Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be upset about new kitchen?

32 replies

Pyjamaramadrama · 02/07/2014 22:28

I've had a brand new (but done fairly cheaply) kitchen fitted. It looks pretty good and i love the kitchen itself except that the wall and floor tiles I chose look horrible and don't match the cupboards.

I thought that they would but it was all rushed and done on a tight budget and I got it wrong. Worst of it is I changed my mind at the last minute and my original choice would have been better. Now I'm kicking myself.

I'm really fed up about it, even ds who's 6 said that he doesn't like the 'floor and walls' but likes the cupboards.

There's no way we're going to afford to get these changed for a long time and I'm really sulking.

It's such a first world problem, and I think I'm probably being very unreasonable and quite bratty but I can't help feeling shitty about it.

Please be nice.

OP posts:
Longdistance · 02/07/2014 22:31

If you take a picture for us to see, we might be able to help you in your dilemma.

growingolddicustingly · 02/07/2014 22:32

Can you save up for some tile paint to paint over the wall tiles and look on Free cycle for rugs to cover the floor tiles until you can afford to get them redone?

AlpacaPicnic · 02/07/2014 22:33

Is it just the colour? Could you paint the tiles?

growingolddicustingly · 02/07/2014 22:33

and a picture would help as Longdistance says.

LaurieFairyCake · 02/07/2014 22:35

Post a picture and people can make suggestions without you having to change them - perhaps a different colour that tones with the wall and floor could be played up in accessories?

So for example if your floor and walls were grey but you hated them with the cream cupboards we might be able to find slate and cream accessories that tied it all in

redcaryellowcar · 02/07/2014 22:36

I know how you feel. I am useless at choosing colours and textures for new room decoration, think probably why i live in a house painted cream! I choose the wrong colour for our front door last year but over the last 10 months it has grown on me loads and people often say how nice it looks! Do you think worth giving it a but of time!

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 02/07/2014 22:36

I'm too embarrassed by my bad taste to even show you anyone but there is a complete colour clash.

Tile paint might definitely be an option, I've never used it before, I've heard it isn't much good but would be glad to be corrected.

OP posts:
growingolddicustingly · 02/07/2014 22:39

Google tile stickers OPif you are worried about tile paint.

www.24studio.co.uk/TileTransfers?

A big range of different designs.

FindoGask · 02/07/2014 22:40

You're not being unreasonable! I can see why you're gutted- one thing, living with a kitchen you don't like, but the knowledge you picked it yourself too. And the hassle and expense for something you're not happy with. I've been just as impulsive - when we first decorated, I couldn't be bothered with little test paint patches, chose what I thought was an understated misty green, only to have to live with mint aero green for years because I was then too lazy to change it.

No suggestions here but I'm sure you'll have plenty of others!

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 02/07/2014 22:43

Well that's basically the gist of LaurieFairyCake, cupboards are oak with black work tops, fine, then I had grey floor and tiles, but even the tones of the two greys clash.

I've got cream accessories which I've been collecting now for ages buying one thing each month which was also probably a bad idea as I can't now take most of it back.

OP posts:
doorbellringer · 02/07/2014 22:49

My dh is full on in an "alternative to tiles" we have mdf cut to size of a splashback and vinyl wrapped in carbon fibre- the stuff the use to wrap cars. He suggests chip your tiles off, buy a sheet of 9mm mdf which is 8ftx4ft =£12. Cut to size, coat in watered down pva glue. Let it dry then apply the vinyl wrap. You get it any colour you want. Here is a sample. He has done it on LOADS of kitchens recently as an easily changeable alternative to tiles. We have it ourselves. It scrubbable, hard wearing, non stain. I absolutely love it. Seriously consider it. The floor you can carpet tile mega cheaply or put down rugs. Pm me if you have any questions!

To be upset about new kitchen?
Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 02/07/2014 22:51

Thank you for the suggestions.

Findo that's why my whole house is just painted cream.

OP posts:
Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 02/07/2014 22:53

I thought about some cheap Lino to cover the floor but it seems that Lino isn't that cheap although easier to fit.

OP posts:
Selks · 02/07/2014 22:54

I bet it looks loads better than you think it does...you just had a different idea in your mind of what it would look like. It actually sounds totally fine to me - I can't see how you can have gone far wrong with your choices.
If you post a pic it might offer reassurance that actually it looks fine!

Singingbird · 02/07/2014 22:54

Ok, take a step back. Would changing either the floor OR wall tiles make it look better? The wall tiles could be painted with tile paint, though I'm not sure, having not done it myself, how great the end result is. I wouldn't recommend painting the floor though, high traffic areas wear quickly.

Choose a neutral tile paint colour some shades lighter than you units. Buy another sample tile or use one left over of the wall tiles to test tile paint. You might find having the walls in the same tones as your units makes the floor look ok as a contrast.

I've just had my kitchen done and I was worried my off grey/green units wouldn't 'go' with the very dark floor, but off white/ pale cream tiles kind of worked. Not being smug, but changing one bit might make it work.

Good luck, I know it's stressful!

AnsonsVoyageRoundTheWorld · 02/07/2014 22:54

I really think you need to give it a week or so. It might not be as bad as you think. Have you finished dressing the kitchen? If there are other things/colours going on then you might find the overall effect is ok.

LaurieFairyCake · 02/07/2014 22:55

Right - first of all grey , black and oak look great together - even if the greys don't really match they are all tones of black. Smile

2 thoughts occur :

  1. It's just been done so you're not used to it yet - you're still in the beating yourself up for it not being perfect phase , in a month you may not care so much
  1. A really bright accessory is the way I'd go - so lime green or bright pink - with grey bits on it - like for example tea/coffee/sugar canisters in lime green with grey slate blackboard paint on them to write tea/etc

A blackboard would look really good or something in grey and black - there's a walldecal on Cox and Cox website in the sale - think it's black and grey and it says

Today's menu
Eat it
Or starve

In nice font - something like that could tone quite well

doorbellringer · 02/07/2014 23:00

Sorry to go against the grain but tile paint is ghastly stuff. Even the best application looks like someone was tripping on acid and grabbed a paint brush. Chip them off and if you have no other option get basic white tiles from B&Q or a tile company. Do not paint them. You will know a new ring of hell.

To be upset about new kitchen?
doorbellringer · 02/07/2014 23:04

Sorry didn't mean to resend pic

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 02/07/2014 23:06

It's not totally finished no, still to paint and sockets to replace and everything's not even back in the kitchen yet so it's still bare in that sense.

I really appreciate the suggestions and not calling me a brat. Feel I should just be glad it's all new and fresh.

When I was choosing there were a small number of choices within budget, I was asking opinions and everyone I asked had different ideas. It didn't help that somebody walked in today, naming no names (the floor has literally been finished today), frowned and asked why I'd chosen that with that.

OP posts:
doorbellringer · 02/07/2014 23:09

We'll tell your DM or MIL to piss off, you appreciate their bravery in mixing that many florals and their belief pot pour to is still current Grin

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 02/07/2014 23:09

That's just made me nearly spit my drink out doorbellringer.

I can just imagine me painting my tiles an even worse colour. and them having loads of streaks and drips and me crying that I've made them even worse.

OP posts:
doorbellringer · 02/07/2014 23:10

*pot pourri

Original poster
Pyjamaramadrama · 02/07/2014 23:11

Well if nothing else that's made me smile for the first time all evening.

Perhaps I shouldn't take notice of somebody who has a toilet matt, and, a toilet seat cover.

OP posts:
ResponsibleAdult · 02/07/2014 23:14

Ooooh, bell ringer, that is brilliant. I think you might be right, off to google. Will send this thread to myself