Cream gloss or white gloss? Wood or something white/light and solid like Maia/Corian/Apollo?!

[AButterflyLightsBesideUs]

I am in a total dither. I can't decide what will look best/what I like more!

Kitchen is 5m long, 2.5m wide. Will have French doors at the end to the garden. We will have one long 5m run to include a stainless steel range, and sink and a table against the other wall with chairs on three sides.

Will continue flooring through from the hall which is a really good laminate, warm oak/chestnut type colour, which will run lengthways to the French doors.

We are deciding between these units in cream or in white

If we have them in cream I think we want a wood or wood effect worktop - but solid wood has maintenance worries and I just don't love any of the laminates I have seen (choice restricted as we need a 3.6m length for one of the pieces and I want square edged).

If we have them in white I think I want the all white type look, eg this sort of thing but with handles. I love the purity and freshness of it.

Totally dithering and can't decide though. What would you do? Anyone got pics of their kitchens that are similar?

[Georgina1975]

Cannot help with cream or white I am afraid - similar dilemma at the moment. Have you considered a Quartz worktop. I think they are really worth the investment if your budget will stretch. A lot less porous than Granite. And you get that nice streamlined finish that fits with your units (undermounted sinks look great with stone).

We're going for a light Quartz and will probably go with white or cream units depending on what suits the Quartz best.

Our (nationwide) kitchen supplier has said not to be dissuaded by builder. Says there clients love Quartz, but they are having problems with builders who don't know how to fit. It also makes the kitchen fitting a bit longer. We have been quoted £1800 + vat for the Quartz and around £500 for template and fitting - that is for almost 5m.

[Georgina1975]

their clients

[AButterflyLightsBesideUs]

Quartz sounds lovely but I just can't face spending so much on the worktop.

I think my heart is secretly in the white camp. I just love it. But I think DH really likes "contrast" ie wood/dark worktops. He's happy to let me choose, but I am wibbling because it feels very much my fault if we're a bit disappointed/meh about it in the flesh.

I'm crap at visualising it all.

I worry that white gloss could look a bit cheap? And maybe cream is classier? But cream is a bit of a bitch to match stoney/silvery/other creamy colours to.

Who are you getting your Quartz from and have you been able to find a place you can see it? Pics online just aren't enough!

What sort of splashback/upstand/wall arrangement are you getting?

I was so looking forward to choosing a new kitchen but I am now feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the choices!

[JT05]

Cream with wood worktop. Classic and timeless.

We have wood work tops ( mentioned before, sorry) as long as they are fitted correctly, are oiled prior to being fitted ( we did 4 coats each side ) the underside above the dishwasher is coated with poly varnish then you'll be ok.

Oiling every 6 moths and glass heat protectors either side of hob!

[Marmitelover55]

We have cream with ivory fantasy granite and an oak floor - very happy with it.

I would worry about laminate floor clashing with wood work top. A bit like double denim

[PersilOrAriel]

Be very careful with white gloss. That kitchen you've linked is a vinyl wrap. I currently have a white high gloss vinyl wrap which is still under guarantee but has changed colour to yellow. The manufacturer have now told me in writing that this is normal and to be expected .

Obviously if I had my time again I would NOT have made this choice. I'm currently in discussions with lawyers and kitchen experts about this and I hope it may get sorted, but if I were you I would be looking at an acrylic and not a vinyl kitchen, regardless of colour choice.

[Marmitelover55]

We went for painted MDF - very happy with that choice. Our old kitchen was vinyl wrap and the wall cupboard above the kettle was damaged by the steam. Would never choose this again.

[AButterflyLightsBesideUs]

Ooh, interesting points about the material. I'm googling. God it's so complicated!

Acrylic seems to produce super shiny, and I think we are after a sheen rather than a mirror type effect.

Where did you get your painted cupboards Marmite? Is fantasy granite actual granite or a man made look alike? It sounds lovely. I know exactly what you mean about double denim, I think that may be in the back of my mind as a nagging concern about choosing wood or "wood" worktops.

We're only looking to spend about 4k on units and hopefully less than 1k on worktops so certainly not top spec money, but I feel we should be able to make something good within that budget, but it's working out what are realistically affordable options.

[JasperDamerel]

I went for painted MDF, too, but wanted a matt finish, as it is much easier to keep clean. My units were from DIY kitchens. I went for laminate work tops as I am a terrible housekeeper and suspect that I would end up ruining anything else.

This is my kitchen.

[Marmitelover55]

That looks lovely Jasper!

[JasperDamerel]

It was well under Butterfly's budget, too.

[Marmitelover55]

Our units were from Pebble kitchens in Bristol. I'm not at home at the moment to post a photo but can post a link to pictures of it:

www.houzz.co.uk/projects/787449/open-plan-extension-with-office-corner

The units were really good value - can't remember exact cost, but were made to measure - maybe about £4K. The ivory fantasy granite is real stone from a company called Avon Marble - again very good value.

[JasperDamerel]

That whole extension is lovely, Marmite.

DIY kitchens do several lacquered mdf gloss units, so might be worth looking at.
www.diy-kitchens.com/kitchens/modern/

[Georgina1975]

Yes. I am thinking of going with DIY kitchens - I planned using the Kutchenhaus tool and then priced with DIY. Pretty shocked at the price for rigid units (in a good way).

[JasperDamerel]

My kitchen is a year old now, and I'm still very happy with it.

[AButterflyLightsBesideUs]

Marmite I didn't realise it was you - I've seen those pics posted before, I LOVE your extension, the high apex ceiling with all the skylights is just gorgeous. We are in Gloucestershire so thanks for the company recommendations, they are actually local enough to be possibilities.

Jasper DIY kitchens is a revelation, thank you! I've been looking and their lacquered MDF and painted MDF are actually cheaper list prices than Wickes vinyl coated on 50% off. I've filled a hypothetical basket with the same units as we've been quoted for from Wickes and it's approx 1k cheaper. I'm going to order some samples tonight. This does mean I might have extra cash for worktop options How did you find them as a company? customer services/after sales/advice/any problems etc? Your kitchen looks very well fitted, did you do it?

[Marmitelover55]

Thanks! I would highly recommend our kitchen fitter Steve too - he is in Nailsea so maybe not too far. He went to school with Rich from Pebble kitchens and they are best friends. Pebble make all of the units on site in Fishponds, Bristol. Our made to measure kitchen was considerably cheaper than the off the shelf one we were going for from Magnet. Let me know if you would like Steve's number and I will PM you.

[AButterflyLightsBesideUs]

My parents live in Nailsea

Small world! yes please to a PM for Steve's number thank you.

[Marmitelover55]

Have PM'd you

[AButterflyLightsBesideUs]

Fantastic thank you. I don't recognise the name, but having lived in Nailsea for all my childhood/teenagerhood I half wondered if it would turn out to be one of my parents' church friends or something. Lots to muse on, this thread has raised a lot of ideas/considerations!

[Marmitelover55]

You would be very welcome to come and look at our kitchen if that would be helpful

[AButterflyLightsBesideUs]

Thank you that's very kind. I'll say no for now - I've ordered a great big pile of door and worktop samples from DIY kitchens to check out first. If we like them then they seem to be great value, but if we're still stumped then bespoke type places are the next step I think. We've emailed the Wickes man and cancelled our final appointment with him and said we won't be proceeding with them. There's just too much they can't do in the style we like - no 800mm pan drawers, no drawerline cupboards, no worktops over 3m, and as I understand only vinyl faced cupboards.

V grateful for the advice and experience shared on this thread. It is likely to mean we save money, get better quality and get more exactly what we're after in terms of unit sizes - less compromises. Win win win!

[Marmitelover55]

Good luck - diy kitchens do sound fab

[JasperDamerel]

I found the service from DIY kitchens was very good. Before I bought everything, they were extremely helpful with advice on what I would need, pros and cons of different configurations etc. The delivery was efficient, and the drivers were helpful. They sent free tea and biscuits for the kitchen fitters along with the units, which was a nice touch. We had a couple of small problems (one of the items was damaged in transit, and we had forgotten one very minor part of the order) and they were harder to get of for sorting the problems out, but everything was sorted out to my satisfaction after a couple of calls. I get the impression that they have most of their staff dealing with sales rather than aftercare, but once I managed to get hold of someone, they were very helpful.

My kitchen was part of a two story extension and was fitted by the builders.