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Home decoration

Come and be brutally honest about my kitchen

126 replies

Namechangeforakitchen · 27/04/2018 13:05

Hi. We moved into our house 8years ago and the builders put us under huge pressure to get the kitchen fitted. Consequently feel I rushed the choice of kitchen and I’ve never really loved it. I think the tiles (shiny tiles) and doors are dated. I would love a contemporary Shaker style kitchen with wooden parquet floors but obviously can’t afford to put a whole new kitchen in.
We are about to change things with our mortgage which means we’ll have some spare cash to update the kitchen but I don’t want to rush things this time!
I’ve attached some photos of the kitchen this morning and thought I would ask you all to be brutally honest and give me advice on how you would update the kitchen. I’m thinking new floor, new table and breakfast bar stools, new lighting above the island??? What do you think?

Come and be brutally honest about my kitchen
Come and be brutally honest about my kitchen
Come and be brutally honest about my kitchen
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Thread gallery
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flirtygirl · 03/05/2018 23:11

I like the clean lines but its so dull.

I would change the pelmet colour, maybe a pattern but leave the blinds nice and white.

Then id clad the island in metal, either copper or zinc/aluminium.

Id look out for an industrial light that would match in with an industrial table or id keep the table but find some really cool chairs and a large rug.

Get new artwork, pelmets and a rug which would all work together colour wise.
Im not sure if id leave the colour on the walls, but it is subtle and may go with new fabric and rugs.

I'd definitely get new bar stools and make sure they also tie into the new dining chairs. Look for ranges that do both.

i think you will regret ripping out the floor and its a waste of money when the floor is so nice.

Namechangeforakitchen · 04/05/2018 07:10

Thanks flirty I had a look at rugs yesterday when I was out shopping but I can't quite get my head round a rug in the kitchen. I just think it will get grubby. I'll keep thinking about it though.

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maymai · 04/05/2018 07:27

I wouldn't spend loads at once.

Change the lights first.

Add some colour.

I'd put a big modern rug under the table and chairs to break up the tiles.

Then live with it a bit and see if you like it better. All kitchens date and with the one you like will date too and you'll be fed up with it after a while.

maymai · 04/05/2018 07:29

Also karndean = plastic wood, why would you, I think it's over rated Lino!!

New blinds with colour would be nice too perhaps?

PasstheStarmix · 04/05/2018 07:32

I agree with other posters abit of colour and character would improve it. It’s beautiful though and it really depends on your taste if you’re after the shiny modern look, a more traditional style or a mix of the two.

restorrestore · 08/05/2018 21:07

Op, thanks for the 'on' picture. They're a lot whiter/colder than I imagined. Is that the bulbs?

Namechangeforakitchen · 09/05/2018 13:09

Hi restorrestore Yes I think the bulbs are white. I'm sure if you played around with the bulb type you might like them better. I've just ordered these new light fittings from Laura Ashley so I'm hoping these suit a bit better.
Light fitting

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toastedbeagle · 09/05/2018 13:16

I'm showing you my kitchen... which I love but the hand painted finish isn't the longest lasting... needs repainting every few years.

I think your ideas are good. Looking forward to seeing the after pics!

Come and be brutally honest about my kitchen
SurfnTerfFantasticmissfoxy · 09/05/2018 13:24

I think an oak floor (maybe herringbone parquet) would really warm it up. I'd change out the pendant lights for industrial style ones, hung a bit lower (like these) https://m.beautifulhalo.com/industrial-hanging-pendant-light-with-colorful-barn-shade-mini-sized-p-279297.html?currency1=GBP&track=PAGGmGBPL&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5f6pqM42gIVLijTCh1VaQGREAkYBCABEgJCBfDDBwE
Change out the bar stool and kitchen table / chairs - maybe upholstered bar stools in a bright colour to add a bit of interest and then I'd change the blinds as well to brighten things up

Namechangeforakitchen · 09/05/2018 13:34

Your kitchen is beautiful toastedbeagle Absolutely gorgeous!! And I love those pendants surf Nightmare I've just ordered some glass ones from Laura Ashley as I had vouchers but I prefer the ones you've suggested. 😂

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Paddingtonthebear · 09/05/2018 13:40

Is this a really terrible stealth boast? Confused

MarshaBradyo · 09/05/2018 13:43

I have an aversion to shiny hard kitchens so feel your dilemma

We have inherited gloss cupboards, dark granite worktop and dark tiles and it feels very masculine and cold.

So even though it’s very serviceable and newish I would like a change.

More wood will soften it

Namechangeforakitchen · 09/05/2018 13:50

No Paddington. I concede it's not a terrible kitchen but I've grown sick of it and want to change it and need advice from others!

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NobodysChild · 09/05/2018 13:53

Beautiful as is, but definitely needs colour. Maybe coloured Perspex splashback/upstands? Retro patterned blinds? I'd get rid of the tv and sideboard and have a big glass tank on the floor with giant cacti in. I'd also get rid of the table and chairs and go for a small round table and four comfy armchairs on a large rug. I wouldn't change the lights above the island, I'd just revamp them by painting stripes on them.

bathildab · 12/05/2018 17:24

I agree with you OP - change the stools, chairs, pendant lights and I would probably change the dresser too. I think you could get away with keeping the table if the chairs complemented it - eg Eames DSW type chairs with light legs would work well here and could inject some colour. (Cult furniture and others do great copies). Or go classic Scandi with a wishbone style.
Also simple things like fresh flowers on the island.

Namechangeforakitchen · 12/05/2018 17:56

Thanks bath some great ideas for chairs. We will get rid of the sideboard but I don't really know what to put in its place. The space is big and I'm struggling to find big tables to replace our table with so I'm worried it will look really sparse once I get rid of the sideboard.
Any ideas for stools?

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Sunisshining12 · 14/05/2018 20:40

OP, that is a super nice kitchen. Don't change it all!

In my opinion, I'd just change the floor to a wood parquet/herringbone style for warmth & interest, to start with.

Also add some plants & accessories - pictures/shelves/ornaments/photos.

And change the lights above the island.

Honestly that is all I would do.

How about make some smaller changes such as floors & accessories then come back to MN for round 2?!

Ps - what colour are your walls?

Namechangeforakitchen · 14/05/2018 21:35

Thanks sun I would love shelves to display accessories on but I don’t know if you can tell from the photos but there’s no spare walls to put a shelf up! Really the only surfaces to display plants or photos are the kitchen table, the sideboard or the island. Plus if we get rid of the sideboard I think it will look even more bare. And I’ve no idea what to,put in its place.
Potentially we could get rid of the TV and put a shelf there and I’m sure it would look a lot nicer but we (I) love the TV in the kitchen. It’s nice to watch the news at breakfast or have the TV on while cooking.
We’ve got new lights for above the island coming soon. We’re getting the kitchen painted in July. It’s currently Dulux Chalky Downs no 4. Think we might change it to Farrow and Ball Elephant’s Breath as we’ve got some left over from another room. I would love to change to floor to parquet wood. Think we’ll do it but it will be a nightmare to lift the current tiles.

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picklemepopcorn · 14/05/2018 21:40

You need big pot plants! Don't forget you can put things on the floor.

You could have a ladder shelf, tall and narrow, deeper at the bottom. You can put plants and objects on the shelves.

Come and be brutally honest about my kitchen
picklemepopcorn · 14/05/2018 21:43

Like this. The corner one would probably fit by the window.

Come and be brutally honest about my kitchen
Come and be brutally honest about my kitchen
EdWinchester · 14/05/2018 21:48

The general shine on everything dates it massively.

The layout is nice, but I agree the floor needs to be changed and I don't like the shiny cupboard doors or the laboratory look - very 10 years ago. Change the bar stools and the lights too, and if you can stretch to it - replace the cupboard doors, have handles and make the island a different colour.

InterstellarSleepingElla · 14/05/2018 22:22

I really like your kitchen a lot! I think the only things I would change (and this is my own personal taste) is the stools and the dining table to a lovely crisp white! Oh and some
Splashes of colour from flowers, fruit in jars - like a big jar of lemons, maybe limes in another (yes, I have probably spent far too long trawling Pinterest and Instagram!)

feartyfeet · 14/05/2018 22:30

If you don't have space for shelves ,can you swap some of your unit doors for glass or take off doors altogether to have open shelving? That would add colour and texture from food, crockery etc.

The whole Victorian terrarium (?) thing is very popular now. Someone suggested a cactus in a glass case. You can also get some really interesting succulents and geometric glass cabinets that could replace the sideboard.

Or a glass cabinet with some interesting collections or even just interesting food packaging from travels or Spanish/Turkish /Chinese supermarket.

Or bookcase with cookery books in it. You can get nice brass/copper effect thin metal shelving on made.com for e.g.

Go for a nice round edged recatnagilar or oval table. John Lewis has ercol or ercol style would look good.

Agree with everyone who says it needs texture and colour but disagree with those suggesting doing through splashbacks, blinds or walls. You can bring it in through functional kitchen "stuff". There's not much evidence you enjoy cooking/entertaining (I suspect because you have amazing storage!) But bringing more of that out from behind closed doors would breathe some life into the room.

I stayed in an air BnB once which had a lovely rug in a kitchen with a perspex layer over it to keep it clean/washable. That might satisfy your worry about textiles in kitchen/? (Although rag rug someone suggested is good)

You can also get plastic rugs - papelina I think. Loads of lovely prints in bright or neutral.

Good luck!

Namechangeforakitchen · 14/05/2018 23:28

Thanks everyone. Pickle I don't think a link showed to the shelves you suggested. I like the sound of them so keen to see them! We currently have a lamp near the window/patio doors but could move this as we don't use it loads.
Anyone seem nice bar stools? I like the sound of upholstered bar stools that I think someone suggested up thread to add texture but I have a 7 year old boy and his friends visit often and they have snacks at the island so it needs to be practical too.

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