£1000 to make kitchen presentable? Pics

[HarriesofHarrogate]

Pics below. I need some inspiration.

Our kitchen needs completely ripping out but that's not possible. We've about £1000 to make it non-embarrassing. The pics don't show the full grottiness.

I've not done anything like this before so I'd appreciate some help on how realistic the shopping list is and any inspiration.

We need:

• replacement cupboard doors. B&Q carcus. Ours are missing/damaged.
• something on the floor. The marks on the picture are stains and chips. I'm guessing the budget means flattening the tiles somehow and covering in lino rather than retiling? I'm not sure what is under the tiles.
• something on the huge window. It turns the room into a furnace but I've no idea what practical covering would work?
• paint and tiles. Would love some fancy/quirky tiles but not sure how to keep the budget low or what would work in the space?

@HarriesofHarrogate the kitchen cupboard doors have been on since the house was built 15 years ago and luckily they are still in good nick although I was considering replacing them rather than painting at one stage (the price wasn't much different).
Definitely like you could tile the walls and floors, paint and replace cupboard doors for your budget (just about) if not perhaps vinyl flooring instead of tiles?

Look at the basic takeaway kitchens from DIY places - I have a feeling one of them (Wickes?) does shorter wall cupboards than standard.

I think you need some inspiration. Go round flooring places and tile shops, look at wall paint colours. Find one thing that springs out at you - floor, wall or tile - and build round that.

Have you looked on eBay for kitchens? There are often full kitchens going for little - the drag would be having to pick it up.

I have just laid vinyl flooring in my bathroom directly on top of floor tiles. You wouldn't know there were tiles underneath.
If you need new cupboard doors then you'll not have much left. I'd paint the walls and your door surround, vinyl for floor, roman or roller blind for window, perhaps matching curtain for your door, splashback for lower wall behind cooker / sink. Maybe some accessories to add a bit of colour eg jars, plant pot, oven gloves etc

I would definitely give it a strong accent colour, such as cobalt blue. Use it for a tiled splashback and vinyl flooring, and choose a roller blind with stripes including that colour.

Try a few colour options with photoshop!

Actually, the Dulux Visualiser app would be a good idea. You can try different colours on the walls and on the cabinets.

@FlamedToACrisp I never even thought to Photoshop. Great idea!
@wowfudge thank you, I'll take a look. I've decided I want coloured doors so that'll be handy.
@didireallysaythat because of the small size of the kitchen we've been keeping an eye out for ex display kitchens too but there has been nothing.
@onanothertrain were your tiles in good condition? Ours aren't.

Interesting mix of opinions here and what the budget will allow us to do. Thank you for your opinions.

I've decided on:

• coloured doors. Maybe a pale green or pale blue or pale grey. The kitchen will be completely replaced within the next 5 years so I'm not too bothered about it dating and I love coloured kitchens.
• kickboards added
• keeping the carcuses and counters and light.
• everything needs to stay where it currently is.
• either fancy flooring and plainish wall tiles (probably metro - I know they are a bit passe/over used but I like them and they are affordable) or the plastic splash back things or
• funky wall tiles and plain floor.
• floor will be vinyl or lino over tiles. Because the flooring goes into the hall next to the kitchen we can't afford tile.

I love this. Husband HATES it.

I forgot, we'll have some sort of open shelving on the wall by the oven. Probably to keep our plates and crockery on. I'll be honest, I'm not amazing at housework so I figure if we use them for something we'll be constantly taking on and off it'll mean they won't get so dirty/dusty.

And a roller blind. Seems like that would be the cheapest option.

Good news is, my husband has said as long as it's all in budget I can do what I like and he doesn't care. He doesn't mean that 100% as he will want his opinion (like on the above tiles) but it does make it easier.

btw the word is carcase, not carcus.

@FlamedToACrisp thank you. :) it didn't look right but spell check kept coming up with that or circus! 🤣 let's hope my DIY is better than my spelling.

Would it be possible to put the curtain on the other side of the door?
Still do the same job. its a bit insipid looking so maybe a heavier fabric in a design/colour to suit the décor on the other side?

Pinterest is your friend here, I found these two on my initial search.
Just make sure you have a free hour or three, it sucks time!!
You could dare to be bold with a splash of colour to stop it being bland

@ForkHandlesplease - That door opens into the dining room. We need to keep it slightly open at all times but there are big drafts from it. The curtain, although horrible works surprisingly well.
It can't go on the other side as the door opens that way.
The drafts come from the back door and attic hatch in the hallway past the kitchen. They also come from under the kitchen. Once the kickboards are in that might address the kitchen drafts so we can move the curtain into the hallway.
Until we sort the hallway and replace the back door we need a curtain.

It is horrible but it's not something I can bring myself to spend a lot on. It cost about £20 I think but a decent one with a nice rail was £100+. I'd rather put that extra £80 to a new back door.

@user1494670108 I love dark colours but it's such a small space I'd be worried about it making it feel even smaller. It did have wall cupboards. Admittedly they were huge heavy looking things but it felt so enclosed. I'd worry a dark colour would do the same.

ahem carcass ;)

Anyway, I quite like your kitchen. As its so small and not much natural light, I would keep the cupboard doors white.
What is your worktop made of? Is it a laminate or is it wood? If its wood, you could sand it back and reoil it. If its laminate I have seen companies who do a worktop which just fits over your current one. Not sure if any good or costs, but might be worth a look.
I would paint the walls a pale colour, either white or the pale blue or green you were thinking for the doors.
The tiles you posted are gorgous and I would go for something like that.
Do you have any local kitchen fitters? They might be able to make new doors for you. Or, ebay for door fronts.
I have heard laying Lino over tiles is a no no, but its something I am thinking of doing in our bathroom. I would just get a roll slightly larger than your floor and lay it myself. Use a bit of spray glue to keep the edges down, otherwise you'll get all sorts under there, and you don't want that (speaking from experience vom)

Just read about your curtain. Could it be hung over your back door instead?

Video on using the dc fix plastic film on worktops m.youtube.com/watch?v=BWXm1x8dni4

harries my flood tiles were cracked in a couple of places but other than that they were ok

• floor tiles, not flood tiles