New kitchen - what would you get? Love Plain English style but is that looking dated/ cliched?

[goldmedalmother]

We're looking to get a new kitchen but not sure where to begin.

I live in a Victorian house so really do not want a contemporary kitchen. I also want something fairly timeless as I'm not into this changing kitchens every five years or whatever. Plain English type cabinets in a muted tone appeal with dark (probably Corian) worktops and very small wooden door knobs. Is that too cliched and therefore likely to look dated in a few years?

[Ribeno]

I think I know the style you mean- quite traditional: pilasters at the side of units, ornate cornice and pelmets etc?

I dont have an old house really, late 1930s but I thought that Id like to have a fairly traditional kitchen. I just wanted to get it all sorted so we ordered quite quickly after deciding.

Then over a few weeks/ months of visiting showrooms, staring at brochures for hours on end while waiting for our order to be delivered, I then thought that our kitchen might be a little bit "old before its time" (if that makes sense).

We had liked cream units with proper knobs and granite style worktops in black but in the end and after many swaps of pre cut worktops and even cancellations of orders, we ended up with white gloss doors in a shaker style with rod handles and beech worktop. I think its a good compromise: modern but not too futuristic!

I think you could still have a wonderful kitchen withs nods in the victorian direction:
Traditional units in a neutral colour: clay, dusky grey/ sage green/ pale blue.
I love funky "cup" pull handles for drawers and oversized handles
Avoid the ornate cornices and see if the range has any simple cornices to match
Avoid the things such as plate racks and other bells and whistles to maybe stick with period doors and classic worktops?

Im so excited about my new kitchen, can you tell Ive become a bit obsessed?

I think you should have a proper think about things and enjoy!

[goldmedalmother]

Thanks Ribeno.
We are also thinking of having pendant lights over the dining table - another potential 2010/ 2012 cliche!?

Anyone else with thoughts? I can't imagine what other options we could have other than traditional in our house given it's a period property. Anyone with links?

[Pannacotta]

I like a classic look for kitchens and have linked to this kitchen a few times in threads on here
www.higham.co.uk/sydenhamkitchen.htm

I like the combination of simple but unfussy style, with floorboards and period doors. I would choose a simpler handle though, I think the chrome ones look a bit too much.

[justasecond]

I have seen you link to that kitchen before pannacotta and I love it too! Op I think you mean a kitchen with a framed door like the one in the link? I love the look and don't think it will date as it is simple and timeless. On the other hand I think gloss kitchens and glass splashbacks may look dated soon. Really you should go for what you love rather than be dictated to by trends, everything dates eventually!

[goldmedalmother]

Yes definitely the framed door ones. That look has been around a while but maybe it's classic and I do love it so maybe that's more important than fashion??

[kensingtonkat]

Framed painted Shaker, no extraneous details, every time. My mother's was installed twenty years ago and bar the odd lick of paint, hasn't dated at all. If you've ever been to a Landmark Trust house you'll know the style.

Plain English have just started doing an affordable range of units that they'll supply as a DIY kitchen.

[greyvix]

Go with what you like; I love Plain English too. All kitchens date with time. I went for light oak, thinking it was a safe bet. Five years on, it looks dated, but I can paint it and it will look nice again.
The kitchen you describe sounds lovely!

[reluctanttownie]

Don't see how Plain English could date - they always look so classic and simple. WISH we'd been able to afford something like that. Also Kit Stone always look lovely. We got something traditional from magnet in the end (the lure of interest free credit) - not pillasters and everything but still a bit too cornic-y and high street for my liking.

Nothing beats the hand built look with in-frame doors in my book.

[goldmedalmother]

Right, am decided on that style then. Will start a new thread to get ideas on suppliers I think.

[Tryingforsomesun]

Has anyone had any success replicating a Plain English kitchen? If you have I would love to hear from you !

[StarBaker75]

We are also on the hunt for a new kitchen, and like you goldmedalmother, love the Plain English look. Whilst trawling through various kitchen websites we came across a company called Naked Kitchens www.nakedkitchens.com/kitchens/

We were really excited by their online galleries so booked in a visit to their showroom in Norfolk. We are now in the process of drawing up our plans to get a quotation but were so impressed with their ability to meet so many of our design wants/needs. The quality of the cabinets is just fabulous!!