top tips for getting a budget kitchen to look like an expensive kitchen!

[ministryofsleep]

we have a galley kitchen that is getting replaced in January. Budget is around £5-6,000 for everything including appliances. Does anyone have any tips to make it look more expensive if that's possible or can recommend any particular suppliers

[CybilWrites]

Yes, get some dead posh kitchen catalogues, (Harvey Jones,Plain English etc) then go round show rooms (Homebase wherever and look for colies.

We did that and got a £40k look for £6k inc appliances from MFI (R.I.P)

also I think more expensve worktops and sinks and taps can make cheapo cabinets look more high spec.

[cece]

Spend the moeny on the worktop and tiles.
Cabinets are cabinets as long as they aren't so bad that they will fall to pieces in 5 mins.
Get posh appliances if possible.
What are you doing to the floor?

[cece]

Oh and posh sink, taps etc!

[ministryofsleep]

thanks cybilwhites, sorry if I'm being thick but what are colies?

[CybilWrites]

I ahve no idea. I think I meant IDEAS and got carried away

[cece]

I agree about looking in brochures and stealing their ideas.

Oh and lighting. I have some under the wall cupbaords that light up the worktop, very nice. I also love my three low pendant lights that dangle over my peninsular breakfast bar.

[CybilWrites]

swoon We wanted an 'inframe' kitchen which I thought looked mroe expensive.

[ministryofsleep]

hi cece, thinking about solid wood flooring, the floor space isn't too big as very narrow space. What type of worktops would you recommend - have been put off solid tops because of mould, splitting etc TIA

[ministryofsleep]

[CybilWrites]

we have solid wood floors, they are great. Solid oak tops are fine of you keep an eye on them

[cece]

I had my new kitchen fitted in August. We have a contemporary look. White high gloss slab doors, walnut solid wood worktops and Amtico tile effect floor. Love it. Some pics on my profile but have some better ones to download of the finished product if I ever get aorund to it.

I can recommend some suppliers if you like?

[ministryofsleep]

could I get solid worktops with that budget? Also do you think it's better to go to the independent kitchen shops or do you think high street is better? - sorry for the 20 questions

[cece]

i think so. mine cost about 9 grand but it is pretty big. i needed 7 metres of worktops.

[CybilWrites]

If you are not having a huge amount of work top run then its def affordable. Are you having cabinets on both sides?

[cece]

a quote from kitchen shop was 15

[cece]

worktops

[ministryofsleep]

cece I LOVE your kitchen - that's the type of look we want - have been looking at gloss units in Howden's catalogue. If you could recommend suppliers that would be great if they are nationwide as I am in the North East

[CybilWrites]

Too much! I bet that was an independent place? Better to find a look you like and go searching for a bargain.

My sil got a great solid wood kitchen from Wickes, half price in sale.

It's getting to that time of year now where there will be reductions

[cece]

cupboards

[SorciereAnna]

Ikea

[CybilWrites]

Thats my sil's kitchen in that worktop picture

[cece]

sink but got mine from the cupboard place

[ministryofsleep]

Hi SorciereAnna, we have heating pipes running behind units right along one wall and have been told that rules out an ikea kitchen as they are made to be fixed directly on the wall?

[cece]

appliances mine are neff

[SorciereAnna]

Ah - I know nothing about that. I just know lots of people who have installed fabulous looking Ikea kitchens!