Has anyone regretted getting a white kitchen floor? Has anyone regretted anything they chose for their kitchen actually?

[Laiste]

Basically i can't chose what i want in my kitchen and it's driving me insane!

I think i've chosen a quartz worktop (calacatta with a thin additional vein of copper in it) and i think i've chosen a magnet cabinet style (tatton) but for life of me i don't know what colour to chose for the floor and to be honest can't chose the colour of the cabinets either!

If i go with a white floor to echo the quartz will i regret it? At least white/white means the cabinet colour will be easier to chose? No?

Heeeeeelp

We are planning our kitchen at the moment so I have read the while thread with interest. Floors and worktop are still to be decided.

We were thinking about quartz worktops but mentions of stains, chips, broken plates and echos are putting me off. We have wood now and it has become damaged. Don't know what to do! Are there any places you can see a massive range of worktops of all types?

@EversoDelighted welcome, come in! There will be a granite/quartz showroom near you. Have a google. I made an appointment to go to my nearest one last week to see the patterns 'in the flesh'. (not the company i'm going with as their quote was quite high)(but they don't know that) I took a floor sample with me - couldn't take a cupboard sample 'cos was still going with magnet at that point and they don't give out samples. The colour i chose is one which the quartz company i AM going with is going to get in for me.

justanotherneighinparadise totally agree about the wood effect laminate. We're gradually laying a B&Q one through downstairs (you can see it in the background of a couple of my pics here) and even though in places it's not butted up against a wall properly yet after a year of people marching across it it hasn't shifted and looks great! I think you need decent underlay for a kitchen.

HasaDigaEebowai bamboo looks lovely doesn't it? A friend has it and i'm a bit jel Yes to carpet in bedrooms and landing. Stairs though .... ? For a period house ... ? Whole other thread, whole other conundrum

@SIHastingsLiketheBattle i'll definitely update with the price when we get it. I'm very excited! Must sit my bum down today and hunt for appliances. We've bought from Appliances Direct in the past and they were great. Sent the electrician the kitchen plan last night so he can start to think of even more reasons to not turn up yet get ready.

You're mad You remind me of me! I had my eldest 3 in my 20s and would do the most ridiculous ambitious physical stuff while pregnant. I've had my 4th (7yr old now) a bit later in life and had to take things a bit easier then This house project is something i would NEVER do again. In hindsight we were mental to start it. We've been through so much. Living in a bedroom for 2 years when DD4 was 3 because it was the only habitable room. Now we're ... two thirds? ... of the way through, you've just got to plough on.

Look at AO.com for appliances.
Coop can also be surprisingly good value.

I chose the models I wanted and then just google-shopped. I got my dishwasher and cooker from a company in the Northwest I'd never heard of (I'm in the East) cheaper than anywhere else I could find.

I had Polyflor Camaro (it's an LVT not a laminate) fitted in the hall 10 years ago, and had the same flowed through into my kitchen, utility & conservatory when I had them done 18 months ago. Hall looks as good as the newly fitted kitchen did.

We got a really good new job in the past year with a bit of a DIY making over. New oven, sink, tap, floor and painted the cabinets. I'd definitely recommend this if a new kitchen doesn't make financial sense.

But I wish I'd chosen an induction hob. I didn't because I have some nice pans which wouldn't work. But everything being flat, no knobs to get food stuck in would be easier to clean. So every time I'm faffing with cleaning around the details I think next kitchen I'm getting induction!

Hob not job

Chasingsquirrels thank you. I've literally just sat down with a pen and paper about to start! I'll look at AO too. I'm going to start by noting exactly what models Magnet put on our quote and trying to beat the price (i'm sure i will). I've chosen mid price range for the 2 eye level ovens, cheap for the microwave, cheap for the fridge and freezer and expensive for the induction. I've not chosen an extractor fan at all because i never turn the buggers on! It'll be hidden up the chimney. I've seen them on amazon for 20 quid. Probably cardboard, that'll do

Neonprint - we were wibbling about getting induction - until the kitchen bloke in Wickes gave us an impromptu demo. He did: 'boil water in 10 seconds flat with a dish cloth between the pan and the hob', and then gave us the cloth to touch and it was cold DH and i were speechless, and instantly converted lol. That and the fact it turns itself off when not in use. Sold

Just to say induction is fab. And they have come on loads in recent years. I loved ours and having to go back to gas (admittedly an old crappy gas hob) when we moved was frustrating.

Got a zoneless induction on order for new kitchen.

BeechTreeView thank you. I have the worlds crappiest gas cooker right now so i feel your pain. Think '1960s bang your face on the bloody great sticky out grill handles' type I want to be the one to drop kick it down the drive when the time comes.

So this morning's price comparison efforts -

All 6 appliances now come to £2654
(Best prices on internet, all free delivery.)

That is a saving of £546 by not going with Magnet

If anyone's interested i can break it down further, but in a nut shell the sellers include
B&Q
Appliance Shop
Wickes
AO.com

Best savings were on induction hob and full length fridge.

Weather they'll all still be there when we get our finance sorted out is another matter. It's a rough guide anyway and shows it's well worth the effort. I've saved over half the price of the big fuck off induction hob actually. DH will be pleased

@Laiste we do sound alike, I'm on baby number 3 but sadly in my thirties already. If you're interested in my two penneth on appliances, we did the following:
Dishwasher- higher end of mid range, bought from Currys in the end as it was best price. We use our dishwasher at least once per day so wanted more bang for our buck
Oven - cheaper end of mid range, it looks nice though! Imo ovens don't differ much so I was happy to scrimp on this. Got ours from ao.com
Induction hob - we ended up getting a cheap one for a bargain price from ebay of all places! From a proper shop just through ebay. Its working just as well as our previous expensive high end hob and cost less than £150!!
Fridge freezer - we went for an American FF from ao.com and got a bargain as we ordered on a bank holiday!

Make sure you check out any cashback deals you might be able to get as we got about £200 cashback through quidco when ordering appliances!

@Laiste

BeechTreeView thank you. I have the worlds crappiest gas cooker right now so i feel your pain. Think '1960s bang your face on the bloody great sticky out grill handles' type I want to be the one to drop kick it down the drive when the time comes.

So this morning's price comparison efforts -

All 6 appliances now come to £2654
(Best prices on internet, all free delivery.)

That is a saving of £546 by not going with Magnet

If anyone's interested i can break it down further, but in a nut shell the sellers include
B&Q
Appliance Shop
Wickes
AO.com

Best savings were on induction hob and full length fridge.

Weather they'll all still be there when we get our finance sorted out is another matter. It's a rough guide anyway and shows it's well worth the effort. I've saved over half the price of the big fuck off induction hob actually. DH will be pleased

Well worth a mornings work!

Don't do it!!

Pick out the colours you can see in the quartz worktop and look for an abstract, multi coloured floor (amtico , karndean or the quickstep type) covering in those colours. Hold a sample of the worktop against the floor covering and let your vision go fuzzy. If they merge harmoniously, they will work together.

Pick one of the colours for the cupboard doors.

So - how long do DIY usually take to do a quote? Does anyone know? Wednesday morning feels like days ago

@SIHastingsLiketheBattle that was a good call on the hob! Well done. We are buying:

• Big induction hob
• Single eye level oven
• Double eye level oven
• Fitted microwave
• Full height fridge
• Full height freezer

I don't use a dishwasher, and i'm keeping my old washing machine and dryer.

@Chasingsquirrels thank you. I'm pleased :) The £564 saving means the freezer is free compared to M prices!

FinallyHere that's good advice. I'm looking forward to getting my door sample so i can put it beside my quartz sample ect. Just hope i like it! Getting sick of myself changing my mind!

Don't use a dishwasher???????? Lol

No idea on timescale, I planned mine to the nth detail myself using their online planner and then put in into a basket so didn't need them to price it.

I put down a very light kitchen floor - just off white. The most stupid idiot mistake ever. Couldn't change it because of underfloor heating. It was a nightmare.

Chasingsquirrels i'm wondering if i should have done that. Copied the magnet one as best i can and seen for myslef. I think i'm just really really scared of ballsing it up. We've spent a fortune on this house so far and apx 75% of it has been DHs call (structure, concrete, roof, blocks, drains, lintels, dug or built with his own hands) My choices have been the actual plan (approved with no prob) the bricks - colour match to the original parts of the house, the windows (i pushed VERY hard for something very specific which meant a drastic change to the size and shape of all the original windows to match with the new parts. lots of work. lots of £)(payed off visually though) and all the decor.

So far it's all gone well and everyone says it's beautiful but I'm feeling the stress and getting a bit burned out i think. I started out all vigorous and brave and now i'm feeling nervous about every decision. Don't know why. Oh well ... onwards and upwards.

This thread is helping so much! Thank you everyone :)

DeeplyMovingExperience - oh no! I feel bad for everyone who has come on to say they're stuck with their pale floor and struggling :(

Oh and no dishwasher no, i'm a rubber glove kind of girl Even when i did have one i used it to keep all my glass ware in. (small kitchen)

We bought our house from a couple who had out white tile floors through the kitchen, hall and conservatory. I HATE them. They look tacky imo and are an arse to keep clean. I much prefer the look of wood, but know that isn't maybe the most practical for a kitchen. I'd go with wood effect I think.

We aren't changing ours as it still in pretty good condition, despite being 12+ years old. So actually, that's one thing in its favour...would stone be similarly hard wearing? Maybe stone? Looks less "live laugh love" to me than white, which I just don't like at all.

I get nervous too, I am definitely the main decision maker here as DH is so laid back and doesn't generally mind what anything looks like. We aren't doing structural work for this kitchen but there are still a lot of decisions to be made.

So, I have found a stone worktop showroom locally and am planning to pop over there this afternoon and then go to a couple of flooring places afterwards.

@Pomplemousses i know exactly what you mean and actually now you've said that i think even pale stone might not fit with the vibe i'm struggling to create through the rest of the downstairs.

@EversoDelighted It's a big decision isn't it?!

Have a good time this afternoon. Take pics. Ask for samples. Let us know what you narrow it down to!

It's a bit dazzling to see so many choices, but take your time and think about the main background colour of the stone - creamy/white/grey - and think about how much empty expanses of the stone you'll end up with. Like wallpaper: if you only have a smallish area then go for a smallish pattern. A big expanse (big island? long worktop?) can take a big pattern (calacatta type). The sales person will just agree with everything you say so as not to put you off one more than another They'll ask you about what edging you want (round/bevelled) and weather you want a little upstand right round or a big splash back. Also how many cut outs you need.

Well, I'm back. They were pretty helpful, I already knew I didn't want the calacatta type big pattern, I'm not keen on it and we won't have big expanses. She didn't mention upstands or splashbacks, showed me the bevelled edges, said that they come and survey properly for the cutouts etc once your units are in then leave you with a temporary counter while they laser cut it. This one was my favourite

I have very pale cream floor tiles, I don’t think I would have them again, they are lovely but show every mark. I would have a beige/grey mix in future I had these in my last kitchen, never looked dirty.

Never again will I have 'shiny' worktops. SIL warned me against but DH persuaded me that we needed some wow factor. They show every crumb, every scratch and even after wiping down I have to polish out the wipe down traces. Nightmare and so much work.

Roselilly36 thank you.

@EversoDelighted great range of samples there! That's a nice one you've chosen. What colour are your cabinets again?

Anyone reading this about to look for quartz/granite - ring round as many as you can for quotes. They'll want a rough drawing of the worktop plan + sizes. They vary wildly for the same material. I rang 10 and the highest quote was 4 thousand more than the lowest

What have you got @ConcernedAuntie ? A quartz or granite? Is it black? Black seems like hard work according to a fair few posters.

Sort of browny/beigy marbled effect granite.