Creative ideas on how to change this kitchen?

[Frazzled252]

We’ve bought a not-new newbuild, and absolutely hate the kitchen. It’s pretty much brand new so is a shame to change fully but it’s so vile that I can’t live with it.
Do any lovely creative mumsnetters have any ideas on how to make it less vile on the cheap?
Thanks so much in advance x

The kitchen really isn’t my cup of tea either @Frazzled252 but personally, I would live with it for a few years.

I would prioritise the floor - I know it’s expensive when it’s right through the hall etc but it’ll make you feel completely differently about the space so maybe, if the budget allows, it would be worth tackling that first?
As @IAmKerplunk showed in the pic - it can really warm the space up. Then you can use accessories and lighting to change the feel for now.

Then I’d use the kitchen for a good while before making any changes. I think you get a better feel for what works in a space once you’re actually in.
Also just to touch on the “painting them navy” suggestion - everyone I know that’s gone for navy kitchens have ended up hating them because of fingerprints on doors 😅 so that may be something worth keeping in mind!

I don’t think it will be that easy or cost efficient to change the doors to achieve a more traditional shaker style, the unit sizes have that very wide modern look about them which doesn’t suit a traditional kitchen, plus you have to think about plinths and worktops etc, it’s never really just a case of swapping doors, I personally would rather wait and get a new kitchen, you could make it look much better by following the chat gpt picture earlier upthread.

Doors on integrated appliances can all be changed relatively easily. You just buy a new door for an integrated appliance from the supplier you are using for the rest of the door.

I agree about changing the floor first.
Try DIY kitchens for a quote on doors. You should just be able to make a list if the door sized that you need and get a price on their website.

I hate that look and would want to change it ASAP too @Frazzled252, but that ChatGPT suggestion with the warmer coloured floor does improve the overall appearance massively, imo.

So I think I'd start with the floor, lose the wall cupboards, replacing with open shelving (we've previously installed these at another house and they can get a bit greasy, but we didn't have an extractor 🙄) and add lots of stuff (plants, art, blinds etc) to soften the space. I'd also put an island or large table in the centre as currently it looks really empty/waste of space.

By bringing in warmer colours, living plants and a bit of texture, the room will start to have more personality. At the moment it's just very stark and featureless...which is obviously what some people (eg, your previous owner) want from a food prep space - same as a bathroom - whereas personally, I treat my kitchen and bathroom(s) the same as any other room in the house 😉

I once had a similar situation. Modern gloss all white kitchen that felt sterile. I managed to warm it up cheaply and actually liked using the space by end.

Before incurring the cost of painting the cupboards (I was quoted £7k) or replacing doors you might want to try the following to add some tactile layers and colour.

Firstly I would use Bauwerk lime wash paint as it adds softness that works with contemporary as well as period kitchens: www.bauwerkcolour.com/en-gb/article/limewash-kitchen-advice

I would add a large washable jute style rug or if you prefer patterns there is a new ruggable/anthropologie collection that bridges both contemporary and period styles.

In the windows I would change up the blinds. Maybe look at a Molly Mahon style print or a Vanessa Arbuthnot fabric for some colour that once again looks great across modern and period styles. For budget fabrics that look expensive I like Tinsmiths.

Quorn stone seraphine patterned tiles would make a great stove splashback and would work well if you do eventually paint the cupboards blue.

IMO its not the colour white that is a problem here, its the grey floor and the shiny, featureless door and drawer fronts which make it all look too cold.

If you want a cheap alternative to changing the floor then I would paint it white…hear me out!! It’s not difficult to do and would mean:

1. you have a bright, warmer colour base to put colourful rugs onto
2. you can still change the door and drawer fronts to a white shaker style, or you can use any colour or wood fronts you like because none will clash with the neutral white floor
3. the walls may not need painting if the floor is white because the floor will not be casting a cold grey onto them; it may warm the walls up as well then you can brighten the room with artwork, plants, soft furnishings etc. If you do want to paint the walls then you don’t have to worry about colours not working with the grey floor, you can just pick whatever you want and go for it.

It you want to choose new door and drawer fronts the look at Ikea ones. They are very affordable and will generally fit most fitted kitchens from places like B&Q or Howdens. If you measure your current fronts you can compare to the measurements of the IKEA fronts easily on their website. They sell fronts for built in appliances like dishwashers etc - you would just unscrew the one you have on your dishwasher at the moment and replace with an Ikea one, as long as it’s the same measurements

A few years ago now we bought a lot of kitchen cupboards top and bottom on Ebay. Fitted them and then changed all the doors and drawers and handles. It cost about 3k in total - there were a lot of units. We used a firm that coated the existing ones. It looked great and still does.

If you want to soften the appearance but not change the flooring you cuold put down a large washable rug in a warm tone. Something like this.

I'd live with it for a while and save up for what you actuallh want.It really isn't vile, just bland.The floor is the problem so buy a large jute rug or one to your taste, put a table in the huge floor space and dress it nicely.Paint the walls.Navy kitchens are dated and only go with white.I actually think a white kitchen is great as you can change the walls , tiles etc to go with it.If you really cant wait change the flooring.You can get kitchen parquet flooring from karndean etc.

Integrated appliances aren’t an issue. They are all standard size.

I disagree about shelves over wall cabinets. That trend is over, and if you do like it you have permanent dusting and tidying to do.
more now is glass fronts on the wall cabinets.

I would not add a rug. Trip hazzard and cleaning nightmare.

Looks fine to me. It’s empty so no personality has been added. Blinds, coffee machine, recipe books and a few personal items would make a huge difference. I would not change it immediately. Difficult to know what the quality is like but you could spend very little and make some improvements.

ive just had my white kitchen vinyl wrapped to black Matt. Looks lovely and not clinical!!

I also disagree with the open shelves. Everything gets dusty and sticky, and not everything you have will look funky or pretty.

I agree it needs warming up and it will be lovely. I vinyl wrapped my white and purple (!) gloss kitchen I had inherited and it looks much better I love it now.

vinyl wrapping is tricky… always used dc fix, watch lots of videos and go very slow or it will bubble.
if you can’t face vinyl wrapping, rust oleum kitchen cupboard paint is inexpensive, durable and easy to work with as well as available in lovely colours.
add brass or brushed gold handles.
or change the cupboard fronts if your budget allows.

keep your quartz as the quality is amazing.

add a few plants and greenery for warmth.

consider a kitchen rug if you can’t change the floor for now, or a table and chairs in the middle and you won’t notice the floor so much

Thank you so much! I think I’ll try the paint and painting myself, worse case scenario I have to change the doors anyway! They can’t look any worse

I don’t think I could do open shelves, I have so much tat it wouldn’t look good, much better hidden in a drawer!

Thank you if you don’t mind me asking how much did it cost? I’m wondering if wrap will be cheaper than changing the doors entirely

Thankyou, that is a lovely rug, very nice earthy tone too

Thank you! I’d never heard of painting floors before but will YouTube. Not sure I’m sold but it’s worth exploring and will be much cheaper than replacing the entire floor 💕

Thankyou. I really like the warm herringbone someone posted and I agree when the floor is changed I think the kitchen won’t look as bad. I still really hate it though especially handle-less ness

The other issue is I am terrible with these things. I have rubbish taste and no attention to detail. Which is why I love the advice on here ☺️

It looks a very empty room - could you put in an island with a colour on it and a nice countertop and then replicate the colour by changing doors on the bottom units or something. Plus some nice lights above it to take the focus from the current kitchen units

Can you not just bung some handles on? Maybe wooden handles, a nice proper wood table, some wicker light shades and a couple of Ruggable runners? Plants, lamps, some wooden shopping boards.

£3000

@Frazzled252 As long as it’s well made, handless is fine. I have to say, I’m not a fan of the floor and I’d look for a warmer wood. You just need a blind and a few accessories. I’d definitely not add wooden handles and I’m not sure if you have room for a kitchen table - what size is the kitchen and any adjacent space? You can also paint the walls! It’s all rather tonal at the moment but it’s easily changed without great expense.