Need Kitchen Design advice please- feel clueless!

[Autumnrose123]

Hi, posted similar on home decoration but hoping more traffic here as meeting kitchen designer tomorrow morning! We bought a lovely new ‘forever home’ late last year. Love it and feel very lucky but so worried to make a wrong decision.. so hoping some of you can help!

Basically house is Pretty dated... nothing done in 20 years and we have just have enough in budget to replace downstairs flooring, hall, living room and very large open plan kitchen/dining area. Also to need to do a whole new kitchen. I feel strongly that we need to get it right as we probably won’t ever have the money again ( made good profit on last house as we moved to much cheaper area). I appreciate how lucky I am and I’m so excited as I love the house so much but I want to make sure I pick something classic and timeless. I’ve made bad decor decisions in the past so worried I’m pretty clueless. My DH is very laid back so happy with anything. I’d really really appreciate any advice from people who have an interest in houses, design etc. I like the look of pale grey shaker units with a darker coloured island but is this going to date? Please help!

Go with something easy to clean, nothing with groves where dust can catch, handles that don’t date too much, keep it simple, efficient and ergonomic!

Hi, we are awaiting our new kitchen being installed.I had a play around on the wren website as they have a kitchen that you can change the cupboards/worktops/floors/handles ect. It gives you a very basic idea of what to expect. Hope this helps😀

My new-ish kitchen has very light grey modern shaker units with a slightly darker grey silestone worktop and I'm pleased with the look: very clean and neutral but not stark white.
I have painted the walls white and have a turquoise-y blue glass splashback behind my induction hob. I anticipate maybe changing the paint colour to keep up with fashion.

I get the impression, apologies if I'm completely wrong, that a pale sage green or very soft pale blue are colours that are 'in' now.

The designers we had in were helpful up to a point, you do need to be sure in your own mind about what you want/need yourself.
Our rather wonderful builder was very helpful with design tweaks [for example, he moved the dishwasher which allowed two lower corner cupboards to have those lovely swivel-out accessible shelving fitments]
Wishing you good luck, and hope you enjoy your dream kitchen

If it's a traditional house you won't go wrong with Shaker style.

Really important to get your layout right, regardless of the styling. Make sure you have enough storage, workspaces and appliances in sensible places. Good lighting. This might not involve symmetry, the sink under the window or a range cooker marooned in a chimney breast. The kitchen company designer will be trying to fill your room with cupboards and gadgets, not thinking about ergonomics necessarily.

This is a really useful resource on design and the joys of pull out storage blum

I agree with previous poster about using paint to add colour if you want to be timeless and have flexibility to make changes. Also if it's for you don't be afraid to have wooden worktops. They are beautiful and easy to maintain with occasional sanding and oiling. (Lots of people warned us off them but we love them). We have white gloss shaker units with wooden worktops (May not be to your taste but I am hoping it will be fairly timeless).

I really think grey has been in for so long now it is going to be out fairly soon and we will wonder why we had everything grey for so long!!

Also look up the golden triangle in the kitchen. You need to consider having cooker, fridge and sink within an unblocked triangle. Layout is really important if you are keeping this kitchen long term. It's not an absolute rule but good to have as a guide to get started.

www.cliqstudios.com/work-triangle-floor-plan/

Also don't forget the designer will want to sell you as many units as possible. We were given some disastrous plans by some companies who just wanted to sell the most expensive kitchen possible so definitely get more than one person out.

Builders / fitters like companies who sell the worktops already assembled so discuss with whoever is installing for you and they can recommend companies they like to use.

Also pan drawers are just the best!!

Enjoy your planning!

Thanks so much for all the great advice, that’s all very helpful and feel more prepared for kitchen meeting today! Worried about the grey thing too although the only kitchen I saw so far was pale grey with a charcoal unit and white worktops. Might be better thinking of a white kitchen with wooden worktops. Hoping kitchen people will be as helpful as you guys. X