houzz are leaning me more towards a light grey in a shaker style but with no extra fancy beading to trap dirt. I would welcome any contacts or details of recommended kitchens!

Just finished looking at flooring ( it's 5am - wonderful wake up task! Our kitchen- excluding the lounge area - and scullery is 18m sq which makes any flooring options eye watering.

[Doodlediz91]

Ptumbi I wish my OH was remotely diy savy - he would use one screw ( by this stage I would have asked him for months to do it!) and try hitting it with a hammer to same time and effort - break something and then get bored - and wander off leaving everything out its a very effective method he has of removing the risk of me asking him to do diy.